March 27, 2013

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Route 1 update moves forward Overhaul project moves into engineering and design phase with $8.8 million in state funding

By Teddy Amenabar Staff writer State officials are inching closer to unclogging College Park’s main artery as a plan to reconstruct a stretch of Route 1 moves into engineering and design.

The State Highway Administration has dedicated $8.8 million dollars to the project, which will map out renovations to 2.6 miles of Route 1 spanning from College Avenue to state Route 193. While the agency decided during the planning phase it would add a median, bike lanes and sidewalks to the road, the project then stalled for several years due to a lack of funding, and officials are not optimistic this next step will move more quickly.

Re n ova t i o n s w i l l eve n t u ally stretch to Interstate 95, but

a foal named rebel is being taken care of by a team of students, including Kristen Brady (above). The chestnut colt was the first born on the campus in nearly 30 years. Students and faculty working with Rebel, his mother and another pregnant mare hope the births will ramp up equine reproduction studies at the university. may wildman/for the diamondback

foaling around It’s a rainy Monday afternoon, and Laura Michelotti is visiting one of the Campus Farm’s barns, checking in on Rebel, a thoroughbred colt born March 8.

“None of us had experience handling

foaling before,” the junior animal sciences major said as Rebel chewed on the front of her jacket.

“He’s a ball of energy and lots of fun,” added Melinda Gilmer, a 2012 alumna.

Gilmer and Michelotti are part of a team of students who are caring for the colt and his mother, as well as another pregnant mare. The chestnut

See overhaul, Page 3

Students to help with future Mall upgrade McKeldin redesign will focus on lawn, terraces

By Dustin Levy Staff writer

Chestnut colt becomes first horse born on the campus in nearly three decades, with another on the way

By Laura Blasey Senior staff writer

members of the State Highway Administration decided to modify the project when they realized funding was tight.

“This project has been talked about and technically on the books for a long time,” nearing a decade, said Terry Schum, the city’s planning director.

“What’s kept it from moving forward is the fact that the state does not have funding to move it forward.”

The $8.8 million should sustain the engineering and design costs until 2015, said Chris Bishop, State Highway Administration community liaison for District 3, but the project could stretch on for longer. Additionally, there is not yet a timeline for beginning the next phase, during which the state will purchase the land needed near Route 1 to start construction.

Meanwhile, officials will deal with

colt is the first born on the campus in nearly 30 years, and with another one on the way, the students and faculty who work at the farm and in the equine studies program are hoping the new arrivals will lead to the rebirth of the program.

See rebel, Page 2

McKeldin Mall will receive a facelift in the coming years after a group of undergraduate and graduate students collaborates with Facilities Management to renovate the area.

The redesign project will focus on the lawn itself, the terraces in front of McKeldin Library and the administration building — the most critical areas, said Carlo Colella, Facilities Management associate vice president. But the university will

address the rest of the mall, including several spots between the lawn and bordering buildings on the north and south side, as well.

The renewal and enhancement of the mall will take place in several phases over a number of years due to the size and scope of the area, Colella said.

Graduate students from the anthropology department and information studies college joined landscape architecture undergraduates earlier this month to present research findings See MALL, Page 2

Textbook prices continue to soar Students struggle with increasing costs, rate of which exceeds tuition, health care

By Fatimah Waseem Staff writer As many college students can attest, book smarts have a price — and given the 812 percent increase in textbook costs over the last 35 years, that price is only going up.

The percent increase in textbook prices — which strain many students at the start of each semester — is larger than the rising costs of tuition, health care and housing over the same time period, according to the American Enterprise

INDEX

Institute, a conservative think tank based in Washington. Nationwide, about 20 percent of textbook costs go directly to bookstores, according to studies by the National Association of College Stores.

“This trend doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Angeline Johny, a sophomore neurobiology and physiology major. “I figured [textbook price] inflation was due to bookstores trying to make money off of students.”

Students like Johny and sophomore Hilina Tarekegn, who is enrolled in letters and sciences, regularly deal with bloated receipts during each book-buying trip, despite comparing the costs of their required readings at area bookstores and on websites. Selling books back at the end of the semester only yields a fraction of the original

Textbook prices have risen at a faster rate than college tuition, housing and health care. file photo/the diamondback cost, they said — Johny sold back $800 worth of textbooks this semester and received $388 in return.

Although publishers no longer provide the NACS with statistics on

NEWS 2 OPINION 4 FEATURES 5 DIVERSIONS 6 CLASSIFIED 6 SPORTS 8

See TEXTBOOK, Page 3

MOVING ON UP The Terrapins men’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the NIT yesterday with a 58-57 win over Alabama. The Terps dealt the Crimson Tide its first home loss since Dec. 30. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013

REBEL

MALL From PAGE 1

This university was once a top destination for students looking to study equine reproduction.

Until the 1980s, hands-on experience breeding horses was part of the curriculum, but the program fell into a slump.

Leadership fluctuated, and the site near Ellicott City that hosted equine reproduction facilities was paved over for a new highway, forcing students to take field trips to local farms to get hands-on experience.

When equine studies coordinator Amy Burk came to the campus 11 years ago, she vowed to restore the program. She’s worked hard to bring in resources such as grants and to open another university-owned farm in Clarksville for equine research.

“The classes were really popular, but they just didn’t have that hands-on component,” Burk said. “It’s not the worst thing in the world, but when you want your students to graduate and be competitive for jobs, you’d like to have them be as best prepared as you can.”

One of the final steps was bringing back the mares for breeding, she said.

Other schools in the midAtlantic region offer that experience, and given the state’s thriving horse industry, Burk said there was no reason not to bring that aspect of the program back.

One difficulty they faced was finding room for proper horse reproduction facilities, Burk said. Through a grant from the National Resource Conservation Service, they were able to create a space for horses at the Clarksville farm in 2007.

Burk received a donation of two pregnant mares from local breeders in June 2012 — Cassie, Rebel’s mother, and Amazin’, who is due to give birth April 7. They

From PAGE 1

STEVEn MOIRANO, a junior animal sciences major, cares for Rebel, the first colt born on the campus in nearly 30 years. Several students from an equine reproduction class took turns sleeping in the Campus Farm’s office and barn as they awaited his birth. may wildman/for the diamondback were kept at the Clarksville facility until about two months ago when they came to the campus.

