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Syrian war impacts univ community Students, alumni, groups remember recent past, consider how to fight for uncertain future By Jim Bach @thedbk Senior staff writer
summer trip she took to reunite with her cousins and connect to a culture with which she identifies intimately, despite growing up in America. This was all before 2011. Before Nour Al-muhtasib, a university alumna, remembers a Syria where a group of young students was ara complete stranger once offered to rested and interrogated for scrawlhelp her and her mother carry a heavy ing anti-regime messages on their suitcase with no concern over where school walls; before the subsequent they were headed. She remembers a protests sparked a violent crackdown taxi driver turning down extra cab from President Bashar al-Assad’s sefare after driving aimlessly for an curity forces and precipitated a civil war; before widespread violence and hour to help her lost friend. Syria, to her, was once a yearly a power vacuum invited foreign ex-
tremist factions to stage a proxy war on “What’s the future of Syria? Syrian soil; before more than 100,000 Syrians died; before an Aug. 21 sarin How are they going to survive gas attack claimed more than 1,400 afterwards?” lives and burned the grotesque images NOUR AL-MUHTASIB of chemical warfare into the internaUniversity alumna tional conscience; and before President Obama urged the U.S. to respond mili- Syrian people Al-muhtasib rememtarily to the Assad regime’s actions. bers. Caught amid the violence, many Syrian children are unable to attend school, leaving the generation likely to A LOST GENERATION bear the brunt of the postwar cleanup War has changed the once business-minded, hospitable and friendly See Syria, Page 3
Roti mediterranean grill closed recently, the fourth in a string of business closures in the area under The Varsity. sung-min kim/for the diamondback
Roti closes after year of business Entertainment venue could replace failed Mediterranean grill By Annika McGinnis @annikam93 Senior staff writer After a year serving its falafel and pita pockets to students under The Varsity, Roti Mediterranean Grill unexpectedly closed two weekends ago and could be replaced by a larger food and entertainment venue, a city councilman said. Businesses in the area have struggled with high rents and lack of parking options, and Roti is the fourth business in the strip to shut its doors since The Varsity’s opening in September 2011, said Michael Stiefvater, College Park economic development coordinator. Other issues have afflicted the new establishments. For instance, Stiefvater said hot dog eatery ChiDogO’s, which closed over the summer, supplied too-limited offerings. Frozen yogurt shop YoLove did not advertise itself well, he said, and Austin Grill Express closed because of an upper management issue. But Roti’s closing comes as “more of a surprise,” Stiefvater said. Because of rent contracts, College Park City Councilman Robert Catlin said Roti “probably wouldn’t have left if they didn’t have something to take over their lease” — which he’s heard might be an entertainment venue “targeting students” that could potentially take over both Roti’s former spot and the vacant spot next to it. The venue, about which Catlin said he couldn’t yet provide details, was looking to move into College Park all summer, he said. Until Roti closed, it had originally considered moving into the shopping center across the street from The Varsity. Catlin, Stiefvater and students were all surprised at Roti’s closing. Business seemed to have been going well, they said. “I’m upset — I liked it; I used to go there a lot,” said Rachel Solomon, a sophomore education major who lives in The Varsity. Solomon said she liked how Roti was “different from a lot of the food around here.” When it was open, Roti, a fast and casual Mediterranean eatery, sold laffa wraps, pita pockets, rice plates and salads for about $7 to $8. In a Chipotle-style See roti, Page 2
trying to build lasting bonds Long-term city residents hope for positive student relations while development could bring population influx kelsey hughes/for the diamondback
By Annika McGinnis @annikam93 Senior staff writer Last week, 90-year-old Amelia Murdoch heard students outside her house on Hartwick Road. She opened her door to a group of young college men: her new neighbors. But they weren’t there to tear down parts of her fence. They weren’t milling about on the corner, yelling and leaving trash. They were there to ask her to a party — and
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development of a Neighborhood Stabilization and Quality of Life Workgroup to explore noise, traffic and trash concerns, among others, several long-term residents said they could see a positive difference. But all that could soon change, residents said, with a slew of large-scale proposed development projects that could potentially bring thousands more students to flood the already packed city. With more students, the problems they’ve seen in recent years with partying, See city, Page 2
