UMES students protest to reinstate university employee

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – ‘Bring Sam back,’ a message spoken by current and former students, and waived on signs, is one that protest organizer, Mya Woods, wanted to send to higher ups at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Woods, along with several other students, found on-campus housing with the help of former softball coach and UMES employee, Sam Douglas, which is why she said the news of his termination caught her by surprise.

“They fired him while we are on summer break, and it left a lot of students feeling like they don’t have a sense of home anymore,” Woods said. “A lot of students are scared with him not being here, they’re not going to have adequate housing for the upcoming semesters.”

Interim AVP of marketing and external affairs, Bob Harty, said housing is not a problem and that there are plenty of beds to go around.

But when asked why the coach is no longer employed at the school, the University was tight lipped.

“Unfortunately, under university policy and state policy, I’m not allowed to comment at all on a personel matter,” Harty said.

With a significantly smaller turnout than expected, Woods said many students were afraid to show up to the protest, out of fear of academic retaliation. However, Harty said the institution didn’t try to get in the way of students and their first amendment right. In fact, they encouraged it.

“There’s not much support for what they’re trying to accomplish [and] there was no attempt to quell the protest whatsoever,” Harty said. “This is a university that has a long history of demonstrations, we celebrate that.”

While Thursday’s demonstration didn’t deter the schools decision, Woods said they will continue to advocate for coach Sam’s return.

“We want him reinstated so that he can get what he’s worked hard for,” Woods said. “25 years is not a small feat. That’s the same age I am, so he deserves what he’s owed.”