Money was by far the biggest concern. Caring for a single horse can cost $300 to $500 a month, Burk said, and even though Cassie and Amazin’ were donations, the cost of their care required multiple grants. Pregnant horses require additional health care and special nutrition.

“There’s a little bit of difference. You have to watch their nutrition more. Mares can also be a little moodier, but these guys are pretty good,” said Gilmer, who works on the farm but is not in Burk’s class.

Students enrolled in Burk’s equine reproduction class and farm employees — the “real superstars,” Burk said — took shifts watching over Cassie in the days leading up to Rebel’s birth. They slept in the Campus Farm’s office and the barn, waiting for Cassie to go into labor.

Every day, students visit the barn to brush manes, set out food and check on the horses’ progress, working shifts from 8 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Michelotti said they all took a class at Shamrock Farm in Carroll County to prepare for working with the mares.

Even with all the work the mares require, students and farm employees said there’s no replacement for caring for a horse about to foal.

“It’s been a real eye-opening experience for them because you just don’t get to see foaling every day,” Burk said.

“You learn a different part of the horse industry than most people get to be a part of,” Gilmer added.

Soon, the entire university will get a chance to play a role in giving the colt his official name.

Rebel is an everyday name chosen by the students who care for him, but after the second colt

is born, the university community will get to vote on the best name from a list chosen by department faculty.

“I don’t want to give anything away, but some of the names that have been submitted are really great,” Burk said. “Some of the best have Maryland or terrapin or Terp incorporated, which I really like.”

At the end of the semester, all four horses will move back to the Clarksville farm, but students will still get to work with them.

They hope to rebreed Cassie and Amazin’, as well as take in two more horses for next year. The colts will be prepared for sale as racehorses in December — another area of expertise to which students aren’t normally exposed.

“If that goes well and we can keep the money coming in to pay for this program, then we may expand from there,” Burk said. newsumdbk@gmail.com

spaces, as well as new entrances to the mall to make it more accessible, Colella said.

Though much of the planning emphasized repairs, Nola’s class also envisioned ideas of what could be done with an improved mall.

“One notion that they were fond of — and I was fond of as well — was the notion of a graduation outdoor on the mall,” Nola said, adding the suggested improvements could make that feat possible.

Working with students, Cronrath said, was beneficial in determining the mall’s new look.

“Good projects require good clients,” Cronrath said.

The design process had its advantages in the classroom, too, Nola said.

“I’m always looking for real projects for [students] as opposed to hypothetical projects,” he said.

With the results of the collaborative meetings and support from the council, Facilities Management now looks to initiate the first phase within the coming fiscal year, Colella said.

“It was very helpful to get input from a broad number of people and some of it was very creative,” Colella said. “But a lot of it was also reaffirming what some of us who have been looking at this for a long period of time had thought was most critical.”

And while Nola said the presentations were helpful to the council members and opened up a good dialogue, there is still a lot of work ahead before the university sees an enhanced mall.

“It’s one piece of information, and the stakeholders have to consider a lot of things,” Nola said.

and ideas to the Facilities Council, a stakeholders group featuring faculty and students from a variety of departments.

“We thought it was really valuable to get perspective from lots of different stakeholders, and that’s really helped inform us in identifying what people think is most important,” Colella said.

Last semester, Dennis Nola, a professor in the plant sciences and landscape architecture department, assigned students in his studio class to develop designs and ideas based on information gathered by anthropology and human-computer interaction graduate students.

“They pulled together drawings to illustrate what could be done,” Nola said.

The students’ findings reaffirmed many of Facilities Management’s initial ideas, such as maintaining the look of the lawn.

“In those areas, it’s more about restoring and preserving what we have and improving things like drainage and accessibility,” Colella said.

Student collaborators also suggested improving the spaces between walkways, said David Cronrath, council member and architecture school dean. But they found the lawn in front of McKeldin Library to be deserving of the most attention.

“That area is especially worn-out,” Nola said.

Facilities Management also plans to eventually add more sitting and congregating newsumdbk@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

Textbook From PAGE 1 exactly how textbook money is divvied up, 2008 figures show about 12 percent went to authors, about 15 percent went toward marketing textbooks and about 32 percent went to paper, printing and publishers.

The data demonstrate not only high costs industrywide, such as in publish-

“textbooks are generally extremely expensive anywhere i look, and i have no other option but to buy them at the high price.”

NEVINA EL-LEITHY

Sophomore public health major

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ers’ employee salaries, Tarekegn said, but also a profit-maximizing trend resting on cooperation between publishers and book stores. Costs for supplemental materials, such as online access codes and new editions, also drive up prices. In July, textbook costs saw an 8.1 percent increase from a year before, with prices for all other goods growing by 1.4 percent overall, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Because of this close tie between bookmakers and booksellers, Tarekegn said she could not blame bookstores for charging more money to stay open.

In College Park, the Maryland Book Exchange, operated by Neebo, and the University Book Center, operated by Barnes & Noble, take a 5 to 20 percent commission, said Rosanna Jesse, Mary-

land Book Exchange assistant manager.

The exact percentage is determined by the university’s contract with publishers.

BookHolders, on the other hand, which many students called their go-to option for cheaper textbooks in the area, charges a flat 15 percent commission, said marketing manager Ryna Luckert Quinones.

“Textbooks are generally extremely expensive anywhere I look, and I have no other option but to buy them at the high price,” said Nevina El-Leithy, a sophomore public health major.

Like many college students, El-Leithy tries to hunt for the best prices but often comes up with few options for big savings.

“You can’t change much,” she said.

MORE ONLINE

overhaul

Larry david allegedly spotted on campus tour There’s an episode of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm in which Larry David attempts to order a Girls Gone Wild tape.

“Yes, I was, uh … I was thinking about ordering the tape, the videotape … about the college girls and the … the wild … the wildness,” David, altering his voice, tells the operator. “They’re going wild or something? Somebody told me … about going wild.”

Now, the former Terrapin is probably hoping his real-life daughter won’t end up as one of those wild college girls. That’s right — one of David’s daughters is looking at colleges, and David allegedly escorted her on a tour of the campus today.

Rumors began to swirl midday that David was in College Park and quickly spread through social media.

Maryland Images and admissions officials ­— who ran a series of tours and information sessions in Stamp Student Union for prospective students today — declined to confirm the rumors or comment. Officials said they had only heard of sightings and had no way of knowing if David had attended a session.

