April 4, 2013

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University to explore partnership with Corcoran Joining forces would mean access to more than 17,000 pieces of art, new courses, joint programs

By Yasmeen Abutaleb Senior staff writer The university and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington’s oldest private art museum, have agreed to explore a partnership that would enable the two institutions to collaborate and share resources.

If the university and the Corcoran ultimately decide to enter into a

“mutually beneficial” partnership, the university would have access to the Corcoran’s collection of more than 17,000 pieces of art, providing a boost to this university’s arts education and exhibits, university President Wallace Loh said. The Corcoran also runs the Corcoran College of Art + Design, a professional art school with about 550 undergraduate and graduate students.

“If all of a sudden you have access

to one of the finest art collections in all of the United States, that is totally transformative,” Loh said, adding the partnership could be bigger and more impactful than the university’s move to the Big Ten. The museum has faced financial trouble for several years and even explored selling its more than 100-yearold Beaux-Arts building, which sits on 17th Street across from the White House. The Corcoran needs approximately $130 million to bring it up to

See CORCORAN, Page 2

the corcoran gallery of art and this university have a written agreement to explore a “mutually beneficial” partnership. The two institutions have until the end of the summer to decide. photo courtesy of american art gallery

MGMT TO HEADLINE ART ATTACK

State House passes gun control bill Bill likely to become law after Senate review

By Jim Bach Senior staff writer

past Art Attack headliners, starting with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 1994. Following back-to-back rap and hip-hop selections, SEE received criticism for failing to provide variety in their concert picks, so they designed the video’s retrospective look to remind students of Art Attack’s diverse history, said SEE Concerts Director Kiera Zitelman.

“We had a lot of people saying, ‘Oh, we thought that SEE usually alternates between rock and rap years, so where’s the rock ‘n’ roll?’” said Zitelman. “The rock ‘n’ roll side is back this year.”

SEE officials felt MGMT — a band known for its catchy, synth-happy singles such as “Kids” and “Time To Pretend” — would help restore the balance between rock and hip-hop.

It took more than 12 hours over the course of two days, but the state’s House of Delegates passed one of the country’s strictest gun control measures by a 78-61 vote after wading through amendments and listening to impassioned debates.

The Firearms Safety Act of 2013 was first proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley a month after a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., touched off a national debate on gun violence. The measure would designate certain weapons as assault weapons and ban them, limit the number of rounds of ammunition allowed in a magazine and tighten licensing requirements for gun owners.

But the debate isn’t over yet, opponents reminded the General Assembly.

The bill now returns to the state Senate, which passed a similar version last month. If senators approve the House’s minor changes to the legislation, which they are expected to do, the bill will go to O’Malley for his signature.

See MGMT, Page 3

See guns, Page 3

mgmt will perform at this year’s Art Attack, which students said is a welcome change from the hip-hop and rap performances SEE has brought in the past couple of years. Tickets go on sale Monday. photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

After past couple of years’ hip-hop acts, students wanted return to rock ‘n’ roll performer for Art Attack XXX, SEE said

By Dean Essner Senior staff writer After two years of hip-hop headliners — Nelly in 2011 and B.o.B in 2012 — Student Entertainment Events’ annual Art Attack concert will feature rock band MGMT as the main act.

The Ready Set will open for the band at Art Attack XXX on May 3 at Byrd Stadium.

SEE revealed the news yesterday morning in a video that paid tribute to

Univ. hopes to improve city housing for faculty Only 4 percent live in city, according to report

By Annika McGinnis Staff writer In a city plagued with frustrating bumper-to-bumper traffic, linguistics professor Juan Uriagereka enjoys a commute that’s just a brief walk down the street.

The associate provost for faculty

INDEX

affairs lives in University Park with his family and raves about his tight-knit, familial College Park neighborhood.

“It’s a very diverse community, very safe,” said Uriagereka, who is also a professor. “We bike around and walk to work.”

But as a faculty member living in the city, he’s a rare breed in College Park. Just 4 percent of the university’s faculty and staff live in the city, according to a report on faculty and staff housing published this year by Anderson Strickler, LLC. “I bike a lot with the kids, and you do come here in the middle of the weekend and sometimes there’s not a lot of folks around,” Uriagereka said.

“Or you go to Clarice Smith and it’s not always clear you can hang out and have a beer with [your] friends. We need to build the infrastructure. But the need is clearly there — who would See housing, Page 3

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

New Twitter account drawing concerns Some tweets from @TerpCrushes vulgar, offensive

By Laura Blasey Senior staff writer It was only a matter of time before Eric Barbalace saw his name pop up in a @TerpCrushes tweet, and he knew it.

“It was inevitable,” the freshman government and politics major said.

“I saw a bunch of my friends start to get mentioned, so when it happened, I wasn’t very surprised.”

On March 28, the Twitter account @TerpCrushes tweeted,“Eric Barbalace … I don’t care if you’re legally a dwarf, i’d still let you rail me ;).”

Barbalace is one of many students who have seen their names show up on the account’s feed since its creation on March 24. Through @TerpCrushes, students can anonymously confess their sexual desires and the campus community seems to be responding: The account has more than 4,700 followers on the microblogging site.

The junior behind the account won’t reveal his name, but he said he modeled it after the ones he saw at other schools such as Rutgers, the University of Connecticut and James Madison University, adding he amassed a large following in just a few days.

Much like @UMDConfessions, which also garnered attention this semester, submissions are anonymous.

Submit tips to The Diamondback at newsumdbk@gmail.com

@TERPCRUSHES TWEETS

“To the girl I just held the door open for at McKeldin. I hope you come back. I’m on the 7th floor;)” “Marty. I really really like you. Someday, I’ll get the courage to talk to you. But for now, thank you for being so incredible.”

“Tall asian dude in a grey hodie from phil209j this morning.... What I wouldnt give to have coffee with you” “Boy that lives at the view in a red md sweatshirt it’s the girl that we always make eye contact with say hi already”

See CRUSHes, Page 2

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013

University pilots I-series course on sustainable energy Students design, present green energy projects

By Madeleine List Staff writer Recognizing a lack of public awareness about energy issues, this university, in collaboration with several other organizations, has launched a course dedicated to teaching students across the country about the many facets of sustainable energy.

The university piloted the new Iseries course BIOE 289A: Designing a Sustainable World this semester after campus researchers conducted a survey and found most institutions lack energy education courses, said Idalis Villanueva, bioengineering lecturer and co-developer of the course.

Together with the Department of Energy, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the Environment and Energy Study Institute, the university designed the class to teach students about

CORCORAN From PAGE 1 modern museum standards, but even then, it still wouldn’t be enough to properly display the art and support the college.

