The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper
T H U R S DAY, J U N E 1 8 , 2 015
Battery company heads to innovation district FlexEl will add 50 new employees, continue relationship with university students, faculty By Ellie Silverman @esilverman11 Senior staff writer There’s a battery as thin as a business card, flexible and biocompatible. It can be found in technology such as medical devices, military applications and disposable electronics. And, with some help from the
university, county and state, the company behind the battery will be opening a research, development and manufacturing facility in College Park’s innovation district this fall. FlexEl will lease more than 10,000 square-feet from the university to expand its operation, adding 50 new jobs over the next five years. The company, located on Technology
Drive, currently employs 10 fulltime employees. “This is just like the startup companies you have in Silicon Valley and next to [Massachusetts Institute of Technology],” university President Wallace Loh said. “This is what brings meaning to the so-called innovation district.” FlexEl CEO Bob Proctor said, as a startup, the company used analytics, chemistry techniques and equipment flexel batteries are as thin as business cards, flexible and biocompatible. The company, a university startup, See FLEXEL, Page 2 won the Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Award in 2010, among other recognitions. photo courtesy of mtech
Saturn’s outer ring larger than expected Univ professor helps discover Phoebe ring’s unanticipated size By Darcy Costello @dctello Senior staff writer
The College Park City-University Partnership is working to attract more university employees to the city with a new homeownership program that includes $15,000 zero-interest, 10-year loans. sung min kim/thediamondback
a livable community Homeownership program encourages university employees to move to city By Matt Schnabel and Ellie Silverman @Matt_Schnabel, @esilverman11 Senior staff writers The College Park City-University Partnership announced Monday a homeownership program to incentivize university employees to
live in the city. T h e p ro g ra m w i l l p rov i d e $15,000 zero-interest, 10-year loans to regular, full-time, benefits-eligible university employees to help cover a city home’s down payment and closing costs, according to the program document. The city’s median home value
is $273,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, meaning the new loan program is “just a drop in the bucket” of the cost of a house, university President Wallace Loh said. “People own a home in a city; they get invested in it. It’s their money, and this is just a small portion,” Loh said. “A ny city
will be a much better city, better maintained and have more community involvement, if the residents are homeowners versus if they’re renters.” Over the past 10 years, the number of university employees See HOME, Page 3
A research team including university professor Douglas Hamilton made a surprising discovery in 2009 when it found Saturn’s nearly invisible Phoebe ring, the solar system’s largest. This year, the team followed up its research with another unexpected development: The planet’s outermost ring is about 30 percent larger than originally expected. Photos from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft helped Hamilton’s team get its fi rst good look at the Phoebe ring. The ring is massive, Hamilton said, about 270 See SATURN, Page 2
Opportunity maps used for sustainability
Washington pride parade brings glitter, drag queens
Univ research findings to aid Baltimore plans
40th annual parade part of large festival
By Michael Brice-Saddler @thedbk For The Diamondback
By Rachel Kuipers @thedbk For The Diamondback For about three hours on Saturday, floats paraded around Washington, with the people aboard throwing party favors like glitter, bracelets and lube to those on the streets. This year’s Capital Pride Parade, which honors the LGBT community, began Washington’s weekend-long celebration of 40 years of progress. The parade wound around Dupont Circle and the surrounding area for a mile and a half and was part of a larger pride celebration from June 3 to June 14. Floats a nd ca rs ca rried d rag queens, provocatively dressed performers and pole dancers through the streets. A wide range of people walked alongside the vehicles, from babies in their mothers’ arms to older men and women.
positive representation.” Companies such as Chipotle, Starbucks and Uber sponsored the parade and tossed treats to the crowd including headbands, Frisbees, necklaces and candy. Chipotle handed out cards that asked “¿Homo Estás?” and “Which way do you sway?” Paradegoers could indicate either, “I eat tacos” or “I eat burritos.” Rainbow flags rose above the crowds, and some people wore them wrapped around themselves as capes. “I have best friends who are gay, and I’ve been surrounded by the community for so long,” said Kelsie Stevens, who identifies as straight. “Everyone should have the chance to be loved and be happy.” Stevens, who showed support a performer rides a float during the 40th Capital Pride Parade in Washington. Other people in the parade for the community in the form of tossed bracelets, glitter and lube to the people watching from the streets. rachel kuipers/for the diamondback rainbow glitter on her cheeks, said “It gives people a space to express annual events like the parade are Senior criminology and criminal t he m se lve s a nd a pl at for m to important, because they represent a justice and women’s studies major Brittany Hamson said she enjoyed the voice things,” said Hamson, who movement for “people that weren’t event, though she said it could have identifies as bisexual. “We don’t [often] get the chance to, and [it’s] a been more “outlandish.” See PRIDE, Page 3
ISSUE NO. 118 , OUR 105 TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION DBKNEWS.COM
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A series of comprehensive maps that pinpoint areas with different levels of opportunity are the foundation for Baltimore’s fi rst-ever regional sustainability plan, thanks to a university study released last week. The university’s National Center for Smart Growth developed the maps, which are slated to help the city flourish by identifying areas with strong and weak levels of opportunity, said Gerrit Knaap, NCSG director. The Opportunity Collaborative — a partnership of local governments, state agencies, universities and nonprofit organizations — presented the map plan June 8 to city and state lawmakers. “Regional planning has been around for decades,” said Mike Kelly, the partnership’s chief legal officer. “One difference in this project was that everyone had a seat at the table See maps, Page 3
SPORTS
OPINION
NOT A FAIRY TALE
STAFF EDITORIAL: Redevelopment efforts
The Terrapins baseball team backed its strong season from a year ago with a program-record setting campaign amid a rash of midseason injuries P. 8
City needs to work on attracting students and employees P. 4 DIVERSIONS
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK The ‘90s TV revival can’t be stopped P. 6