MANY STUDENTS flock to the Maryland Book Exchange on Route 1 at the start of each semester to hunt for cheaper textbooks, but costs continue to rise. file photo/the diamondback

newsumdbk@gmail.com

From PAGE 1

photo used under creative commons courtesy of sharon graphics

To read the rest of Laura Blasey’s blog post, check out The Diamondback’s blogs at diamondbackonline.com.

their share of challenges over the next two years. In one aspect of the design phase, which is now underway, engineers are estimating how much underground utilities would cost, Bishop said. While burying electrical wiring and other utilities helps prevent power outages, it’s “pretty cost-prohibitive,” he said, and the city would have to pay out of its own pocket.

Despite the expense, it’s an attractive option, said College Park Mayor Andy Fellows.

“Utility poles, you know, they just don’t really look that nice,” he said. “It’s making more and more sense for communities like College Park to underground their utilities.”

The city has already talked to developers along Route 1 in the hopes of securing funding, Fellows said, adding the city could potentially turn to the county for help.

More than five years ago, the State Highway Administration finalized plans for the corridor’s renovations, then

estimated to cost $110 million.

However, the project hit a wall when the state couldn’t come up with the money to move it forward, Schum said, and officials decided to split up its completion into four smaller segments.

“That frustrated everybody,” Schum added.

There is no total budget for completing the project, Bishop said.

Engineering and design should cause minimal disruptions in the area surrounding the campus, Schum said. However, some business owners said they’re concerned about how they will fare once construction comes to the city.

Peter Casazza, owner of Big Planet Comics, is celebrating his 30th year of open in Terrapin Station on Route 1. While business is doing well, he said he’s worried he and other shop owners will struggle to bring in a steady flow of customers if construction lags.

“If there’s a massive construction problem, it’s going to kill business and affect traffic in a huge way,” Casazza said. “It may be good for everybody, but

in the meantime, a lot of business could go under while they are waiting to finish this.”

Because Route 1 is the “main street” of College Park, said District 1 City Councilman Fazlul Kabir, any renovations would simply benefit the city.

“It has some issues like traffic, and this will change the landscape, change the look of the city,” Kabir said.

In the meantime, students who have to cross the road to shop or return home will continue to brave busy intersections, said sophomore mechanical engineering major Sean Creel.

Many students put themselves in danger by resorting to jaywalking, he added.

“Seeing as about 50 percent of the student population decides to maybe go out to Route 1 on the weekends, I’m pretty sure it will have an effect on everyone,” Creel said.

The city plans to hold a meeting with different stakeholders, including the university, in early April to review plans for the renovation and the process going forward, Schum said. newsumdbk@gmail.com

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Opinion

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013

EDITORIAL BOARD

YASMEEN ABUTALEB Editor in Chief

Mike King

Managing Editor

Tyler Weyant

Managing Editor

maria romas Opinion Editor

nadav karasov Opinion Editor

CONTACT US 3150 South Campus Dining Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | newsumdbk@gmail.com OR opinionumdbk@gmail.com PHONE (301) 314-8200

STAFF EDITORIAL

Making history? The vote on same-sex marriage

W

e’re in the midst of what’s perhaps the most monumental issue of this Supreme Court — and it’s by far the sexiest.

In case you haven’t yet caught on from the influx of tweets, Facebook reposts of the red Human Rights Campaign equal sign and news articles, the Supreme Court is discussing samesex marriage. It’s a potentially historic time, one when the justices may vote in favor of equal rights.

Or not.

Two cases are up for debate. The first, which was presented yesterday, is Hollingsworth v. Perry. It involves California’s Proposition 8, which voters passed in 2008 to define marriage as between only a man and a woman and to overturn a state Supreme Court decision earlier that year that approved same-sex marriage. Then, this morning, the Supreme Court is set to hear a presentation on United States v. Windsor, which battles

the definition of marriage in the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The current definition, which calls for the union of a man and woman, denies same-sex couples more than 1,000 federal benefits that come with marriage, according to Slate.

The Supreme Court is in the powerful position of unilaterally deciding how to handle these cases. And advocates from both ends of the political spectrum on same-sex marriage seem to be acknowledging this — everyone is waiting with bated breath to see what the outcome will be.

The decision from the first day’s discussion has the potential to monumentally change the way our government rules on same-sex marriage if the justices choose to rule broadly and overturn every state constitutional provision and law banning the unions.

However, they could also set back the same-sex marriage movement by up-

holding California’s ban and continuing to leave it up to the states.

Both days have been centered around whether there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage that states may not deny. And both cases being con-

OUR VIEW

We hope the Supreme Court upholds equality when it hears these same-sex marriage cases. sidered are really about the word “marriage,” an institution certain conservative politicians seem to have a hard time sharing with same-sex couples.

Today, the court is set to devote nearly two hours to the second case involving the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Lower courts

have found the law unconstitutional, concluding that withholding federal benefits such as preferential tax breaks, Social Security survivor benefits and medical leave is discriminatory when both heterosexual and homosexual couples are legally married.

Every member of this editorial board agrees that same-sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. We were proud on Election Day when our state’s voters were the first to legalize same-sex marriage.

We believe the Supreme Court should recognize the changing times and vote in favor of acknowledging same-sex marriage as a constitutional right.

We realize these cases have put the court in the spotlight amid fervent, emotional debates with moral, religious and social implications. Most states ban same-sex marriage, but we are part of a generation in which a growing number of Americans believe

EDITORIAL CARTOON

being gay is not a choice. We are aware this may be too progressive for the elderly members of the Supreme Court.

But we remain vigilantly hopeful.

At this point, it simply seems to be a waiting game. A majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, and a growing number are coming around to the idea. This editorial board believes it will just be a matter of when, rather than if, these changes happen.

The current Supreme Court justices could decide they want to be part of history by making the decision in favor of same-sex marriage.

And if they don’t, it’s not a time for despair. There is ample opportunity in the future for change to happen.

Yes, we obviously want it now — the fight for equality has been extensive, and the benefits are long overdue. But it’s important not to give up, because change is coming. We just need all the pieces to come together.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Responses on faith

I

JACK CHEN/the diamondback

Choice: It’s quite paradoxical LAUREN MENDELSOHN Although we still function with the mindset of a free and happy “American Dream,” the truth is that American citizens’ contentedness is declining. According to several studies and reports, overall life satisfaction in the U.S. has fallen below that of many other nations, even some with lower living standards.