A partnership would mean new courses and joint degrees for university students, faculty and staff affiliates, as well as joint appointments and other new, innovative programs, a written agreement between the two institutions states. And a partnership has the ability to dramatically enhance the stature of all university departments, as the university would have a strong presence in Washington, said David Cronrath, architecture school dean.

Partnering with the Corcoran would help make this university a more well-rounded institution known not only for its science and engineering programs, but its arts programs as well, said Bonnie Thornton Dill, arts and humanities college dean.

“It would heighten the importance of the arts as part of a total educational package,” Thorton Dill said. “We have a lot of strength in some areas of the sciences, great strength in the performing arts — this

topics such as energy law and policy, Villanueva said. The course emphasizes the Department of Energy’s seven “Essential Principles” of energy literacy — the ideal level of understanding the department wants the public to have about energy issues, Villanueva said.

“As we become a more energyfocused society, it’s important that we have understanding across the board,” Villanueva said. It’s important for students to learn not only about the various methods of energy production, but also about their socio-economic impacts such as job creation and long-term sustainability, she added.

The 28-student class, taught by education professor and course codeveloper Leigh Abts, was designed with about $100,000 in grants from the Department of Energy, APLU and the National Science Foundation. The course has already spread to state colleges, Abts said. Cecil College and Harford Community Colleges will pilot their own versions next fall.

Open to students of all majors, the class fulfills general education

credits and sustainability studies minor requirements. Though his class has many engineering majors, Abts said more than half of the students are enrolled in letters and sciences. One of the course’s best aspects, he said, is that students can find what interests them and pursue projects that fit their passions.

“For many of these students, they’ve never really had the opportunity to connect the knowledge that’s out there on energy and sustainability and apply it in a way that’s meaningful and solves realworld problems,” Abts said. “Students and others have come up with some very innovative solutions to solve some really critical problems.”

One student in the class is designing an idea for a floor made from a material that can turn the motion of people walking into kinetic energy. This material, Abts said, could potentially be used in an arena as large as a football stadium to harness the motions of the crowd and power the lights.

Rachel Grafman, a freshman enrolled in the course, is designing a buoy that could be placed

would heighten the visual arts so it would give us a more balanced profile.”

Students, faculty, staff and community members will be encouraged to attend forums and discussions to determine whether the university should enter the partnership, Loh said. Provost Mary Ann Rankin will also lead a commission to study the potential partnership. Both the university and the Corcoran have until the end of the summer to decide on the move.

“The Corcoran is a tremendously important museum in the United States,” Cronrath said. “Having those assets readily available for our students and the prospect of our students interacting with design and fine arts students at Corcoran could lead to some pretty wonderful and exciting opportunities.”

The Corcoran’s 126,000-squarefoot building only has room to display less than 3 percent of the museum’s art collection. All art in storage would be available for the university to use.

As part of the partnership’s conditions, the university will propose candidates for Corcoran’s board of trustees and board chair.

The candidates and chair must “be to the satisfaction of UMD,”

according to the agreement.

If the two institutions do ultimately join forces, it will not be a merger, Loh said. Rather, “The Gallery and the College will continue as parts of an integrated whole,” the agreement states.

“We will gain a physical footprint in a historical landmark, magnifying our presence in the nation’s capital,” Loh said.

Loh also noted that few universities have similar partnerships, and none with an institution as large as the Corcoran.

If both institutions agree to move forward with the partnership, the Board of Regents — a 17-member governing body that oversees the University System of Maryland — and the Corcoran Board of Trustees must endorse it.

While talks are still in preliminary stages, Thornton Dill said the partnership could signal a new era in the university, one in which students are presented with numerous, progressive opportunities.

“It represents the possibilities of a great opportunity for the college,” she said. “I’m excited that we’re on the brink of exploring this in greater depth to see what it really could provide.”

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in still bodies of water to monitor the water quality and mitigate pollution. The buoy would help maintain the pH level of the water and would send out a signal to scientists monitoring the area if extra intervention was needed, the civil and environmental science engineering major said.

The class is great for budding scientists and engineers who hope to make the world a cleaner place, Grafman said, but it also provides an opportunity for nonscience students to learn more about clean energy.

“It’s a really broad topic. It’s very easy to get by knowing the absolute basics,” she said. “There’s so much that people can learn that isn’t super difficult for non-science majors.”

Students will present their projects to a panel of scientists and researchers in May, Abts said.

They have been documenting their work in online portfolios throughout the semester so they can show their results to potential employers, he added.

While she’s enjoyed the class, Grafman said students should be

CRUSHes From PAGE 1 @TerpCrushes, however, makes some of the antics published on @UMDConfessions look tame: In place of drunken escapades and secret pets in dorm rooms is sex, sex and more sex.

Some students approach the opportunity to confess their love with an eye for satire, submitting tweets such as, “I have a crush on this buffalo chicken wrap sitting in front of me.”

O t h e rs co n fe ss s i n ce re crushes, while some submissions push the boundaries of taste to embarrass friends.

“I am aware that a large portion of the submissions are vulgar in nature,” the account’s creator wrote in an email. “As someone who personally has been mentioned a few times, I’ve learned to see the humor in a lot of the tweets, and I think most of my followers have as well.”

More than 4,500 submissions clutter the creator’s inbox, but only about half of those have made it online.

When it comes to the anonymous submissions, the account’s creator follows a few of his own rules. For one, he

This university’s pilot I-series course, BIOE 289A: Designing a Sustainable World, focuses on teaching students about energy consumption and conservation. photo courtesy of james thomas grouped by their initial knowledge of the course topics, because her classmates’ levels of expertise were so varied.

Once course adjustments are made following the end of the semester, Abts said it will likely spread quickly to other institutions. More than 200 colleges and universities have already contacted APLU to express interest in the new curriculum, he added.

The course’s best qualities are its ability to inspire innovation and its potential to help students

begin to accomplish their future goals, Abts said.

“The whole philosophy has been like the Leonardo da Vinci approach,” Abts said. “I’ve stressed that [students’] designs may not be feasible today, but could be 200 years from now. You want to give students not only the motivation to think and apply their knowledge, but give them tools to use throughout their undergraduate education and beyond to their careers.”

said, he won’t post submissions mentioning university faculty and staff or someone in a relationship.

He also tries to avoid publishing clearly malicious crushes.

That isn’t to say, however, that the juiciest tweets face censorship. Several recent tweets on the account’s feed mention teaching assistants and employees with University Police, Dining Services and Stamp Student Union.

One submitter admitted a desire to hook up with a girl in his or her journalism class, adding, “You’re better looking with your mouth SHUT.” “I’m not naive enough to think that there isn’t a substantial portion of submissions that are friends of people mentioned or are people who otherwise do not mean what they say,” the creator wrote.

