Maya James

I am a writer, information gatherer, resident cat lover and multimedia specialist. I believe that words move people and this belief is strengthened by my background in journalism. 

NSM.today •

UCF students, senators bond ahead of SGA presidential election

UCF Senators got a chance to greet their constituents and discuss concerns with students at a Senate Meet and Greet event hosted by Knights of the Round Table in sponsorship with UCF Student Government in the Cape Florida Ballroom on Monday evening.

Although he could not be present at the event, Student Body President Kyler Gray told NSM Today via email that actively engaging with their representatives is the most ideal way for students to maintain a healthy relationship with their governing body.
NSM.today •

UCF Cares' outreach fair brings clarity to student resources

UCF Cares began Let's Be Clear Week Monday, a series of support-based events offered throughout the week that Student Care Coordinator Jessica Farnan said is designed to help students work through traumatic situations.

“All of these resources can help in some way, even if students want one of them or all of them," Farnan said. "They're all available to help them kind of move ... past whatever they're going through.”
NSM.today •

LGBTQ+ students juggle faith and identity

Students of all genders and sexuality sat comfortably in a circle as participants in the Conscious Thought Cafe social event at the Social Justice and Advocacy Lounge Tuesday.

Facilitated by the Multicultural Student Center, the event held the theme of "LGBTQ+ and Religion," which allowed LGBTQ+ students to share their experiences of growing up LGBTQ+ in devout households and the identity-based conflicts they faced as a result.
NSM.today •

'White silence is violence': rally in front of Millican Hall against neo-Nazis

Young Democratic Socialists of America at UCF gathered in front of Millican Hall demanding the university take action against neo-Nazis on Monday.
A Jewish UCF student was assaulted at a neo-Nazi rally near UCF at the Waterford Lakes Town Center on Jan. 29.
Neo-Nazis were spotted waving swastika flags and sporting antisemitic symbols, and three men involved in the rally were arrested, according to an Orange County Sheriff's Office tweet on Feb. 4.
NSM.today •

UCF CAPS hosts support workshop in light of Parkland shooting trial

In the days following Nikolas Cruz’s trial for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, UCF CAPS hosted an MSD student support workshop Wednesday.

The workshop treaded on the heels of Cruz’s guilty plea in court. On Oct. 21, Cruz pleaded guilty for the Feb. 14, 2018, slaying of 14 students and three faculty members at MSD.

With 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder, Cruz pleaded guilty to a total of 34 counts. He now faces either life
NSM.today •

Better together: Online mental health service offers students increased support

Mental Illness Awareness Week, running from Oct. 3-9, extended the campaign for psychological and emotional care at UCF.

The team at UCF Counseling and Psychological Services offered students an online, peer-to-peer program for mental health support for the recently ended National Suicide Prevention Month.

In an email sent out to the campus community Tuesday, the university highlighted its mental health and wellness services, including CAPS, Student Care Services and Wellness and Health Promot
NSM.today •

UCF students take part in racial wealth gap simulation

The Knights Helping Knights Pantry in association with Bread for the World presented a Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation in the Student Union Wednesday.

Initially created by Bread for the World, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger in American communities, the Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation is an interactive tool that helps people understand the connections among racial equality, hunger, poverty and wealth.

Presented as something similar to a card game, students in
NSM.today •

UCF students at risk following Chegg data breach

The UCF Information Security Office sent an email on Tuesday, Sept. 10 warning students about a potential attack targeting UCF emails as a result of a data breach with studying website Chegg in April of 2018.

Due to users’ vital information being stored using weak encryption, the email addresses, names, usernames and passwords of customers were disclosed. The UCF Information Security Office (UCF INFOSEC) advised all UCF employees and students with Chegg accounts to immediately change their pass