Data highlighting the discrepancy between prosperity — traditionally measured by per capita GDP, but recently accounting for factors such as educational opportunities, health care and personal freedoms — and life satisfaction have been published in countless reports. Recently, the annual Legatum Prosperity Index ranked the U.S. No. 12; the New Economics Foundation’s Happy Planet Index placed the U.S. near the bottom of the list (No. 105 of 151), citing our horrendous ecological footprint; and Columbia University’s World Happiness Report ranked the U.S. No. 10 in terms of life satisfaction and No. 23 for happiness.

There are many reasons why people in a wealthy, egalitarian society might feel less satisfied with their lives than citizens of a poor nation do; for one, there’s simply a different point of reference for what’s “normal.” It’s fruit-

less to desire things that are impossible to obtain in any given society.

Furthermore, individual upbringing and cultural traditions influence one’s worldview and contentment with the current situation. These undoubtedly contribute to the variance in world happiness, but another problem facing this country — the reason why discontent is growing — lies hidden within our capitalist economy, and it’s an inherent threat in any free-market system.

I’m talking about the pure number of consumer goods available to us every day. It’s wonderful to be able to buy anything you want from the local superstore, but did you ever stop to notice how many brands and types of things are on the shelves? Is that really all necessary?

Consider over-the-counter medications, for example. The active ingredient in Advil and Motrin is the same as store-brand ibuprofen, yet you waste time deciding which to buy and later wonder if another would have better helped your headache. There’s often an entire aisle full of bread, from sevengrain to 12-grain, flatbreads to pitas, all manufactured by a slew of baking companies trying to get their hands on every corner of the starchy spectrum.

Shopping malls have endless options; yet even with thousands of outfits to browse through, we often spend hours looking for the perfect fit and leave with

nothing, frustrated by the “poor selection.” Even on television, we flip through hundreds of channels before concluding there’s “nothing to watch.”

This all comes down to something known in psychology as the paradox of choice: More is not always better, at least in terms of multiple options and their effects on the human psyche. According to the researcher who first published the theory, giving people more to select from lowers their ultimate satisfaction no matter which option they choose, because the act of decision-making induces stress and worry on the individual. Thus, people from societies without the plethora of consumer choices that we face are more likely to be content and fulfilled with their decisions and spend less time ruminating about alternatives.

To be clear, I’m not advocating a drastic change to our economic system overnight. I believe a free market has its benefits along with its pitfalls. Yet I urge corporations to take analyses of world happiness and psychological findings on the paradoxical effects of choice into account when developing products that would best serve society. For although a salesman may not want to admit it, sometimes, less is actually more.

L a u re n Me n d e l so h n i s a se n i o r psychology major. She can be reached at lmendel1@terpmail.umd.edu.

was very disappointed to read Marc Priester’s column, “The irrelevancy of faith-based morality,” in the March 25th edition of The Diamondback. Of all of Priester’s logical fallacies and unwarranted assumptions, the following shocked me the most: “faith-based logic contradicts all notion of reason.”

This idea is offensive. Priester categorically dismisses all who base morality on religion as illogical — writing that these people have “no place in the marketplace of morals.”

In doing so, Priester becomes as intolerant and hateful as those he derides mere paragraphs earlier.

People do not want to talk about sexual assault if they will be called sluts. I do not want to talk about morality or religion if I know I will be branded intolerant or irrational.

Of course, Priester’s assertion that religion contradicts reason is untrue.

For example, rationality plays a large part in choosing a religion. If one finds a certain belief system to be morally distasteful, it is a simple matter to choose another. C.S. Lewis, Ahmed Deedat, Tim Keller and many others have written entire books defending their respective faiths.

The closest Priester comes to defending his irresponsible assumption is when he writes that “most religions demonize sex.” Of course, Priester doesn’t say how this happens.

What he does say is this imagined demonization leads to rape culture and discrimination against LGBT individuals. The last time I checked, most religions do not condone rape.

Acceptance of the LGBT community is happening in previously homophobic religious denominations.

In his attempt to make a sweeping generalization about the nature of religion and morality, Priester ultimately says nothing. Anyone can say that it is wrong to base morality on things that are untrue, illogical and narrow-minded. As Priester would say, that is “tautologically true.” The premise for this tautology, however, is completely false.

NATHAN CHAI SOPHOMORE BIOCHEMISTRY AND GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS MAJOR

D

ear Marc Priester, I just read your column, “The irrelevancy of faith-based morality,” and was fascinated by it. I have worked on the campus for more than 30 years (including my student years), and I enjoy seeing the nonacademic education unfold as well as the more formal degreeseeking learning — which is ultimately why you are here in the first place.

Now, regarding your column, I categorically disagree with your premise and conclusion. First, full disclosure: I am a person of faith, specifically Christianity.

However, regardless of my potential bias, by definition, the “marketplace of morality” requires that faith-based systems of morality are allowed to compete.

In addition, most cultures on Earth have systems of morality that are loosely or strongly tied to the metaphysical (or the religious, if you will). From Navajo to Yoruba, Inuit to Koori, systems of morality have been forged over time, primarily based on metaphysical reasoning — they are not illogical.

This includes deriving sexual chastity from a faith system, the idea of which you emphatically attacked. (By the way, a strong case could be made for faithbased morality protecting women, not using them.)

I encourage you to reconsider your position. Aside from it being impossible to eliminate “faith-based morality” as you define it, in a pluralistic society as ours, the competition of differing ideas is healthy and should be encouraged. And then whatever is true, right, noble, pure, lovely, excellent or praiseworthy will rise to the top. As a government and politics major, I’m sure you agree.

FULLER MING JR. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR IT DEPARTMENT OF DINING SERVICES, DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

OPINION EDITOR WANTED Candidates should have an understanding of university, state and national issues, strong managerial skills and the ability to meet deadlines. Opinion editors work 30 to 35 hours per week. The position is paid. For more information, please contact opinion editors Maria Romas and Nadav Karasov at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

Sunrise, sunset: The merits of a workout regimen Having a steady exercise routine can improve your mental outlook along with your physical health IAN LACY That buzzing from my cellphone alarm works its way into my sleepfogged brain. Buzz, buzz … it is constant, unrelenting and my own fault.

I had not correctly followed my academic plan, and suddenly I found I needed a two-credit activity course to meet my major’s three-credit benchmark requirement.