“I don’t think it really matters though … my personal favorites are the ridiculous analogies people come up with to describe their desire to do something.”

The creator wrote that he thinks one of the biggest reasons for the account’s success is its use of names. He publishes submissions unedited because he believes people follow the account to see their friends mentioned.

“Having names brings a social aspect to the page that expands

it beyond vague mentions and guesses,” he wrote. “On Terp Crushes, you know exactly who is being talked about.”

People mentioned on @TerpCrushes can ask the creator to take the tweet down if they find it offensive. However, he said he has received surprisingly few requests to delete tweets — out of 2,000 tweets, he’s received about 20 or 30 such requests.

“Honestly, I think they could make a lot of money,” said Victor Chen, a sophomore computer science major. “They just have to say, ‘If you want to find out who sent it, pay us $5.’”

Barbalace said he began following @TerpCrushes as a joke. He, his brother and their friends submitted entries about each other.

“I thought the tweet about me was very funny and clever,” Barbalace said. “On the whole, I thought they were pretty funny.”

Barbalace added that some of the tweets seemed creepy, like the ones that gave descriptions of students or didn’t come from close friends.

“Why would they be offended?” said sophomore psychology major Nina Shen. “It’s not like they post anything negative. It’s intended to be lighthearted.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

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GUNs From PAGE 1

AFTER B.O.B. performed at Art Attack last year and Nelly headlined in 2011, Student Entertainment Events decided to add variety to its concert picks by selecting MGMT as the headliner. The Ready Set will open for the rock band on May 3 at Byrd Stadium. file photo/the diamondback

MGMT From PAGE 1 MGMT may present a different type of rock from the straightforward guitar-pop of 2010’s headliner Weezer, but students seemed to react positively to the announcement.

“Last year was fun with B.o.B.; it was more of just like a good time,” said Clare Wise, a sophomore nutrition and food sciences major. “But I think this year it’s actually a band that I really like, so I think it will be good.”

Senior communications major Teneika Williams said she was happy that SEE opted for a more alternative act, a welcome change from a stale lineup of rap shows.

“I’m happy that they’re adding a variety to it,” said Williams. “I’m not surprised it’s not a hip-hop artist. We’ve had enough of them.”

But some students, such as senior journalism major Eric Morrow, expressed concern that MGMT wouldn’t be a big enough act to fill up Byrd Stadium, despite a new album release coming up in June.

“It’s kind of like what I expected from SEE at this point,” said Morrow. “It’s kind of like their usual level of artist, not someone that’s going to really attract a lot of names, not someone that’s going to headline a music festival.”

Morrow said he didn’t have a preference for a hip-hop or rock artist, but said, “I probably will go see MGMT.” Tickets will go on sale Monday, April 8 at umdtickets.com.

Student tickets are $8 and tickets for non-students are $25. newsumdbk@gmail.com

Del. Pat McDonough (RBaltimore and Harford) said he would petition the legislation to go to referendum so state voters can have the final word in whether O’Malley’s proposals become law. That would require an extensive petition effort to gather thousands of residents’ signatures before it could go on the ballot. In the last two years, McDonough successfully led efforts to petition the DREAM Act and same-sex marriage to the ballot before both were ultimately upheld.

“When the politicians have done their work in this body and this chamber concludes on sine die, the people of this state will go to work,” McDonough said, adding “the people will have their choice.”

Supporters of the bill maintained it was a necessary public safety measure that would save lives while also protecting Second Amendment rights, which opponents have often said would be violated by more stringent gun control measures.

“I think we have a chance to move Maryland forward, a place where Marylanders feel protected, safe and treated fairly,” said Del. Jon Cardin (D-Baltimore).

While opponents often argue such measures intrude on residents’ constitutional rights to “keep and bear arms,” supporters believe gun ownership entails

HOUSING From PAGE 1 object to going to an opera?”

Many faculty and staff don’t want to live in College Park because of concerns over high housing prices, crime, the quality of the school system, a city ridden with student rentals and the perception there is no “culture” or “character” in the city, according to the Anderson Strickler report.

“The biggest findings were that if some of the current demographics, if the neighborhood wasn’t completely student oriented and if their perceptions of safety and the school system were a bit more positive, more faculty and staff would be interested in living in housing closer to campus,” said Linda Anderson, principal of the consulting firm that conducted the study with the city and university that included a faculty survey and market analysis. “Especially if the university offered some sort of assistance, some sort of housing assistance program.”

The study recommended the university implement several leasing and loan programs to draw in more faculty, including a ground lease program in which the university would purchase tracts of land and faculty members would buy the homes, but not the land. That would enable faculty members to purchase homes at lower prices, the study concluded.

For such a program, the university would have to obtain or create a rental apartment community, according to the study.

The administrative affairs department has looked at developing a housing inventory that would arrange reasonably priced leases in housing adjacent to the campus, including both apartments and single-family homes, said Rob Specter, administrative affairs vice president. A ground lease program is also a possibility, he added.

responsibility to ensure safety and that some of the other measures, such as those that would require purchasers to submit to digital fingerprinting, are relatively mild.

“The right to own a weapon comes with the responsibility to prove that you can use that weapon in a responsible manner,” Cardin said. “I don’t think that having to give your fingerprints in order to own deadly weapons is such a terrible, terrible violation.”

There was no shortage of allusions to the founding fathers, with many lawmakers evoking t h e m e r i ts o f t h e Se co n d Amendment and warning that restricting gun rights is a step toward a less free and more repressive society. “[The Second Amendment] is absolutely sacred to many of us in the state,” said Del. Michael Smigiel (R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s), “[The founders] were some of the greatest minds the world has ever known.

They didn’t throw together in just a few hours a document and say, ‘That’ll do until somebody thinks that it’s been too long, that those freedoms are no longer necessary.’”

The legislation won’t solve gun violence problems, said Del. Doyle Niemann (D-Prince George’s), but it’s a muchneeded first step in rectifying a national epidemic.

“This is not a solution to crime — violent crime ­— it’s not a solution to murder, it’s not a solution

to gun violence; nor is it the first step down the slippery slope to fascism, socialism, communism and anarchism, or whatever else you want to say,” Niemann said.

“It is a very small step in a number of different directions that will indeed make a difference.”

The House floor also set the stage for even further-ranging debates on the issue of gun violence. While Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) supported many of the provisions of the bill, he also said the fervor for gun legislation has only come about because the recent tragedy in Newtown, Conn., has given lawmakers a chance to seize the opportunity to push their politics. However, the perpetual gun violence in cities such as Chicago and Baltimore that continues to claim lives every day, he said, has been largely ignored in recent debates.