McKeldin Library desk offers centralized IT services Collaboration, part of university’s IT Strategic Plan, includes Terrapin Technology Store By Erin Serpico @erin_serpico Staff writer Though it may not have glass panels and a glowing, fruit-shaped logo, McKeldin Library now has its own version of a Genius Bar. The fi rst-floor information technology services desk, which opened Aug. 30, offers a centralized location for selling and troubleshooting students’ hardware and software. Located in the back of McKeldin’s first floor, the desk includes a Terrapin Technology Store outpost, Academic Computers for Terps maintenance drop-off and loaner distribution station and the Help Desk. Instead of students traveling to separate locations around the campus for different services, they can visit the new location and get the services in a larger, centralized space. “ We h ave so m a ny students coming through the library doors,” said Gary White, university librar-
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Murdoch couldn’t say no to a barbecue. “That was a good hamburger,” said the College Park resident of 55 years. “We thought that ourselves had been remiss in not extending the hand of friendship similarly in the past,” she added. As College Park becomes increasingly squeezed with student renters, the friendly interaction was a small step forward in developing better relations between long-term city residents and their young neighbors. After the university’s recent expansion of the Code of Student Conduct and the city council’s
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the it help desk on McKeldin Library’s first floor offers a large aggregation of services for students in need of electronic assistance. ies public services associate dean. “It just provides another centralized location for them.” The Terrapin Technology Store on the ground floor of Stamp Student Union and the Help Desk in the computer space sciences building will
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ARRIVING LATE, SCORING EARLY NCAA approves waiver for men’s soccer’s Endoh to play last-minute; sophomore takes advantage of chance to contribute P. 8
also remain open. The new services are part of this year’s IT Strategic Plan for the university that supports facilitating “student ownership of IT devices” and helping ensure “the acquisition of technologies.”
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With the larger location, the service desk can display more merchandise and provide a better environment to talk about products and customer needs, White said. See tech, Page 3
RACKS EMPTY TOMORROW?
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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
roti
beer can-littered streets have long drawn the ire of city residents, who hope new buildings will draw students away from the neighborhoods. kelsey hughes/for the diamondback
CITY
Domain at College Park on Campus Drive brings to the city the first apartment complex not targeted at undergraduate students in more than a decade. Some residents said the complex could attract more faculty and staff to live in College Park. Patrick Wojahn, a District 1 city councilman, said some of the developments would help revitalize the downtown. More positive overall about the developments, Wojahn also sees relations improving between residents and students. Over the past year, Wojahn — who helps lead the council’s Quality of Life Workgroup — met with other council members, university officials, students, police and other stakeholders to discuss these issues. The work group recently published a report presenting 63 recommendations which include some initiatives already implemented, such as the Code of Student Conduct expansion and “knock and talks,” where officials have conversations with new residents about safety and rule enforcement. To Wojahn, students’ behavior in the neighborhood has improved. Longtime city resident Pedro Guevara, of 4800 Calvert Rd., agreed. “I can see the difference,” Guevara said. “This year there are parties in the daytime rather than the nighttime.” As Coleman walked the city streets pointing out the damage, he also said he thought the situation was improving. “ To d a y t h e r e ’s j u s t a couple of mirrors [down],” he said, pointing. “So far, it’s been relatively quiet,” he said. “Most kids on my street have come out and introduced themselves.” In front of Murdoch’s house, two broken fence posts on Sunday morning may have been the work of students the weekend before. But she is hopeful for the future. “About 10 years ago, a young man happened to be on the sidewalk, and we spoke. He said, ‘If you didn’t like [students], why’d you move here?’ And I said, ‘I was the one who was here,’” she said. “The season has just begun. We’ve had one pleasant interchange, but I’d like to see more of that. There might be a hard heart to soften.”