So I signed up for ARMY104: Basic Army Physical Fitness II, a physical

training course designed to get a person in good shape. I’m an athletic guy so I thought, “I’m up to this.” It seemed like a good idea at the time.

That was until the first morning, when I had to get to class by 6:30 a.m. and be awake enough not to injure myself during a 90-minute program of serious, strenuous calisthenics, sprints, runs and other endurancebuilding routines.

And I had this class three times a week.

When spring semester began and I had to drag myself from my warm bed into the frigid morning air, the

question crept into my mind, “What in the world did I get myself into?”

It didn’t matter; I had no choice but to follow through with my decision.

During the first few weeks, I actually looked forward to the cold weather. Jogging during class in the frigid air numbed my sore muscles like a giant ice pack; it was the warming up that was a bit painful. We would perform various exercises, from 25pound rucksack marches to abdominal workouts that never seemed to end.

Between the lack of sleep, perpetual cold and never-ending soreness, I was not a happy man.

After a few weeks of these intense early-morning workouts, I began to take notice of the number of benefits this class was providing me, both mentally and physically.

I began to be able to run faster and longer. Suddenly, push-ups and crunches were becoming easier to perform. Most importantly, I began to feel healthier mentally.

It took a while for me to realize that, regardless of my crabbing, grumbling, groaning and lack of sleep, the results of my activity course had crept up on me and had become, well, beneficial.

It is common knowledge that a

regular routine of physical training contributes to making the body stronger, and often leaner, while becoming more defined and gaining more muscular endurance. But this routine also strengthened my resolve to challenge myself and schedule my day (and sleep schedule) more effectively, giving a boost to my mental alertness and even improving my diet.

So, as I have often heard said, some blessings come in disguise — or, in this case, in the dark.

Ian Lacy is a junior kinesiology major. He can be reached at ianlacy19@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features ACROSS 1 Sudden downpour 6 Low-lying clouds 10 Outing 14 Snake venom 15 Water, in Baja 16 Belgian river 17 Insurance worker 18 Wine sediments 19 Earthenware pot 20 Means of escape (hyph.)

22 Built for speed 23 Froth 24 Is parched 26 Litter member 29 Use a screen 31 Way back when 32 Natural resource 33 Sufficient, in verse 34 Full of difficulties 38 Wax-coated cheese 40 Bleacher shout 42 Hacker’s pets?

43 Stubborn 46 Director -- Ephron 49 Recess game 50 Reed or Ferrigno 51 Mushy food 52 Zig’s opposite 53 Xylophone kin 57 Glamorous wraps 59 Buoy up

60 For a song (hyph.)

65 Upscale singer?

66 Kind of dancer (hyph.)

67 Puts an end to 68 Help a crook 69 Chocolate cookie 70 Great Lake natives 71 Stripe 72 Job benefit 73 Went shopping

CROSSWORD

30 Longbow’s sound 35 Cracker brand 36 March Madness org.

37 Burglar of yore 39 Weigh heavily

41 Mark Twain portrayer Hal - 44 Vague amount 45 Center 47 Tooth anchor 48 Cochise and Geronimo

DOWN 1 Iffy attempt 2 Comics possum 3 Salchow kin 4 Adds color 5 Bubble over 6 Buys, so to speak (2 wds.)

7 Kind of molding 8 Hotel patron 9 Airline to Stockholm 10 Shop area 11 Gets one’s goat 12 Archipelago dot 13 Maxes out 21 Wednesday’s god 22 Express relief 25 Checkroom item 26 Haiku or ballad 27 Karachi language 28 Ring, as bells

© 2013 United Features Syndicate

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

Today’s crossword sponsored by:

53 Award for valor 54 Perpetrator’s need 55 Baltimore gridder 56 Feel passion for 58 Acute 61 Disney chairman

62 Journalist -- Ducommun 63 Nefertiti’s god 64 Furtive whisper 66 DDE’s party

B

HOROSCOPE STELLA WILDER

orn today, you are the kind to follow your instincts and do what you know to be right, even though others may not agree with you or subscribe to your way of thinking in any way.

This means, of course, that you will do many things in life entirely on your own, without the support of others -- but on most occasions this suits you just fine. You do not like to feel beholden to anyone, and you crave just the kind of recognition that solo success brings you. Of course, you must realize that because you do so much entirely on your own.

You like things to be a little rough around the edges; though you can cultivate a kind of finesse that is appreciated in certain circles, you prefer to live your life closer to the edge, free from the kinds of expectations and mores that would limit how you feel, what you say and what you do.

Also born on this date are: Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, singer; Mariah Carey, singer; Quentin Tarantino, film writer, director and actor; Michael York, actor; David Janssen, actor; Sarah Vaughan, singer; Gloria Swanson, actress.

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- A recreational activity is likely to become much more important

COLLEGE INTUITION RICHIE BATES ROGER DOES COLLEGE

to you than mere recreation very soon. Do your homework!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Are you really ready to take on more than you are already doing?

Today, you may find that time management is more important than usual.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You can bet that someone on the opposite side of the table will not give you all the information you need to engage in productive talk.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- A change is forced upon you today that, ultimately, will have you thanking your lucky stars for such an unusual opportunity.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You’re after something more engaging than routine assignments. You may be ready to ask for exactly what you want -- if the time is right.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -You’ll be part of something big today that comes a surprise to those who have been working against you and your allies.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Information that comes to you through the usual channels

doesn’t really give you all you need.

You must do some independent research.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -You have the feeling that someone is looking over your shoulder, and you may find it difficult to do your best work under such conditions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- A family situation must not be allowed to get out of hand today. It will fall to you to remind everyone of what is most important.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You don’t want to be guilty of any lapses in judgment at this time.

Focus squarely on what you know needs to be done.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You’ve locked yourself into a pattern of behavior that limits your productivity. You can break that pattern and explore new outlets.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You may not be required to ask permission to do as you have planned, but it is a good idea to let others know of your intentions.

COPYRIGHT 2013 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

Today’s HOROSCOPE sponsored by:

Max Siskind

su | do | ku © Puzzles by Pappocom

Fill in the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:

MEDIUM

Today’s SUDOKU PUZZLE sponsored by:

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013

Diversions

DISNEY, THEN AND NOW

ON THE BLOG

Senior staff writer Warren Zhang argues that social media is ruining the way we watch movies and that Spring Breakers presents the solution. Speaking of Disney Channel stars, Luck of the Irish and Johnny Tsunami face off in our Disney Channel Original Movie bracket. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

ESSAY | JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

THE TIMBERLAKE EXPERIENCE Justin Timberlake’s ability to transcend any one niche has made him one of the last universally adored celebrities

By Eric Bricker Staff writer I was in the middle of a movie marathon with friends when word popped up on the Internet that Justin Timberlake would be releasing his first single in almost seven years. Excitement ran through the party as word spread from person to person. Anticipation built quite rapidly; apparently, the track would drop on his website at exactly midnight.

