Towson State University

It is the most exciting education development in decades.President Clinton wants every school to have it by the year 2000. Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening is in a bigger hurry; he wants all 1,262 Free State public schools to have it by winter. To make that possible, volunteers will spread across Maryland in late September to bring it to 700 schools in a single weekend.Yet those most familiar with the Internet have been warning for some time that the new technology is not what it's cracked up to be.While many credit the Internet with changing the face of %J communications in a shrinking, increasingly high-tech world, very few teachers are capable of using it effectively, according to a number of experts.

TOWSON -- County prosecutors have dropped charges against two Montgomery County men accused of raping a Towson State University student in April.Assistant State's Attorney Robin Coffin said the cases were dropped because of a lack of evidence implicating the men.Brereton C. Poole of the 23000 block of Frederick Road in Clarksburg and Jason A. De Santolo of the 20000 block of Waterside Drive in Germantown were charged with first-degree rape for an alleged "acquaintance...

The first theatrical production of Towson State University's 15th annual Maryland Arts Festival opens tomorrow. "It's Only a Play" is, appropriately enough, a play set at the opening night party for a new play. This 1985 comedy by one of the country's hottest playwrights, Terrence McNally, winner of the 1995 and 1996 Tony Awards, stars Bob Riggs as the playwright, John Ford the director and Maravene Loeschke as the producer.Here's the rest of the festival schedule: Sculpture and Painting -- by Xiaojia Peng and Xiaoqing Chi, June 28-July 27; Collages and Assemblages by Jim Flood, June 28-July 27; "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," July 5-27; Headways II: fourth annual alumni/faculty dance concert, July 12-13; Opera on Film, lectures and screenings: "Carmen" (June 30)

THE SUN'S April 20 editorial, "Towson State's name game," demonstrated that its attitude toward public higher education, or at least Towson State University, is less than one of respect. The editorial's tone implied that a public institution should not aspire for improvement.The editorial has been characterized by those who have talked to me as "nasty," "vituperative" and "vitriolic."The editorial's subject was a proposal to change the name of Towson State University to Towson University.

Two Montgomery County men have been charged with first-degree rape in a case described by Towson State University police as "acquaintance rape" of a freshman in her dormitory room on campus during the weekend.Brereton C. Poole, 19, of the 23000 block of Frederick Road in Clarksburg and Jason A. De Santolo, 20, of the 20000 block of Waterside Drive in Germantown also were charged with third-degree and fourth-degree sex offenses, Towson State University Police Chief Stephen J. Murphy said.The 18-year-old woman was counseled at an area hospital's rape crisis clinic after the attack, alleged to have taken place about 8: 15 a.m. Saturday, Chief Murphy said.

THE CURRENT flurry of interest in name changes at Maryland state universities and colleges is fueled more by marketing desires than any concern with academics. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," rhapsodized Shakespeare. Sweeter is how some Maryland college presidents see it.There's no problem with the current names of our public campuses. Their monikers do precisely what they should -- accurately describe these schools to the public. Look at Towson State University: It is located in Towson; it is a state institution, and it is a degree-granting university.

Towson State University is no stranger to name changes. It's had four in 130 years.But now it's ready for a new identity.Hoke L. Smith, president of the university, would like to eliminate "state" from the name, calling it Towson University."

Peter P. T. Merani, 62, political science professorPeter P. T. Merani, a professor of political science and former department chairman at Towson State University, died March 28 of complications of leukemia at his Roland Park residence. He was 62.He joined Towson State as an associate professor of political science in 1965 and was made full professor in 1969. He also was director of the Center for the Study of International Relations and Public Policy at the university.He was a member and former chairman of the university's Committee on International Studies and had also served as an assistant dean of the university.

Frank J. Sanders, 76, Towson State professorFrank J. Sanders, a retired professor of Latin American history at Towson State University, died of lymphoma Wednesday at his home in Towson. He was 76.Mr. Sanders was born in Reusel, the Netherlands, in 1919 and moved with his family to Chicago when he was 4. He attended public schools in Chicago and enlisted in the Army in 1941. He was a sergeant with the 3rd Armored Division.During World War II, Mr. Sanders participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the taking of Cologne and the liberation of the Nordhausen slave labor camp.

A Dec. 25 article on a ruling by the Open Meetings Compliance Board that the Town Council of Ocean City was in violation of the state's Open Meetings Act incorrectly attributed to Jack Schwartz, chief counsel to the attorney general, a remark characterizing the finding as a "strong rebuke." The remark was made by James S. Keat, who teaches journalism at Towson State University.The Sun regrets the error.