From PAGE 1
vandalism, bottleneck traffic and more may worsen, residents said. On Sunday afternoon, Bill Coleman — known as “Barbecue Bill” to his customers at the College Park Farmers Market — walked through the leafy, shade-speckled streets of Old Town College Park. “There’s my house,” he said, pointing. “This is where people walk their dogs.” He pointed out beer cans and broken bottles, planks missing from fences, rearview mirrors broken off cars, trash strewn around yards. A swivel chair lay on its side in someone’s front lawn, its ripped-off back about six feet away. One night, he said, he saw someone who appeared to be “trying to have sex with [his] wife’s Volkswagen.” Another night, he awoke at 4 a.m. to a group of his neighbors throwing around giant plastic water containers. The question he repeated over and over was, “Why?” The issue is the sheer number of students, said Kathy Bryant, president of the Old Town Civic Association. The Maryland Book Exchange redevelopment, a proposed student housing complex which could add up to 855 beds to Old Town, is scheduled to break ground this fall, according to the July College Park Development Guide. The large structure doesn’t fit the historical nature of the neighborhood, Bryant said, adding it would serve as an “ugly” distraction looming over the entrance to the university. “It is with dread that we await the coming of the Maryland Book Exchange [development],” Murdoch said. Residents are more positive about the proposed redevelopment of the Knox Box apartments, which would include 1,550 beds in apartments and town homes, along with new retail establishments, a pool and a central green. Bryant hopes this development, which would be located on Knox Road and Guilford Drive, would draw some students away from Old Town and help bring new, diverse options into the city, such as nicer restaurants and a grocery store. The recent opening of the amcginnisdbk@gmail.com
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to-order pitas, laffa wraps or plates at similar prices, potentially drawing customers From PAGE 1 away from its competitor up assembly line, the customer Route 1. A manager at Garbanzo could choose meat, falafel or vegetables and add sides, sa id she had no com ment o n h o w t h e re s t a u ra nt’s toppings and sauces. “Remember the wraps, opening might have affected t h e l a f f a c h i c k e n ? ” Roti’s business. Several students had other Solomon asked. “There’s nothing else around here concerns about Roti, including high prices, food style like that.” But in March, Garban- and quality. Lauren Mullin, zo Mediterranean Grill, a sophomore e n rol le d i n a similar venue, opened letters a nd sciences, sa id in the College Park Shop- she didn’t like the taste or ping Center. Though Sti- style of the food. “They were low-profile,” efvater said the two Mediterranean grills catered said Andrea Gilbert, a senior to different markets — food science major. “I went namely, those who live once, a nd I d id n’t re a l ly at T he Va rsity a nd the have the burning desire to University View versus go back. T here were two those who live closer to stronger restaurants there South Campus — the two — Bobby’s Burger [Palace], eateries delivered many which I would go to on dates a of the same options. Gar- lot and then Shanghai Tokyo banzo also serves made- [Cafe], which is honestly my
“they were low-profile ... i went once, and i didn’t really have the burning desire to go back.” ANDREA GILBERT
Park, he said. Some establishments, such as Bobby’s Burger Palace, Looney’s Pub and Sweetgreen, are doing well, proving, he said, that some businesses have what it takes to succeed. T houg h Stief vater a lso said he couldn’t release official details yet of Roti’s potential replacement, he confirmed an “interesting” establishment with a “food component” is looking to replace Roti. “It’s not fast-casual, but it’s not fine dining,” he said. “It’s kind of a unique thing.” If it does move in, Catlin didn’t know yet when the venue might open, but he said it depended on “all the work that has to go on inside” a nd acqu i r i ng necessa r y county permits. “It’s the kind of thing that could take months,” he said.