“But for this action in Connecticut, we wouldn’t be talking about this, because at the end of the day … [the bill] doesn’t do anything to affect change in the inner cities,” Wilson said.

“It really does hurt my heart every time I see it. This has been a lifetime of watching this: Crack never being a problem until it gets out of the inner cities, violence never being a problem until it sneaks into the communities, and now we talk about how much we now care about gun violence when these men have been dying for years.”

Though the housing inventory idea is still in the planning stages, it could be completed in as soon as a few months, Specter said, and could potentially be available for faculty moving in next fall.

The report also urged the university to create a “housing resource center,” which the university has already begun with its new faculty affairs relocation website.

Though faculty are often concerned the city caters solely to students, Uriagereka said, College Park would have to change if more faculty moved.

Uriagereka grew up in a Spanish city that he called a “dump” before citizens took actions to revitalize it. Within 10 years, his hometown transformed into a place that drew tourists from around the world — and the same thing could happen to College Park, he said.

“This is doable. You get great movies in the local theater that are quality movies, and you get great restaurants that are different. This is not the dream; this is possible,” he said. “Why can’t we do this?

I think we can. I think this is a matter of believing in ourselves; this is a very interesting place.”

And if faculty lived in the city, they wouldn’t have to commute hours to work in the congested metropolitan area, Anderson said.

“It helps encourage better interaction between faculty and students,” she said. “They might spend more time on campus and be involved on campus.”

Still, Uriagereka said many faculty members’ concerns were real, including finding an adequate high school for faculty members’ children. Additionally, there’s no bilingual school nearby, so Uriagereka sends his children to a bilingual school in Washington. Public transportation and finding a quality supermarket is also difficult, he added.

“You need opportunities, you need options; and certainly when you look downtown or in other counties, you have more

options than here,” he said. “If you look at this county and the opportunities, there’s lots of room for improvement.”

But this city holds plenty of potential, Uriagereka said, including the proposed Whole Foods Market and the Route 1 corridor redevelopment. However, he said, possibilities need to be translated into “tangible results.”

With the proposed housing inventory, Specter hopes more faculty will be drawn to live in the city. If they are, Uriagereka dreams of a diverse, vibrant community of students and faculty living, working and learning together and enjoying time together both inside and outside the classroom.

All it requires is residents and university members taking ownership of their neighborhood, Uriagereka said.

“I don’t have anything against students — some of my best friends are students — but it would be good if it was all aspects of community, [like] if you could go play soccer Sunday morning with students and teachers,” he said. “I look forward to a future when if I have to go with my kids to Silver Spring, I don’t always have to get the car, there’s public transportation … And if you go out with your kids on Sunday morning and you sit with other families and have a good time.”

And faculty living closer to the campus would encourage outof-class interaction between professors and students, help create a more diverse city and cut down on commute time, Anderson and Uriagereka said.

“These are some of the best minds in the world, people who are committed to making the world a better place,” Uriagereka said. “Right there you have a gorgeous opportunity to have very good neighbors. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

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Opinion

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013

When I came to college, I thought I was technologically well-versed.

People from our generation have grown up with technological advances that have been integrated into our lifestyles.

However, upon further reflection, I have found I am still lacking in areas that will matter for my future. While I can use my cellphone and laptop with finesse, I cannot say the same about other applications such as Microsoft Excel that will matter a lot more to me in the career field. The problem is, I do not think I am alone in this situation.

The issue is established when we are young. This past spring break, I went to the exotic destination of “home” for vacation. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was a shiny new iPad sitting on the counter, compliments of my little sister’s public school district. She was happy to have it but claimed she never used it because applications such as Pandora were blocked, and it really did not have much use in the classroom.

From what I could see, the school had spent thousands of dollars on this new technology without much forethought about how it would impact students down the line.

In college, it gets slightly better, but issues still exist. For example, the student-athletes at this university received iPads, but for what educational purpose that a laptop wouldn’t already satisfy? It all comes down to the fine line between adopting new technologies to stay ahead of the curve and relying on already-established technologies. It is oftentimes a

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Excel in the future DANNY DVORAK

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EDITORIAL BOARD

trade-off, but overall the latter should be preferred unless there is substantial reasoning for new, flashy technologies.

The argument for new technology stems from future application and usefulness, but adopting new technology comes at a risk. Will it really catch on and become integrated into society, or will it fall by the wayside?

Then there are the technologies that have staying power — those used in the world at large every day, be they Excel, PowerPoint or Google Drive. These have been established across industries and practices and therefore merit the attention of educational institutions.

Before schools decide to spend precious budget dollars on these new platforms and technologies, they owe it to all stakeholders to thoroughly assess the future validity of the tools before they are implemented. They should look into technologies that are currently being used in industries students will eventually enter, and how applicable their strengths are to students’ curricula and career development. Not only will this allow schools to move forward with confidence, but it will also better integrate technology into courses.

We, as a society, have so many tools at our disposal, but it takes time to fully integrate them. With budgets getting slashed in Washington through sequestration, efforts should be made to ensure schools are putting the right technology into the hands of students, technology that will help them in the classroom and better prepare them to excel in their future careers.

STAFF EDITORIAL

WTF’s practical appeal A

lmost every student inevitably knows something about this campus he or she isn’t too thrilled about. Whether it’s the abhorrent behaviors of the Department of Transportation Services, maintenance problems, campus safety or a variety of other glitches, things at this university can always improve.

And now, students have been given a direct line of communication with the Student Government Association through What to Fix UMD — a Facebook page and Twitter handle meant as a medium for students to air their grievances.

As Ezra Fishman’s column, “Nine things to know about WTF UMD,” so artfully summarized yesterday, students have already taken advantage of this service after only a week of its existence. Complaint after complaint is listed down the page, with students “liking” and retweeting strangers’ posts to show their support for one another’s ideas.

Not only are these forums presenting a method of communication and accountability for the SGA and, indirectly, the university’s administration, but they are bringing students together in shared misery.

This is the first initiative of the

current SGA administration this editorial board feels confident throwing its full endorsement behind. Of course, that isn’t to say the SGA hasn’t done great things this year; between rallies during election season and lobbying government officials, it has been a very productive year for the organization.

OUR VIEW

The SGA deserves high praise for What to Fix UMD, which has made direct engagement accessible and effective for students.

But this clever, resourceful method of reaching out directly to the student body is truly ingenious.

Now, it would be one thing if the page’s moderators were just spouting off empty promises — but nearly every single student’s post has been acknowledged, no matter how feasible it is to fix the request. Even a post requesting Coca-Cola products be brought to the campus was answered aptly. The SGA is really on point with this project.