And so, when 12 a.m. hit, everyone in the house dropped what they were doing, gathered around a laptop and danced together when the single — the now ubiquitous funk come-on “Suit & Tie” — flowed forth like chilled champagne, even out of tinny iBook speakers.

“It’s weird,” one listener remarked. “You know? Hearing something for the first time that you know you’re going to hear a million more times.”

As my friend predicted, “Suit & Tie” is now all over the radio and TV, and the album that houses it, The 20/20 Experience, is sitting comfortably at the top of the charts. Though barely a week old, the album has already been the subject of enough Internet think pieces to make Lance Bass weep with jealousy. Thanks to a post on Okayplayer by Questlove, anticipation is already high for the inevitable follow-up.

And while Timberlake deftly danced his way back into pop music, he graciously whored himself out with a smile, lending his star power to a fifth hosting gig at Saturday Night Live and just kind of hanging out on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for a week. Over the past few weeks, perhaps even more digital ink has been spilled on Timberlake the actor: his effortless cool and willingness to mock himself. Try to imagine any other pop star gleefully bellowing “Africa” at a Jewish summer camp, or happily handing down “Maine Justice.” It’s hard to picture.

“I don’t want to be the one to alienate,” Timberlake sings on 20/20’s “Spaceship Coupe,” and whether in his music or on film, it rings true: Timberlake is universally loved by everyone, from disaffected hipsters (i.e., me) to suburban moms (just ask mine). But why?

Simply put, Timberlake is able to be all things to all people. His last LP, 2006’s FutureSex/LoveSounds went multiplatinum and — not to be hyperbolic — became a touchstone for a generation. Virginities were lost to “LoveStoned,” and “SexyBack” still probably kills at junior

proms and their illicit after-parties. We grew up with Timberlake; he transitioned from boy band cheese to smooth R&B just as we moved from awkward puberty to awkward sex.

At the same time, Timberlake is safe for parents to love — sharply dressed, flanked by a big band, a conscious throwback to Frank Sinatra and Al Green. For those who still watch TV or listen to the radio, Timberlake’s all over the dial; for those of us who go straight to the Internet, he is a canny star of new media, throwing up new music and palling around with other musicians and comedians on YouTube and Twitter.

Timberlake didn’t need to release another album. He didn’t need to go back to SNL. He doesn’t need to do a stadium tour with Jay-Z. But he can. He has earned the right to do whatever he wants. Which begs the question: Was Timberlake’s week at 30 Rock a shameless promotional ploy for his new album, or an act of charity bestowed on a struggling network?

In other words, did Timberlake need NBC, or did NBC need a shot of JT? And in the end, that’s the real lesson of The 20/20 Experience. Timberlake’s appeal is varied, but it’s undeniably and inescapably universal. In a pop cultural landscape that continues to become increasingly fragmented and exclusive, it’s nice to have a unifying figure, a tuxedoed renaissance man who can make us drop everything and come together, be it to laugh, dance or make sweet, dirty love.

We’re all going to hear “Suit & Tie” a million times, but we’re going to hear it together. Justin Timberlake may not need us, but we all need JT. diversionsdbk@gmail.com photo courtesy of thatgrapejuice.net

Classified RATES 35¢ per word ALL CAPITAL LETTERS Bold Letters

$3.50 minimum 35¢ extra per word 70¢ extra per word

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY ADS • Larger type • Sold in 1” increments • One column wide • $33.00/column inch • Run online at no additional cost OFFICE HOURS 10AM – 4PM Monday – Friday • 3136 South Campus Dining Hall DEADLINES The deadline for ads is 2PM • 2 business days in advance of publication SPECIAL Run the same ad 4 consecutive days and get the 5th day FREE!

All Classified & Classified Display Ads will run online at no additional charge. ¿ ONLINE

To place an ad: PHONE 301-314-8000 | EMAIL advertising@dbk.umd.edu | FAX 301-314-8358 | v m A All ads must be prepaid

Employment

Banquet Server Part Time Positions Available Previous experience preferred but not required.

Visit: columbiacc.org for applications or email resume to wduthe@columbiacc.org.

SUMMER DAY CAMP COUNSELORS – needed in Darnestown, MD for a summer with children ages 4-14. Instructors in swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, gymnastics, archery and air rifle. Apply online: www.valleymill.com. CDL desirable, training provided. June 8-August 17. 301948-0220.

Appointment Setters Needed $14 per hour plus commission. Flexible hours. PT or FT. Greenbelt, MD. Email resume to Charlie@beltwayblinds.com. www.beltwayblinds.com

Attention Students

Sales and Marketing Firm seeks highly motivated individuals to work evenings and Saturday mornings.

Earn $200-$500 weekly working PT. Internships available.

Ask for Dave, 240-473-1201.

Pool Cocktail Server

Employment

For Rent

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$ Bartending $ – $250/day potential. No experience necessary. Training available. 1800-965-6520 x116.

Three residential houses in University Hills – available June 1. All within walking distance, 5 bedrooms, central ac, dishwasher, washer/dryer. Rent range from $3100 up.

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BIKE TO CAMPUS. 5718 Vassar Drive. 5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 kitchens, ac, 2 dishwashers, washer/dryer. 1.58 miles to campus. Shuttle stop .12 from house. Bike path end of street. Free parking spaces available on College Ave. $1895. 301-6991863 or email dunnrentals@aol.com.

Menswear Models needed. Good build required. No charges to applicants. $30/hour.

410-719-6246 after 12 pm.

Summer Cook (May-September)

Full and Part Time Positions Available Visit: columbiacc.org for applications or email resume to wduthe@columbiacc.org.

Child Care

Nanny Wanted

Looking for an energetic and experienced individual to care for a 2 yr. old, at times a 6 and 8 yr. old. Must be available Mondays and Wednesdays all day, various hours during the rest of the week. Call 410-212-8007 or email AbbyGold123@gmail.com.

