February 23, 2015

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The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

M O N DAY, F E B R UA R Y 2 3 , 2 015

Big Ten introduces freshman ineligibility proposal By Aaron Kasinitz and Ellie Silverman @AaronKazreports, @esilverman11 Senior staff writers The Big Ten is hoping for support from its member institutions to begin a “national discussion” about ruling freshmen ineligible for football and men’s basketball, according to a document obtained by The Diamondback. “What I like about the concept of

the proposal is it puts right up front the basic issue: Are we basically a quasi-professional activity or primarily an educational activity?” university President Wallace Loh said. “And if you support it, you are basically saying very clearly the No. 1 priority is the education of the students.” The University Athletic Council met this afternoon to discuss a Big Ten proposal to examine “the health of the educational experience,” titled “A Year of Readiness,” which equates

to a mandatory redshirt season. “I want to listen to the council,” said Nick Hadley, athletic council chairman and physics professor. “As a faculty member, it’s hard for me not to support something that would increase academic performance.” The document, which shows football and men’s basketball as the only sports with graduation rates of less than 75 percent across the NCAA, states that a push for freshman ineligibility MARK TURGEON, men’s basketball head coach, looks at the score as his team defends its lead during See BIG TEN, Page 3 the second half of the Terps’ win over the VMI Keydets in November. christian jenkins/the diamondback

Budget cuts strain cash for univ grad students Surcharges to cover $40.3M USM funding loss draw student ire By Carly Kempler @carlykempler Staff writer

SHARYL ATTKISSON discusses her experiences as a former CBS investigative reporter covering Benghazi and the “Fast and Furious” scandal with students and faculty in Knight Hall on Friday. enoch hsiao/for the diamondback

fighting for the truth Former CBS correspondent Sharyl Attkisson speaks on reporting experiences and government surveillance By Rokia Hassanein @rokiahass Staff writer Around the time Sharyl Attkisson was investigating scandals that occurred under the Obama administration, she started to notice strange things happening. The former CBS correspondent

said her computer would turn on by itself at night. Her daughter’s Skype account was hacked. The files on her computer were accessed. On Friday, the Emmy-winning former investigative journalist spoke to a crowd of about 60 students, faculty and fellows in Knight Hall about her experiences investigating scandals and leaving CBS, which

she detailed in her new book, Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama’s Washington. She addressed the dangers of government surveillance as well as the necessity of standing up for privacy rights. Attkisson said she was digging deeper into the “Fast and Furious”

scandal, a federal operation during which U.S. officials lost track of guns sold to weapon smugglers in Mexico, and the 2012 attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans. “The administration didn’t See attkisson, Page 2

After the university announced a midyear tuition increase Jan. 16, many graduate students were frustrated with the surcharge on their accounts, said Ellie Howe, Graduate Student Government public relations vice president. The surcharge appeared on students’ accounts Feb. 11, said Howe, a second-year higher education, student affairs and international education policy graduate student. The student account charges ranged from $40 to $100, Howe said. This university’s share of the $40.3 million cut to the University System See GRADUATES, Page 2

RHA to push pet ownership for dorm staff

SGA, univ officials release textbook affordability site

Allergies, behavior cited in opposition to change

Site offers open-source book links, instructions

By Morgan Eichensehr @MEichensehr Staff writer

By Taylor Swaak @tswaak27 Staff writer A new university website launched today, oer.umd.edu, aims to inform students and faculty about cheaper alternatives to pricey textbooks and course materials. The Student Government Association, University Libraries and the Office of the Provost collaborated to create the site, which includes faculty instructions for creating free opensource textbooks, links to educa-

textbook costs,” said Benjamin Bederson, associate provost of learning initiatives. The website aims to continue the progress made by existing initiatives, such as the Maryland Open Source Textbook Initiative, which gives professors of introductory-level classes access to open-source textbooks. “[Open-source textbooks are] brought together, curated by the faculty member, but the actual Members of the sga watch a presentation at a January meeting in the Benjamin Banneker Room of Stamp content comes from the open Student Union. SGA helped launch a textbook affordability website this week. stephanie natoli/the diamondback Web,” Bederson said. “No one is tional resources and tips for students important issue and give various charging money because it’s not actionable steps on how faculty and copyrighted material.” trying to save money on books. “Our goal is to inform campus students alike can change decisionthat [textbook affordability] is an making processes overall to lower See textbooks, Page 3

Celebrate the fine art of basketball.

ISSUE NO. 75 , OUR 105 TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION DBKNEWS.COM

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The RHA president plans to introduce a resolution that advocates allowing resident directors to have pets. W h i le Sree Si n ha i ntends to present the resolution to the Resident Hall Association in the coming weeks, the current no-pet policy will not likely be changing this year, said Deb Grandner, Department of Resident Life director. “Right now, what we’re trying to do is balance the needs and wishes of

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SPORTS WEATHER, TAR HEELS NO MATCH FOR TERPS

Celebrate the fine art of basketball. The top-ranked Terps beat No. 2 North Carolina after weather postponed the game midway through the first half P. 8

See pets, Page 3

Celebrate the fine art of basketball.

OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL: Plumbing problems Facilities Management must focus more on communication P. 4

DIVERSIONS

BLINKING BACK TEARS Here’s to blink-182 celebrating 20 years since its first album P. 6 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is proud to support Maryland Basketball.

Go Terps!

Celebrate the fine art

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is proud to support Maryland Basketball.

of basketball.

Go Terps! The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center


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February 23, 2015 by The Diamondback - Issuu