Senior food science major favorite Asian restaurant [off] campus. “So it was honestly probably the weakest option if I was going north of campus on Route 1.” Roti also wasn’t as convenient as going to Moby Dick House of Kabob, a Mediterranean fast food eatery in Stamp, Gilbert added. It’s not cheap to operate a business on Route 1, Stiefvater said, adding that successful places needed to sell “a lot of products.” But the fast turnover rate of city restaurants is typical of the industry in general and not unique to College amcginnisdbk@gmail.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 | news | The Diamondback
SYRIA From PAGE 1 without an education. “That’s just a whole generation of people that’s not going to be educated,” Al-muhtasib said. “What’s the future of Syria? How are they going to survive afterwards?” Her 3-year old cousin, she said, is a part of that uncertain future. She recalls hearing of his fears about boarding a plane as his family looked to flee the country. “He was like, ‘No no no, the snipers are going to shoot it down,” she said. “Sniper,” she said, is “not a word that should be in his vocabulary.” Another one of her cousins was pulled over by armed forces. Guards didn’t believe the car her cousin was driving was her father’s and detained her. Released three weeks later, she refused to talk about the experience to anyone. “She’s completely changed,” Al-muhtasib said. Since the ordeal, she said, her cousin has been markedly quieter. Most of Al-muhtasib’s cousins still reside in Syria. Some have lost their homes and some have fled to neighboring Lebanon, where they are forced into crowded quarters.
RED LINE U.S. involvement in the Syrian civil war began with Obama’s early condemnation of the Assad regime in 2012, followed by the establishment of
a “red line” calling for military action should Assad employ the use of chemical weapons. After the U.S. confirmed the use of sarin gas against civilians in the Aug. 21 attacks, Obama urged Congress to authorize limited military strikes to deter Assad from further flouting international bans on such weapons. Americans have expressed mixed opinions on U.S. invo l ve m e n t . A N e w Yo r k Times/CBS News poll showed 62 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should avoid being a leader in intervening in international conflicts. However, after Obama’s most recent speech, 61 percent of respondents told CNN they support his stance on Syria. Additionally, not all rebel forces yearn for Western-style democracy in Syria. The unrest has allowed the al-Qaida-aligned al-Nusra Front to enter the conflict, and foreign money from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait is flowing to rebel groups that run counter to other rebel factions supported by Turkey and Qatar, further polarizing an already-fractured opposition and hamstringing U.S. efforts to find allies. The U.N. has also provided a challenge. Syrian ally Russia has led an obstructionist front against taking action in Syria within the U.N. Security Council, sticking to its alliance with Assad and complicating the prospect of a substantive international resolution to end the conflict. Syria did, however, agree Tuesday to comply with a
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Russian proposal to bring the regime into compliance with international chemical weapons law, representing a diplomatic breakthrough. Obama credited the threat of U.S. force as bringing about the new development in a Tuesday address to the nation.
ELUSIVE PEACE As the U.S. looks to find allies among uncoordinated rebel groups, this university’s chapter of Muslims Without Borders has viewed the conflict as a humanitarian crisis, pledging to help those affected by the war without the yoke of political allegiances. Over the past year, Muslims Without Borders raised more than $100,000 for the cause with two fundraising events. That money went toward funding aid boxes containing important food supplies that can feed a family of five for about a month. They are delivered through networks on the ground in neighboring Turkey and have helped about 13,000 Syrians, said Muslims Without Borders spokesman Omar Goheer, a sophomore chemistry and economics major. “We’re trying our best to do whatever we can to help the families in need,” said Momina Mazhar, fundraising coordinator for the organization and a junior physiology and neurobiology and sociology major. Goheer said Muslims Without Borders toes an apolitical line to make sure the public is in focus, not politicians. Recent dialogue in Wash-
ington and on the international stage has centered on the use of chemical weapons, Goheer said. While it was a tragic event, he added, the 1,400 deaths overshadow the bloodshed that has claimed about 100,000 lives over the past two years. “It just comes to show the cruelty and inhumanity that’s been carried out throughout the crisis,” Goheer said. “Unfortunately, massacres like what occurred on Aug. 21 with the chemical weapons are tragedies that the Syrian people have been suffering with for the past two years.” For some, the future looks grim. Kenneth Pollack, a senior fellow in the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, wrote on the conflict in Syria in a report in August. Pollack is most known for his 2002 book, The Threatening Storm, in which he made the case for a U.S. invasion of Iraq. “The tragedy of Syria roils on with no end in sight,” Pollack wrote. “Many Americans would like to see it ended. Yet our diplomatic efforts are so moribund as to have become a cruel joke to the Syrian people.” He added, “Until there is a breakthrough on the battlefield, there will be no breakthroughs at the negotiating table.” Many experts agree peace will be hard to come by, given the opposition’s determination to topple the Assad regime. Assad has in turn expressed no plans to step down. Aisha Hussain, Muslims Without Borders president and senior behavioral and community health and psychology major, said she just wants to see a secure future and an end to the bloodletting. However, she is unsure how that will come about. “You can say anything has a light at the end of the tunnel,” Hussain said. “It might take a really long time.”