Furthermore, the WTF UMD mod-

erators created a document listing each problem students have raised, with a column for the steps SGA members have taken to remedy the situation.

You can even sign up to get updates on certain issues.

It is comprehensively transparent, which is amazing because that’s what the SGA asks the administration to be more often than not. They have now provided university officials with a great example of how listening to students and telling us what they are doing can be incredibly effective.

All of this is what this editorial board expected from SGA President Samantha Zwerling when we endorsed her for the position, and we believe a large part of this initiative’s success has been her careful planning and preparation. We are simply thrilled to see these plans coming to fruition.

We encourage everyone to like WTF UMD on Facebook, follow it on Twitter and post problems you think can be fixed with the help of the SGA. If we get a dialogue going with enough people, the SGA could be the driving force in holding the administration accountable for each and every action it takes.

We live in a technological age, and it’s high time someone started taking advantage of it.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Danny Dvorak is a freshman government and politics and international business major. He can be reached at ddvorak@terpmail.umd.edu.

Correction: Due to an editing error, yesterday’s feature, “Overcoming the marriage equality debate” stated “our most populous state will not have marriage equality” in regards to overturning Proposition 8. Such a decision would ensure California does in fact have marriage equality.

Arthur, the ’90s and a misplaced optimism NADAV KARASOV Sometimes it feels like this university never left the 1990s.

It’s not the worst era to find oneself in – certainly beating out the Hooverville ’30s or, dare I mention, the Alf-infested ’80s. For those youngbloods out there who can’t recall what made the ’90s unique, don’t fret — just think back to an animated delight that so encapsulated the decade’s magic: Arthur.

With his unbridled idealism, America’s favorite anthropomorphic aardvark was undoubtedly a ’90s lovechild. Each episode was invariably profound, but the show’s appeal was perhaps best expressed by its reggae-style theme song, “Believe in Yourself.” The song fed millions of young viewers a heartwarming mantra to live by, echoing the confidence and optimism of the decade. America was turning into ’Merica. We told the world to take a backseat while we finished smoking our Cold War victory cigars and assumed our position as the greatest country ever.

And then the fantasy ended. The dotcom, WorldCom, Enron, housing market and most other bubbles all eventually burst as our self-assurance proved delusional. Fast-forward a decade later; naysayers began to fear the nation’s economic engine was in total disrepair.

In truth, the contrast is far less severe.

Our country is not a modern-day equivalent of the Roman empire in decline and not quite as fantastic as too many assumed in the ’90s. Vacillating between these positive and negative extremes exists a comparable study: the collective psyche of the university community.

In College Park, sometimes we take Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers’ Arthur anthem a little too seriously, prematurely basking in our own greatness. The campus is filled with construction and progress, making it easy to fully believe in our ability to succeed and to assume the position of greatest university ever — or, well, at least the designation of a top-20 college town.

Specific departments and programs may continue to bolster their national

pedigrees, but, in pure ’90’s fashion, we can tend to fool ourselves into being something we’re not.

Let’s get a few things straight: Our men’s basketball program is not elite, our campus isn’t ranked in the top 50 national universities according to U.S. News & World Report and College Park isn’t even close to a top college town.

From the “Unstoppable Starts Here” slogan to the not-so “Great Expectations” fundraising campaign that was delayed in meeting its $1 billion goal and didn’t come close to what many comparative institutions in the Big Ten have generated, presupposing ourselves to be unstoppable or great seems silly when it juxtaposes the reality around us: We’re a good — not great — school on the whole. “Believe in Yourself” all you want — even with new slogans, it’s hard to shake the stigma of “A Livable Community.”

On the other hand, College Park is far more compelling and attractive than the crime-infested cesspool the crime alerts may lead some to believe it is. The salience of a few high-profile tragedies shouldn’t cloud the fact that this campus saw a 4 percent reduction in crime last year. And development along Route 1 in the coming years — perhaps with the help of a Whole Foods, conference center, upscale restaurants and other amenities — could truly transform the identity of the campus.

Grand plans and monumental shifts aren’t becoming of this campus, proved all too well by the decadelong East Campus development odyssey. The prolonged construction project has embodied this campus’s clear flaw: too many empty promises and a tendency to self-congratulate before actual progress is made. The dreams of College Park turning into a top-20 college town won’t be realized until every storefront on Route 1 is filled, from the boarded-up building next to Taco Bell to the abandoned dive restaurant beside Subway.

Like the ’90s itself, a middle ground exists between delusional optimism and pure gloom. So let’s channel Arthur’s lessons into something more substantial.

Nadav Karasov is a junior economics major.

He can be reached at njkarasov@gmail.com.

JOEY LOCKWOOD/the diamondback

GUEST COLUMN

SEE’s typically punchless Art Attack

F

or weeks, I had been eagerly awaiting the Art Attack lineup from Student Entertainment Events. Each spring, SEE hosts a different performer for a concert at Byrd Stadium. Many colleges take their spring concerts very seriously, bringing their students artists such as Rick Ross, Tiësto and Avicii.

Art Attack should be a great opportunity for students to see popular artists on the campus while on a budget — if we could only bring popular artists. That’s why, with the announcement that indie rock band MGMT will headline Art Attack XXX May 3, I find myself once again disappointed in the selection — even if I’m not at all surprised.

Last year’s Art Attack was also mediocre, with The Dean’s List opening for the headlining poprapper B.o.B. While I knew a couple of B.o.B’s singles from the radio, I was unaware that he was even popular among the college community, and I surely had never listened to The Dean’s List.

It’s not that B.o.B. is untalented, but his music seemed very poppy and appealing only to a younger demographic. Instead of pursuing an artist popular with college kids,

SEE made the safe pick with B.o.B., a clean-cut rapper who deals with “airplanes in the night sky” rather than more adult subjects.

So after last year’s questionable choice by SEE, I still had faith they could hook us up with a fun and popular performer this year. Other schools had set a high precedent, with artists such as Wiz Khalifa and Datsik coming to Towson and Penn State, respectively. Both of these artists are current, popular and worthy of being seen live. These are the types of performers I expect at Art Attack.

But these are not the type of artists SEE seems to like. Instead of choosing a rapper, like the two previous Art Attacks, or a DJ, such as 3LAU at the fall concert, SEE decided on alternative electronic band MGMT, with The Ready Set opening.

Initial reactions: “MGMT? Like, ‘Time to Pretend,’‘Electric Feel’ MGMT? Like, ‘popular my senior year of high school’ MGMT? Who is The Ready Set?” Is MGMT really who college students want to see? Frankly, I had more or less forgotten about MGMT, as they haven’t had a hit since 2011. Why, then, does SEE feel that students will be interested in having them perform

at Art Attack?