For Sale BOOKS: Romance does not always live up to our expectations. But, come on, does it have to fall as far short as it does in Clumsy Hearts? A slightly misguided romance, by Hysteria Molt. Available via Amazon.com.

(May-September)

For Rent

Visit: columbiacc.org for applications or email resume to wduthe@columbiacc.org.

Apartment next to campus. Large 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Washer/dryer, ac, etc. 301-918 -0203.

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available

Bartender Full and Part Time Positions Available

Previous bartending experience preferred but not required.

Visit: columbiacc.org for applications or email resume to wduthe@columbiacc.org.

Pool Side Café Server (May-September)

Part Time Positions Available Visit: columbiacc.org for applications or email resume to wduthe@columbiacc.org.

NEED MONEY FOR RENT? — Call 301-314 -8000, 10 am - 4 pm, Monday - Friday, to place a classified ad and sell your extra stuff!

Available August. Rooms in new house.

Walking distance to campus. Washer, dryer, internet, cable, free parking, common area furnished. Call Rich, 240-423-1626.

College Park Towers 2 BR/3 people. $1900/mo.

Available August.

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Available August – 6 bedroom house. Walking distance to campus. Washer, dryer, internet, cable, free parking. Spacious backyard and deck. Call Rich, 240-423-1626.

Look No Further

For Your Housing Needs CollegeParkHousing.org Numerous Listings Nice large house 1/2 mile to campus. 4-5 bedrooms, 3 baths. Available Fall. 301-9180203.

7 Bedroom House

Lock In for Fall 6705 Baltimore Ave. 3.5 BA, W/D, internet. 7 people max allowed. Recently renovated. 3.5 blocks to downtown College Park.

Available Aug. 1. $1900. Gene, 301996-2230, ejleonardi@yahoo.com.

WALK TO CAMPUS Apartment. 4502 Guilford Road (not a Knox Box). 3 bedrooms, fireplace, dishwasher and big walkup attic. $1850. 301-699-1863 or email dunnrentals@aol.com.

HOUSES FOR RENT. Close to campus. cphouse4rent.com

Services ACADEMIC EDITING — Dissertations, theses, papers. Style manual specialists.

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Apartments as Low as $549/BR on a 3 Bedroom 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Apartments Available 6200 Springhill Drive Greenbelt, MD 20770

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All utilities included. Free shuttle service to and from UMD campus. Walk to Metro and Beltway Plaza.

•

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EVEN 2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

THE DIAMONDBACK THE DIAMONDBACK | XXXDAY, | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER AUGUST XX, 31, 20127

SOFTBALL

Terps building confidence as they continue improving Team has won nine of past 11 entering games vs. Howard

By Paul Pierre-Louis Staff writer Predicted to finish deep in the ACC’s basement in the preseason, the Terrapins softball team has grown accustomed to the underdog role going into games this year.

And over its first 19 contests, it did little to prove it deserved more respect.

They faced some tough competition along the way, and inconsistent performances from the Terps left the team nine games under .500 through those first 19 games. Since then, however, the team has enjoyed a sharp change in form.

The Terps have won nine of their past 11 games and now find themselves in a starkly

different position as they prepare for tonight’s home doubleheader against Howard.

After sweeping conference foe Virginia this past weekend, the team will be considered heavy favorites against the Lady Bison, who have lost 11 of their past 12 games.

Coach Laura Watten hopes her players can have confidence in their improved ability.

“We’ve lost to teams we definitely should’ve beaten this year,” she said. “So we can’t go in and be overconfident.”

After all, the Terps were reeling during one period of their season as well. The team lost 14 out of 19 games before it began stringing together wins. Overlooking a weaker opponent, Watten said, would

Coach Laura WatteN’s (left) Terps continually have gotten better as the season has progressed.

After losing 14 of the first 19 games, they have won nine of their past 11. file photo/the diamondback

exhibit a lack of focus and maturity in the young squad.

The Terps rarely displayed these characteristics in their most recent series, where they stood firm against any challenge presented by the Cavaliers. Batters extended plate appearances by fighting off pitches for foul balls, solid plays in the field prevented runs from scoring and relief pitching provided support if the starter was struggling.

“We have to keep that fight mentality. That’s what we had this weekend,” pitcher K a i t ly n Sc h m e i se r sa i d .

“Scrapping, clawing for anything that we can get.”

The Terps will need to maintain that momentum against Howard. Following tonight’s doubleheader, the team will get back to conference play in a three-game series against Florida State this weekend.

Though the Seminoles pose a much stronger threat to the Terps (14-16, 3-0 ACC) than tonight’s opponent, how the team comes out against the struggling Lady Bison (2-15) will provide foresight on how it will approach this weekend.

Besides, just like how the Terps struggled early and then rebounded, their opponent tonight can still snap out of its funk at any time. “[Howard] can surprise people sometimes,” Schmeiser said. “We just have to stay aggressive and play them like they are a [Virginia] or any team in our conference.” sportsdbk@gmail.com

Forward Dez Wells had an uncharacteristic performance in the second half, totaling five points and three turnovers. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

TIDE From PAGE 8 games for the first time since the 2006-07 season. “But at this time of year, it was big.”

It was a significant moment for a team that slogged through ACC play with just two road victories. The Terps (25-12) bent, but they didn’t break. They hit clutch buckets down the stretch, locked down defensively and handed Alabama (23-13) its first defeat at Coleman Coliseum since Dec. 30.

And they did it in an unconventional manner. Forward Dez Wells wasn’t himself in the second half, scoring just five points with three turnovers after the break. Center Alex Len — who has struggled on the road this season — delivered a 15-point, 13-rebound, five-block performance despite nagging foul trouble.

And a streaky group notched a stellar shooting night. The Terps shot 50 percent from the field and hit 7-of-15 3-pointers. With its defense humming in critical stretches, the team’s offensive display was enough to overcome the late Crimson Tide rally. On the night, the Terps held Alabama to 40 percent shooting.

“We blocked a lot of shots and we rebounded,” center Shaquille Cleare said. “We just

PATRIOTS From PAGE 8 in Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.

The Terps’ struggles started at the plate. Normally a strong bunting team — Szefc has shown he’s willing to bunt in any situation, regardless of who is on base or at bat or how many outs there are — the Terps uncharacteristically failed to execute on several easy sacrifice situations. Both shortstop Blake Schmit and catcher Kevin Martir popped bunts up to the right side that were easily caught for outs.

didn’t give guys three or four chances. We went after the ball really well, and Alex protected the rim all night.”

