Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore issued a letter to the Catholics of his archdiocese on Wednesday urging the faithful to reject Maryland’s Question 1, a ballot initiative that he labeled an “extreme step of enshrining the legality of abortion” in the state’s constitution.

Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore issued a letter to the Catholics of his archdiocese on Wednesday urging the faithful to reject Maryland’s Question 1, a ballot initiative that he labeled an “extreme step of enshrining the legality of abortion” in the state’s constitution.

Local pro-life activists in Maryland have also redoubled their efforts against Question 1 — spotlighting that the constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would have a drastic impact on other controversial issues besides abortion — including parental rights related to their child’s procurement of abortion and minors’ “use of puberty-blocking drugs and surgical mutilation of reproductive anatomy.”

The Archdiocese of Baltimore sent Archbishop Lori’s message via e-mail and posted it on its Flocknote page. The cleric first reiterated the Church’s teaching on “the most fundamental right of all, the right to life.” He also underlined: “We are called by our faith to uphold human dignity at all stages of life, from natural conception to natural death.”

The archbishop continued by outlining the stakes with the ballot measure: “Question 1 seeks to enshrine abortion in the Maryland state constitution, an action that is both unnecessary and harmful … It is harmful because it would divert resources away from efforts that promote the well-being of women, children, and families.”

Archbishop Lori added that “[r]ather than taking the extreme step of enshrining the legality of abortion in the Maryland Constitution, we should work to create a culture where no woman feels as though she must choose between the life of her child and a bright future.”

The Archbishop issued his letter less than six weeks before Election Day. Meanwhile, pro-life groups in Maryland have mobilized due to the short window of time before the vote.

Maryland Right to Life posted a “Voter Alert” about Question 1 on its website. The nonprofit organization noted the broad scope of the proposal and continued with a list of other possible radical effects of the amendment — including how it “threatens parental rights to make medical decisions for our children,” “restricts free speech and religious exemptions,” and “threatens [the] existence of pregnancy resource centers.” 

The group also promoted the materials of Marylanders For Health Not Harm, a coalition decrying the “deceptive ‘Reproductive Freedom’ amendment.”

Laura Bogley, the executive director of Maryland Right to Life, quoted one of the bill’s sponsors, state Sen. Dawn Gile, who testified that the amendment “would create new and broader rights than abortion, including the right of an individual to alter one’s reproductive anatomy.” Gile’s campaign website also highlights her stance on the main issue: “I am proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice Maryland.”

Gile stood immediately behind Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as he signed a package of bills in May 2023 — including the one that authorized Question 1. The package also included another piece of legislation that she voted for — the so-called “Trans Health Equity Act” — which, according to an Associated Press report, “expands the number of procedures relating to gender-affirming care that are covered by the state’s Medicaid program … [including] any medically necessary treatment consistent with current clinical standards of care prescribed by a licensed health care provider for the treatment of a condition related to the individual’s gender identity.”

Bogley also gave her own blunt assessment of the ballot measure: “The deceptive … [amendment] is a Trojan horse, intended to trick parents into giving up their parental rights for abortion rights already fully protected in state law. … Maryland’s abortion laws would not substantially change, but parents would lose their rights and potentially lose custody of their children if they refuse to comply with the state’s radical agenda to transition children, causing our kids permanent reproductive harm.”

Maryland is among 10 states that will have ballot initiatives on abortion in November. Nebraska has competing pro-life and pro-abortion state constitutional amendments up for voter approval. Earlier in September, Missouri’s state Supreme Court upheld the inclusion of a pro-abortion state amendment on that state’s ballot. The other states that will have ballot measures on abortion in November are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota.

UMD’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) detachment ranks in the top 10% nationwide for its performance in officer production, operational efficiency and overall effectiveness.

President Darryll J. Pines on Thursday presented the commander of Detachment 330, Col. Nathan Rabe, and cadets with a special streamer to be displayed on their unit guidon, a type of forked pennant, for the next academic year in recognition of the achievement.

“We are immensely proud of this prestigious recognition, which highlights the unwavering commitment of our students who are training to become the next generation of leaders in the Air and Space Forces,” said Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies William A. Cohen. “Their dedication and excellence embody the core values and principles of both our university and the ROTC program.”

Each year, AFROTC Headquarters conducts a nationwide Viability Assessment, which evaluates the 145 detachments across the U.S. Detachment 330 has approximately 130 cadets, comprising most UMD students but also those from other universities in the DMV.

“The exceptional leadership, tireless work ethic and dedication of our cadre are on full display,” said Rabe. “Our cadets consistently go above and beyond, demonstrating integrity, service and excellence.”

Maryland volleyball entered Big Ten play on an eight-game winning streak, its longest since 2021 when it went unbeaten in nonconference play. However, the Terps lost momentum, falling to the Northwestern Wildcats in five sets.