It seems that instead of choosing artists based on their popularity among college students, SEE selects the artist based on their familiarity.

For example, both Nelly or B.o.B, while not necessarily popular among students, had a handful of chart-topping singles. With the guarantee that a majority of students had heard a song or two by Nelly and B.o.B, SEE can ensure that students will still attend the event, enticed by the low ticket price. This pattern is consistent with MGMT, whose 2010 album, Congratulations, received lots of airplay and featured some popular singles.

However, the band has been largely silent since then. This is why it’s hard for me to believe that SEE prioritizes student demand. Instead of booking acts popular among students, it seems SEE favors washed-up artists that will guarantee attendance. With other, smaller colleges providing students with hip and modern performers, I would expect this university, the largest school in the state, to also attract the big-name artists.

Domenic Bello is a sophomore enrolled in letters and sciences. He can be reached at dombello22@yahoo.com.

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to Maria Romas and Nadav Karasov at opinionumdbk@gmail.com. All submissions must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and phone number. Please limit letters to 300 words and guest columns to between 500 and 600 words. Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright of the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features ACROSS 1 Pie serving 6 Does field work 10 Lose color 14 Cigar type 15 Norwegian saint (var.)

16 Ft. above sea level 17 Nitrous -- (laughing gas) 18 Ocean fish 19 Winged Victory 20 Soft mud 21 Oater role 23 Window over a door 25 Chic 26 Where tigers pace 27 Flawless 29 Festive occasions 32 Leif ’s language 33 So far 36 Racetrack circuits 37 Reach (2 wds.)

38 Toga-party supply 39 Cries at a circus 40 Brief incursion 41 White-water craft 42 Campus women (hyph.)

43 Banned bug spray 44 Faints with pleasure 47 Moneymaker (2 wds.)

51 Work preference (2 wds.)

54 Ness or Lomond 55 Tub in the fridge 56 Period of quiet 57 Slow, musically 58 Ben Jonson works 59 Ribs, to Cato 60 Yellow fever mosquito 61 Gnat or mouse 62 Riddle starter 63 100 smackers (hyph.)

CROSSWORD

29 Day- -- paint 30 Pleased sigh 31 DJ’s platters 32 Dweeb 33 Urge 34 “I” trouble 35 Mao -- -tung

37 Is cautious (2 wds.)

38 Turner of film 40 Typeface 41 Bank offerings 42 Vanna, to Pat 43 “Can’t Help

DOWN 1 Dart away 2 Karnak neighbor 3 Resort island 4 Musical flourishes 5 WSW opposite 6 Boring (hyph.)

7 Mr. Greenspan 8 Tibetan oxen 9 Most graceful and slim 10 Herb with a licorice scent 11 Adjust the tires 12 Faked a goalie 13 Each’s partner 21 Gunk 22 Latin hymn word 24 Distress signal 27 Specks 28 Farm wagon

© 2013 United Features Syndicate

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

Today’s crossword sponsored by:

Lovin’ -- Man” 44 Busybody 45 Playwright Oscar - 46 Ess moldings 47 Major key for Chopin (hyph.)

48 Apt., often 49 Two quartets 50 “-- idea was that?”

52 Quit talking 53 Rick’s old flame 57 Insect resin

B

HOROSCOPE STELLA WILDER

orn today, you much prefer working with others -- even if only one-on-one -- than striving to accomplish things on your own, for you are too quick to succumb to the kinds of self-doubts and crises of confidence from which the company of others keeps you safe more often than not. You do have your demons, and there are times in which you will be able to maintain control over them -- and those are the times in which progress and accomplishment are likely to be quite remarkable. When they get the better of you, however, you are quick to sink into a kind of depression or even despondency from which it is very difficult for you to recover without the help of someone who knows you very well.

You learn a great deal on the spot and from your surroundings. Despite the fact that you may not be the least studious in the classic sense, you derive your knowledge in practical, hands-on ways that are, to you, far superior to any other methods. You learn by doing.

Also born on this date are: Heath Ledger, actor; Robert Downey Jr., actor; Christine Lahti, actress; Craig T. Nelson, actor; Anthony Perkins, actor; Maya Angelou, poet.

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.

COLLEGE INTUITION RICHIE BATES ROGER DOES COLLEGE

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You may think you want to be left alone today, but the truth is that it will be counterproductive -- at least in the long run.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ll want to talk closely and openly with a friend about what you are facing; he or she, in turn, will share some honest opinions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You and a friend have come a long way since you first encountered an obstacle to open communication.

Don’t take a step backward!

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Things go in cycles, and today it may seem as if you are starting something all over again -- but in fact it is an entirely new phase.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You don’t want to break any of the rules today -- but you may not be able to avoid bending them just a little!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You can have a little fun doing something that others expect you not to do -- but take care you don’t get carried away.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You have one or two surprises up your sleeve, and you’re merely waiting for the right time to spring them on the unsuspecting.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You want very little to do with that which has not been tested by others. You’re not into experimentation at this time.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may be making promises that you cannot keep -- try as you might.

It’s time to step away from that certain precipice.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- What you need can be gotten for you by someone who knows the ropes a little better than you. Experience counts for much today.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -Later on you can do what you want, but today you may have to do what you are told -- and only that. There are limits to your freedom.

PISCES (Feb. 18-March 20) -- You are feeling vulnerable today, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing -- or a weakness. Embrace what you cannot avoid.

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:

HARD

Today’s SUDOKU PUZZLE sponsored by:

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, april 4, 2013

Diversions

ON THE SITE

APRIL SHOWERS BRING ROCKIN’ ALBUMS

Staff writer Joe Antoshak chronicles the top five greatest rock albums released in April over the years, including Congratulations by Art Attack headliner MGMT. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

ESSAY | SOCIALLY PROGRESSIVE RAP

the evolution (or not) of rap

Several rappers are now using their records to promote equal rights — but is the rap genre ready to move past its history as an outlet for misogynistic and violent thoughts?

By Matt Schnabel For The Diamondback With the recent rise to prominence of several young, reform-minded rap stars, many have bandied about predictions of a socially conscious hip-hop era. The likes of Frank Ocean and Macklemore have accrued mainstream followings while crafting winning albums that speak to a host of societal ills. But are these artists outliers, or are they truly indicative of an up-and-coming mass movement toward progressive rap?

In one of hip-hop’s biggest 2012 stories, R&B crooner Ocean revealed he had been in a same-sex relationship shortly before delivering his chart-topping, full-length studio debut, channel ORANGE. In an unprecedented move for the industry, which typically exhibits a rigid homophobia, Ocean’s peers rallied around him, expressing support for the rapper regardless of his orientation. And when his record dropped one week later, it included tracks that explored a variety of social problems. “Crack Rock” examines themes of crime and addiction while “Super Rich

Kids” highlights the unfulfilling nature of wealth and plays on the 2008 recession.