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE Al-muhtasib is concerned about the future as well, fearing that even after the war ends, the country will be replete with damaged infrastructure, children without schooling and widespread destruction of important cultural sites, further testing the resolve of the Syrian people and hampering their ability to rebuild.
“He was like, ‘no no no, the snipers are going to shoot it down.’ [Sniper is] not a word that should be in [a 3-year-old’s] vocabulary.”
TECH From PAGE 1
“People talk about the fighting,” she said. “But they don’t really talk about what’s going to happen afterward.” She would like to see Syria emerge as “a beacon in the Middle East and not another Third World country that you hear about in the news.” P re v i o u s l o n g - te r m military commitments in the region have dimmed public support for intervention, but Al-muhtasib said the younger generation in particular sometimes ignores the issue of Syria altogether. “You can only pretend what’s going on in the rest of the world isn’t happening for so long,” Al-muhtasib said. “I don’t think we should be comfortable living in a world where someone else is being wrongfully killed or wrongfully treated.”
“This is a bit different,” sa id M ichel le T hom a s, a junior accounting and finance major who works at the desk. “This is much more face to face and interactive.” Thomas said the Help Desk in the computer space sciences building was always busy, but the library location is more convenient for students. The services desk is also characteristic of the learning commons movement, with features springing up around universities nationwide that aim to turn physical library spaces into interactive, expansive learning centers. The university launched its Terrapin Learning Commons on the second floor of McKeldin in 2010. “It’s a way of just really t ra n sfor m i ng t he l ibra r y f r o m a p h y s i c a l c o l l e ction center into a more of an active learning kind of space,” White said. T he university plans to open several other commons in the next few years, such as a science, research and media com mons, W h ite sa id, to promote more resource use within disciplines. The goal is to offer services to students and faculty that may not usually be accessible in a central location. In line with the strategic pla n’s push towa rd costef fe ct ive d i g it a l s tora ge options, university students w i l l a l s o h ave a c c e s s to UMD Box, a new cloud-based storage system. Launched by the university, the online storage system offers users 25 GB to upload, share and collaborate files. Students can activate their UMD Box accounts on the IT services website and log in through umd.box.com. Although the students still need to become acquainted with all the new services, White said they already seem to be popular. “This is a way that we can really provide centralized help and tools that really aren’t available anywhere else,” White said. “The libraries can offer it in a really broad way to everybody.”