“The physicality, obviously, changes, that’s the one thing you notice,” head coach Adam Hughes said of conference play. “Some of the balls we usually scored early in the season get through seams that are not there anymore because blockers are more physical.”

Middle blocker Eva Rohrbach got the start after an injury to middle blocker Anastasia Russ last match. Rohrbach proved pivotal, tallying 10 kills and five blocks.

In a much-needed quick start, Maryland (9-3) got out to an early 4-0 lead. Pin hitter Samantha Schnitta recorded the opening point with a kill, before scoring back-to-back service aces. However, Northwestern (3-6) responded right back with a service ace from setter Lauren Carter and a kill from setter Alexa Rousseau.

Setter Sydney Dowler recorded a kill, breaking a 4-4 tie, before the Wildcats scored two consecutive points. With the Terps down, 7-6, middle blocker Ellie Watson sparked a run with a kill, helping Maryland score four of the next five.

A kill from Schnitta helped spark five more consecutive points for Maryland. During the run, Dowler recorded a block and Schnitta tallied another service ace, while Rohrbach and outside hitter Sydney Bryant each added a kill.

Northwestern cut the lead to five with a block before a kill from Watson gave the Terps a set point. Schnitta closed out a 25-22 set win with her fourth kill of the set, tying her with Rousseau for a set-high.

Outside hitter Sam Csire recorded three early kills, including one deep in the back right corner to help Maryland jump out to a quick 6-3 lead in the second set. Then, Northwestern’s Hazan cut the lead to one before Watson and Csire teamed up for a block.

With the Wildcats tying the score at eight, Schnitta recorded a powerful kill, putting her at five for the match. Rohrbach tallied back-to-back kills for the Terps to keep the score knotted. A kill from Bryant helped spark a late three-point run, putting Maryland in front, 20-18. After a Northwestern timeout, the Wildcats scored the next five points.

Rohrbach stopped the bleeding with a kill, but that wasn’t enough, as two late kills from Hazan gave Northwestern a 25-22 set victory.

“They did a pretty good job responding,” Hughes said. “We try to emphasize the fact that when we have a lead, we can capitalize on it. We didn’t do that, but I thought we bounced back pretty fast.”

In the next set, Rohrbach recorded a kill and block, helping Maryland get out to a 3-1 lead. Rousseau dwindled the lead to one before a Csire kill extended the lead back to four. Kills from Hazan provided a spark for Northwestern as they cut the score to two. Rohrbach capped off a three-point Terps run with a kill.

A service ace from setter Zoe Huang trickled off the net, restoring a five-point advantage for Maryland. Northwestern responded with three points of its own, forcing the Terps to call a timeout. Two kills from Schnitta extended the lead back to three.

Rohrbach tipped the ball over the net for her eighth kill, putting the score at 22-17. A big service ace from Schnitta gave Maryland a set point, before a Northwestern serve sailed long. The Terps took the third set, 25-18.

Rousseau helped spark the Wildcats’ early in the fourth set with a kill and service ace en route to an 8-3 Northwestern lead. Trailing 10-4, Maryland scored four consecutive points and forced a Wildcats’ timeout. Csire helped spark the run with a kill before later adding a service ace.

Back-to-back kills from Csire knotted the score at 13 before Watson gave the Terps their first lead of the set. A huge joint-block from Schnitta and Watson forced another Northwestern timeout.

The Wildcats marched back to level the score at 22 before Rohrbach added her 10th kill of the match. Consecutive kills from Northwestern’s Hazan forced a fifth set, as Maryland fell, 27-25.

Down 5-2 in the fifth set, Schnitta tallied a service ace and kill to knot the score at seven. The Wildcats responded right back with four points of their own before Csire recorded a much-needed kill. Schnitta pulled the Terps back within two points, but they ultimately fell in the end, 15-11.

“You can be upset about [the loss] for tonight, but then we step into practice tomorrow and it’s about Iowa,” Schnitta said. “To just move on and make sure we recover well so that we are able to give everything back to the team.”

Three things to know

1. First home loss. Coming into the match, the Terps had won five games in a row at the Xfinity Center Pavilion, dropping only one set. The streak came to an end at the hands of a tough Northwestern team. Maryland will be looking to bounce back on Saturday against Iowa.

2. Heavy dosage from Schnitta and Csire. The Terps relied heavily on their two best players, garnering 94 total attacks between Schnitta and Csire. They combined for more than half of the team’s kills (31 of 59). Whenever the team needed a point, the ball was either in the hands of Schnitta or Csire.

3. Big Ten struggle continues. Maryland has stumbled in Big Ten play recently, with three consecutive conference records of 7-13. The Terps have yet to finish with a winning record since they joined the conference in 2014. While the Big Ten is recognized as the best volleyball conference in the country, Maryland will be hoping to get over the hump soon.