The remainder of channel ORANGE’s songs are peppered with references to Ocean’s first male love interest.

Macklemore, best known as the alternative clothing outlet-frequenting artist behind “Thrift Shop,” dispenses with the usual hip-hop bravado to deliver tracks decrying drug abuse (“Otherside”), homophobia (“Same Love”) and material excess (“Wing$,” the aforementioned “Thrift Shop”). On his latest release, 2012’s The Heist, he makes it abundantly clear he’s not interested in traditional rap ideals: “I am stuntin’ and flossin’ and savin’ my money/ and I’m hella happy.” Macklemore’s idea of happiness certainly differs from the manner of “stuntin’” relished by a majority of his industry peers.

However, the two are by no means the first artists to offer social commentary through hip-hop. They follow in the footsteps of rap legends such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Their 1982 track “The Message” discusses the myriad issues of urban life

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predicted that Frank Ocean would win the Grammy award for Best New Artist. He lost to indie pop band fun.

and performed well on the charts, later becoming the first hip-hop song added to the United States’ National Recording Registry of historically significant sound recordings.

Popular artist Common has also experienced more than a decade of success while churning out a discography even the White House labeled “socially conscious.” Lupe Fiasco continues to top charts while pushing a positive agenda. In the mid-to-late 2000s, upbeat Hasidic Jewish rapper Matisyahu enjoyed moderate fame as one of hiphop’s most surprising success stories.

It’s clear that some rappers have long been attempting to break free of industry stereotypes and pursue more uplifting messages, but negative hip-hop archetypes continue to prevail. In a culture in which glorifying “p----, money, weed” (while the order may vary, the overall theme rarely does) is the norm, it seems nearly impossible to expect any sort of momentous change.

Just look at Grandmaster Flash.

The Bronx MC refused to perform on “The Message,” the track that thrust conscious hip-hop into the spotlight. Though he and the titular Five all received credit for the song, only Melle Mel actually agreed to perform. The others cited disinterest in a track with a message so far removed from their typical work.

Even Ocean’s success fails to escape such scrutiny. The New Orleans native

fi rst breached obscurity with fellow Like That”) won’t come overnight members of the bizarre hip-hop col- or even in just a few years. But with lective Odd Future. The group’s other the successful work of artists like members, particularly frontrunner Macklemore and Ocean, change is Tyler, the Creator, produce content on the horizon. In the almost forethat strikingly contrasts Ocean’s seeable future, rappers may be truly pensive, thought-provoking work. free to break from stereotypes and Lyrical depiction of brutal violence, pursue social consciousness. homophobia and rape is par for the course for Odd Future. It’s far too easy diversionsdbk@gmail.com to pigeonhole Ocean as “the inspiring gay guy” while ignoring who he chooses to collaborate with.

With every tentative step forward the rap industry takes, it seems to take at least one back.

Current big names such as Rick Ross and Chief Keef have drawn fire for allegedly stirring up urban gun violence through their lyrical content and, at the very least, have been criticized for producing some of rap’s most inane tracks.

Overa l l, it wou ld seem rappers hoping to make a difference must resign themselves to working within the established culture. Significant change in an industry that brought us the lyrics “You make my pee-pee go/ da-doing, doing, doing” macklemore uses his songs to speak out against drug abuse, homophobia and greed (E m i nem, “A ss instead of devaluing women and promoting violence. photo courtesy of communly.com

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EVEN 2 THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

review From PAGE 8 conference road win at Wake Forest in their next game, and built a 17-point first-half lead at Virginia eight days later.

And then they shocked the pundits. The Terps ousted thenNo. 2 Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, handing the Blue Devils their first loss in 19 outings with a healthy Ryan Kelly in the lineup.

A three-point defeat to North Carolina the following day ensured the Terps’ third-straight NCAA tournament absence, but Turgeon’s squad felt no shame accepting an NIT berth. It was all part of the maturation process for a team boasting six newcomers in its 10-man rotation, players explained.

With forward Dez Wells continuing to lead the way,

vitale From PAGE 8 loss in Madison Square Garden.

But I respectfully disagree.

There are plenty of reasons to have hope for next season. Turgeon has said all along that building the team he wants would be a process, and the Terps are right on track to become that team.

They entered this season with expectations too high for a team with so many new and untested components. Next year, the Terps are going to have even loftier goals. But this time, they’re going to have the talent and experience they need to achieve them.

Yes, they’ll lose two valuable depth players in forward James Padgett and guard Logan Aronhalt. But Padgett’s contributions were mostly negligible, and Aronhalt’s 1.7 3-pointers per game could be easily replaced by any one of the Terps’

the No. 2-seed Terps rattled off wins over two regular-season conference champions — Niagara and Denver — and dealt topseeded Alabama its first home defeat since late December.

So when that inspired run ended with Tuesday’s semifinal loss to No. 3-seed Iowa, players didn’t take long to find positives from a season filled with highs and lows.

“We can take away a lot,” guard Pe’Shon Howard said.

“We played our best basketball at the end of the season, and that’s what good teams do.”

“I’m proud of my guys,” Wells said. “Nobody really expected us to even be here, but we made it.”

True enough, but Terps fans likely hoped for more from Turgeon’s second campaign than an NIT semifinals appearance.

Shortly after the NCAA approved the team’s appeal on waiver to allow Wells to play

talented returning shooters.

Center Alex Len will probably be gone, too, as most pundits expect him to declare for the NBA Draft. But while the Ukraine native had all the talent of a future lottery pick, he rarely played like one. His presence around the rim might be missed, but there’s no reason to think forward Charles Mitchell and center Shaquille Cleare can’t easily replace his 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

In fact, that’s arguably the biggest reason for optimism.

Players can work on their jump shots or their footwork as much as they want, but the only way to actually improve is to get real game experience. Mitchell, Cleare, forward Jake Layman and guard Seth Allen all have a full season under their belts now. They’re only going to get better next year.

The Terps will have an influx of talent to replace their depart-

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

this season in early November, the Terps seemed an NCAA tournament lock.

They nearly upended thenNo. 3 Kentucky at Barclays Center in the season opener, they cruised through a lean nonconference slate with 13 straight wins, and center Alex Len emerged as a surefire NBA lottery pick. This was the season, many fans figured, the Terps would regain a spot in the Top-25 rankings.

But then their inexperience began to show. The Terps strug-

gled to gain any semblance of stability throughout ACC play, and earned a reputation as the conference’s most turnoverprone team. They rushed offensive sets, forced passes through traffic and slowly drifted out of the March Madness discussion.