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NOUR AL-MUHTASIB University alumna
“UNFORTUNATELY, MASSACRES LIKE WHAT OCCURRED ON AUG. 21 with the chemical weapons are tragedies that the Syrian people have been suffering with for the past two years.” OMAR GOHEER
Muslims Without Borders spokesman
“You can only pretend what’s going on in the rest of the world isn’t happening for so long. I don’t think we should be comfortable living in a world where someone else is being wrongfully killed or wrongfully treated.” NOUR AL-MUHTASIB University alumna
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Opinion
THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
EDITORIAL BOARD
Mike King
Editor in Chief
DAN APPENFELLER Managing Editor
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STAFF EDITORIAL
I
Syria: A no-win situation for America
n July, the U.N. announced that more than 100,000 people had been killed in the civil war that has raged in Syria for more than two years. History will already judge the world for watching so many die, but a new development all but forces the United States to intervene — and soon. In President Obama’s speech to the nation Tuesday night, he explained why, on Aug. 21, the situation changed — when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his own citizens to kill more than a thousand people, including hundreds of children. And he explained why he felt it was the responsibility of the international community to punish Assad for this act and enforce the more than 20-year-old U.N. ban on chemical weapons use. The situation is endlessly complex. On the one hand, a dictator is killing his citizens with weapons that are supposed to be internationally banned. On
the other, as Obama himself put it, the Assad regime presents no serious threat to the American military, and there is no direct or imminent threat to the security of our nation. This generation of American college students seems to have a knee-jerk aversion to war, for obvious reasons. America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cost our country thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. With war and fear miring half of our young lives with few concrete results, that aversion is understandable. Indeed, according to a New York Times/CBS poll, 62 percent of Americans think the U.S. should not “take the leading role among all other countries in the world in trying to solve international conflicts.” Still, after Obama’s characteristically eloquent speech, 61 percent of respondents to a CNN poll said they “support the president’s position on Syria.” The situation in Syria is undeniably different from the wars of the
2000s. There is clear evidence, supported by governments and journalists alike, that Assad used these weapons on civilians. There is a clear international norm, established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, that these weapons have no place in a civilized society. For Assad to go unpunished — for America to do nothing — would set a terrible precedent other dictators could exploit.
“send a message” to Assad and dictators across the world, but would it do anything to help the situation at hand? Could Assad retaliate by doubling down and inducing another chemical weapons attack? What would the American response be then? Fortunately, there might be a diplomatic way out of this situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin, an ally of Assad’s, has stepped in with a proposal for Assad to admit OUR VIEW his possession of chemical weapons and give them up to avoid a U.S. military strike. If this solution works, it would mean our threat of military action was enough to accomplish the end result we wanted — without any strike actually taking place. It would be an enormous win for the Obama administration and for the international ban against chemical weapons. Yet we have no indication or assurIf it doesn’t work, however, we will ance that Obama’s “targeted military find ourselves at an interesting crossstrike” on Syria would actually ac- roads. Obama made the intelligent and complish anything. Sure, it could constitutionally legal decision to ask
The international community must respond to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. But military force should be a last resort.
EDITORIAL CARTOON JOEY LOCKWOOD/the diamondback
Misplaced criticism for Miley’s twerking CHARLIE BULMAN
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Rethinking education:
Why do we have tests? ROBERT COBB It’s a question that’s largely unasked and unanswered in the world of education: Why do we have tests? I can’t answer for everyone, but a few objectives seem apparent. First and foremost, test evaluation ideally should provide feedback so students can study more effectively and teachers can adapt their teaching to student needs. Second, test scores — and grades more generally — are intended to demonstrate a student’s capability and knowledge. Grades prove that you learned something in the courses you took. I want to discuss whether our tests at this university succeed in meeting those implicit objectives. But before I do, I want to address two widespread misperceptions that seem to crop up in every course: 1. Test questions should not define the curriculum of a course. The material ought to be useful and interesting to you, regardless of whether it affects your GPA. If the course material is not relevant or interesting to the students, something is wrong, whether it is a lack of justification for the requirements in a program, or a student’s ill-fitting choice of courses. 2. Tests are not, and should not be, used as motivational tools. Professors and students alike are both guilty of this. Professors leverage their classes’ anxiety about grades to keep them engaged, rather than putting in the effort to make class more widely enjoyable. Students let learning wait until exam time. I myself have, on occasion, waited until exam week to read my text-