The Terps jumped to a 10-5 lead before enduring a nearly eight-minute scoreless stretch.

Alabama pieced together an 8-0 spurt during the drought to take a 13-10 lead with 14:10 left in the half. Both teams then exchanged blows until an 11-5 Terps run secured a seven-point lead entering halftime.

During the break, Turgeon walked over to a whiteboard in the visitor’s locker room and jotted down a list of Madison Square Garden’s top moments.

He discussed NBA championship games, Michael Jackson concerts and referenced the historic Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight. He was trying to prevent a second-half letdown.

He was trying to remind an erratic team that a postseason title still hung in the balance.

The speech seemed to resonate, and the Terps ratcheted up the pressure after intermission.

Using a full-court press to nag the Crimson Tide into costly turnovers, they built a 10-point edge less than four minutes into the second half.

But then they started fumbling the ball and tallying critical giveaways of their own.

They notched five second-half turnovers before the under-12

timeout, and their lead dwindled to 48-47 with about five minutes remaining.

But the Terps netted buckets wh e n i t m a t te re d . G u a rd Pe’Shon Howard — who logged 35 minutes with Seth Allen out with a fractured bone in his hand — hit a wide-open 3-pointer, and forward Jake Layman added two more treys to grab a 57-49 lead with 3:40 remaining.

“It gave us a boost,” Layman said. “It was good to have.”

Desperate to keep its season alive, the Crimson Tide attacked the lane and cobbled together an 8-1 run. But it was all for naught.

After all, the Terps have grown up in recent weeks.

Players say they feel closer to their teammates. Turgeon says he doesn’t have to repeat the same instructions in timeouts as much. And a chronically inconsistent crew has now won three straight games for the first time since nonconference play.

Those are notable strides for a team that regularly collapsed when facing adversity less than a month ago.

“It’s great to get a good road win,” Wells said. “We never give up. We’ve been through a lot this year. For us to get this road win means a lot to us.”

“We have to do better executing,” said second baseman Kyle Convissar, who batted 1-for-4 with an RBI double. “There is no easy team. Any team any day can beat you. We didn’t do what we were supposed to do at the plate. Against Virginia, against George Mason, against Florida State, you have to execute if you want to win. And we didn’t execute today.”

The Terps (14-10) performed even worse in the field. Despite freshman right-hander Alex Robinson giving the Terps the best start of his young career — six innings pitched, five hits, six strikeouts and no earned runs —

and relievers Bobby Ruse and Kevin Mooney combining to allow no earned runs on four hits over the final three innings, the defense — which Szefc has often referred to as the team’s strength — was far from stout behind them.

With the game tied, 1-1, with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, George Mason (12-12) center fielder Tommy Vitaletti popped a ball down the rightfield line. Terps right fielder Anthony Papio tracked it, but dropped the ball just before running into the wall, allowing two runs to score and giving the Patriots a 3-1 lead they would never relinquish.

Convissar hit his RBI double in the bottom half of the inning, but the rally would end short of a Terps comeback.

The question now is how the Terps will respond to a bad loss.

Good teams find a way to show up at their best for every game, whether it is a nonconference contest or not.

And for young team continuing to grow and develop, yesterday was simply another lesson learned.

“I think we need to focus, especially in the nonconference games, because those add up,” Convissar said. “It is easy to get up for an ACC series with big teams. We need to execute a little better and play a little better, and we will in the future.”

sportsdbk@gmail.com

sportsdbk@gmail.com

STATLINE Terps men’s basketball center Alex Len’s performance in a 58-57 win at Alabama

15 13 5 Points

Rebounds

Blocks

Sports

IN-STATE VICTORY

The Terrapins women’s lacrosse team defeated Towson, 11-8, last night. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

Page 8

ON THE WEB

WEDNESDAY, March 27, 2013

TERRAPINS 58

TIDE ROLLED

57 CRIMSON TIDE

GMU plates 2 in 9th to beat Terps Errors doom team in nonconference defeat

By Daniel Popper Staff writer

Terps stave off late-game comeback, secure berth in NIT semifinals

John Szefc’s promising young Terrapins baseball team proved it can contend with some of the better teams in the ACC over its past three series.

Though their win-loss record in those games doesn’t stand out, capturing three victories in nine games against Virginia, Florida State and Wake Forest is a sign of improvement for a team seemingly on the rise.

Although the first-year coach understood that his team was going to be a work in progress, he saw potential. He knew the Terps could achieve something great if groomed correctly.

Yesterday against George Mason, though, he saw none of the things that have given him so much hope. Costly errors plagued the Terps as they dropped their first nonconference game in more than a month, 3-2,to the Patriots.

“If you watched us play today, it looks like we never practiced,” Szefc said. “That was by far our worst game of the season. It’s not even close. That’s how bad it was.”

A squad typically brimming with energy from the first pitch appeared lethargic, seemingly lacking focus against a scuffling George Mason team that had lost seven of its past 11 games

By Connor Letourneau Senior staff writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Terrapins men’s basketball team was on the brink of yet another road letdown. After cutting an eight-point Terps lead into a one-point deficit in less than four minutes, Alabama had the ball with 19.1 seconds remaining on the game clock.

A few weeks ago, players later said, a young bunch would’ve wilted right there. It would’ve lagged on defense and allowed the top-seeded Crimson Tide to sink a game-clinching basket. A red-clad crowd of 9,479 would’ve roared as the Terps grappled with the end of an up-and-down season.

But these aren’t the Terps from a few weeks ago.

Instead of delivering an all-too-familiar disappointment, coach Mark Turgeon’s squad clamped down during the game’s pivotal moments. Center Alex Len swatted a Rodney Cooper runner out of bounds with 3.1 seconds remaining. And after struggling to find an open look, Crimson Tide guard Trevor Lacey launched an off-kilter jumper that clanged off the iron as time expired.

The miss secured a 58-57 win and a date in famed Madison Square Garden, where the No. 2-seed Terps will face the winner of tonight’s Virginia-Iowa game in Tuesday’s NIT semifinals.

“We just held on, which I don’t like — just holding on,” said Turgeon, whose Terps have now won 25 See TIDE, Page 7

BASEBALL

Center Alex Len dominated the Crimson Tide in a 58-57 win that earned the Terps a berth in Tuesday’s NIT semifinals. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

See PATRIOTS, Page 7