A chaotic nine-day stretch in mid-February showcased the Terps’ chronic inconsistency.

Less than a week after a sluggish home loss against Virginia, they sent students streaming onto Route 1 to celebrate an 83-81 win over the rival Blue Devils.

center alex len might not return to a young Terps team after averaging 11.9 points and 7.8 boards this season. He is projected to be an NBA Draft lottery pick. charlie deboyace/the diamondback ed players, too. The addition of uber-athletic center Damonte Dodd could help replace Len’s shot-blocking presence, and Suitland High School’s Roddy Peters — Rivals’ No. 42 overall recruit in the Class of 2013 — could eventually become the true point guard the Terps lacked throughout this season.

Perhaps the most significant boost, though, will come from a player who has already spent a full year with the team. Forward Evan Smotrycz sat out all of this season after transferring from Michigan, but he’ll have every

opportunity to make an impact early and often next year.

A power forward with range and the ability to stretch the floor, the Reading, Mass., native averaged nearly eight points and five rebounds per game in his last season with the Wolverines while shooting 48 percent from the field and nearly 44 percent from beyond the arc. Turgeon has lauded his performance in practice all season, and there’s no reason to think Smotrycz can’t be the team’s third scoring option behind guard Nick Faust and forward Dez Wells.

The Terps followed up the stellar display with a doubledigit defeat at Boston College, a team that owned a 3-9 conference record at the time.

Turgeon did his best to remedy nagging errors. He shuffled players in and out of the starting lineup. He aired his grievances to the media.

And he even stripped Howard and forward James Padgett of their captaincies. This was his team, Turgeon told players. If the Terps were going to experience the postseason, he’d lead them there.

The message eventually resonated. They pieced together their first three-game winning streak since nonconference play during the NIT, and they ultimately managed to tally the program’s most victories since 2006-07.

“We’re totally different,” Turgeon said. “We know how

to coach our team now. We feel confident. We feel good about ourselves.”

The Terps must overcome a new set of challenges if they hope to translate that confidence into a March Madness bid next season. Len is widely expected to declare for June’s NBA Draft, leaving underclassmen Shaquille Cleare and Charles Mitchell to man the frontcourt.

And the addition of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame will make an already-tough ACC even more daunting.

But the Terps aren’t too concerned. They’ve finally figured out how to win, and they know they have the tools to build on a late-season run. It’s just a matter of continuing to mature.

“I think we’re highly motivated for next year,” Howard said.

“We know how good we can be.”

The improvement of those two can’t be understated, either. Both struggled to get comfortable with the Terps early this season — Wells after transferring from Xavier, Faust after bouncing back and forth between point and shooting guard — but the duo carried the team’s scoring load in the postseason. Wells averaged 17 points and Faust averaged close to 12 over the final seven games of the season. Both should continue to get better with a full offseason together.

That leaves the Terps with two dynamic scorers in Wells and Faust, two floor-stretching wings in Layman and Smotrycz, two burgeoning bigs in Mitchell and Cleare and two talented rookies in Dodd and Peters. Add in the seemingly more confident Pe’Shon Howard and the explosive Seth Allen at guard, and the Terps have the makings of a team more balanced and experi-

enced than the one that finished 25-13 this season.

Sure, the Terps could end up being no different next year than they were this year. The turnover problem could remain, the lackluster showings could become the norm and streakiness could become the team’s identity. And if that happens, feel free to call for Turgeon’s job.

He would deserve it.

But that’s probably not going to be the case next season.

There is reason for optimism.

So instead of dismissing the team before it has had a chance to come together, give them a chance to grow. And when Selection Sunday rolls around next March, be sure to tune in and see where the Terps are seeded.

Maybe I’m wrong. But if I’m not, I expect the emails we receive a year from now will have a decidedly different tone.

sportsdbk@gmail.com

sportsdbk@gmail.com

STATLINE

6 5 4 3

Terps softball center fielder Sara Acosta’s performance in two wins vs. Coppin State

At-bats

Hits

Runs

Steals

Sports

A MIDWEEK VICTORY

The Terrapins baseball team captured a win over visiting Rider yesterday. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

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ON THE WEB

THURSDAY, April 4, 2013

MEN’S BASKETBALL | SEASON IN REVIEW

ready to move forward

Terps finally begin to mature after season filled with rough patches

With year of seasoning, young Terps ready to take big step forward

By Connor Letourneau Senior staff writer

JOSH VITALE

NEW YORK — Mark Turgeon was growing impatient. His Terrapins men’s basketball team had just stumbled through yet another road loss against an ACC bottom-feeder — this time at Georgia Tech — and he was running out of options.

No matter what adjustments the second-year coach tried to make, the young Terps continued their chaotic ways. For whatever reason, the message wasn’t being heard. And with just four guaranteed games remaining, Turgeon was starting to wonder whether his erratic team could salvage an up-anddown season.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know if we’re ever going to figure this out,’” Turgeon said Saturday. “That would’ve been a really long summer.”

But something changed after the Terps hit what they now call “rock bottom” during that Feb. 27 defeat against the Yellow Jackets. A me-first group finally unified. The Terps started cutting down on turnovers, finding open men and delivering consistent effort. They stopped fretting over playing time or points and started focusing on having fun.

An inexperienced team was growing up, Turgeon said. The Terps (25-13, 8-10 ACC) notched just their second See review, Page 7

Yesterday, I received an email from a university alumnus and season ticket holder. He was clearly frustrated by the Terrapins men’s basketball team’s 71-60 loss to Iowa in the NIT semifinals, and he wanted to tell somebody about it.

It wasn’t the first time the longtime fan — who asked not to be named — reached out to us this year to express his views about the state of Terps sports, either. It’s been a tumultuous past seven months for the school’s athletic department, and there has obviously been a lot to talk about.

His message yesterday stood out more than the others, though. He said, unequivocally, that he has absolutely no optimism about the Terps next season. He said the team was unwatchable and the freshmen were largely clueless, and he gave coach Mark Turgeon and the team a “C-” grade for the season.

A lot of Terps fans probably share his views. After all, the Terps were a model of inconsistency for much of the year. They jumped out to a 13-1 start before stumbling to a 12-12 mark to close the season, mixing great wins with ugly defeats all the way to Tuesday night’s season-ending Coach Mark Turgeon’s (above) Terps had bouts of inconsistency this year, but they finally began to grow up as they made a postseason run to the NIT semifinals. The team will return more than half of its rotation next season, including forward Dez Wells (left), and guards Pe’Shon Howard (center) and Nick Faust (right). photos by charlie deboyace/the diamondback

Follow @DBKSports on Twitter For updates on all your favorite Terps sports teams

See vitale, Page 7