book. This is not the point of college or exams. We ought to be learning the whole semester, not frenetically studying during the last two weeks, and our professors ought to help us do that by structuring the class around more than preparation for the final. Let’s go back now and ask how we are doing on the two legitimate aims of evaluations — feedback and demonstration. As a feedback mechanism, our system is flawed but functional. If we are thinking about our assignments in the right way, it becomes clear that subpar quiz and homework performance indicates a need to change something in the way a student is studying. Some tremendous teaching assistants and professors go to great lengths to point out errors in the logic or communication on lowscoring graded assessments. H oweve r, t h e m o s t h eav i ly weighted components of our grading system — final projects and examinations — fail to provide actionable feedback for students. Often, a student will never see the final once it has been graded, a waste of a valuable learning opportunity. If we wanted to use evaluations as a true tool of learning and improvement, assessments would provide timely, tailored feedback so students could better learn the material. The same tests could be taken multiple times, ensuring and valuing a student’s eventual comprehension. While the structure of our classes might lead students to believe otherwise, if you find out there are gaps in your knowledge or skill set, you go and fill them, not abandon learning because there is no retest. “Well,” you might say, “the point of finals and other nonfeedback as-
sessments is to prove that students did the work and learned what they needed to learn in order to get credit for the class. Stop bellyaching and get back to work, columnist. Grades measure you against other students, and the best students will get the best jobs, right?” That view is both mistaken and harmful. Every student has sour memories from the classes for which he or she worked hard and learned everything on the syllabus but, through a lack of sleep or other trivial errors, received a grade that unjustly represented all the learning he or she did in class. Similarly, we know of students who coast by without much work at all but cram for a final and get the grade they need. Considering the differences among grade curves depending on course and professor and oft-cited grade inflation, I put little stock in tests as an adequate demonstration of learning. Employers don’t have the means to check whether a course was rigorous, or whether you actually learned what was on the syllabus, and, by and large, they don’t care. We are imposing on ourselves a strange and arbitrary system that is ill-designed for achieving its inherent purposes. It causes unwarranted stress and mental anguish for students, and, from the small amount of analysis here, seems to hinder real learning. By questioning our underlying assumptions about what has to be part of a course, we can make the educational experience more meaningful for everyone. Robert Cobb is a senior computer engineering major. He can be reached at rcobbdbk@gmail.com.
Congress for authorization of a military strike. In his speech, he requested Congress delay this vote while the diplomatic possibilities are worked on. Before Tuesday night’s speech and the new developments with Russia, there were not enough votes in Congress to approve the military strike Obama wanted. If the deal with Russia falls through, it’s unclear whether those votes would change. If not, Obama will have to decide whether to go it alone and strike anyway or accept that a dictator was able to gas his people with chemical weapons and face no consequences. For America, this is a no-win situation with no “good” outcomes. The international community has watched more than 100,000 people die, and history will likely frown on our indifference. But a diplomatic solution is better than most. “I have a deeply held preference for peaceful solutions,” said Obama in his speech. We do too.
It’s an age-old truism that twerking and teddy bears should never mix. Regardless, Miley Cyrus got the reaction she was looking for. After her now (in)famous MTV Video Music Awards performance on Aug. 25, during which she got down, threw her tongue out and jammed a giant foam finger in Robin Thicke’s crotch, Cyrus issued the following tweet: “Smilers! My VMA performance had 306.000 tweets per minute. That’s more than the blackout or Superbowl! #fact.” Smilers indeed! Obviously, Cyrus embraced the philosophy that any publicity is good publicity. Fortunately for her, she wasn’t reading the million-plus tweets made during her twerkfest. Cyrus was slammed for her attire, her exploitive use of black female backup dancers and the general tastelessness of her performance. Still, while I was no fan of her act, much of the criticism was misplaced. Rather than going after the time or place of her stunt — MTV rated the program as appropriate for 14-year-olds, according to the Parents Television Council — many attacked the very act of her sexual expression alone. Amid the rampant hysteria over another corrupted Disney princess, some writers and talking heads went too far, connecting Cyrus’ act to completely unrelated stories. Notably, the VMAs came on the heels of a much-publicized decision by a Montana judge to sentence a teacher who had slept with a 14-year-old student to only 30 days in jail. The girl, who the judge determined was “older than
her chronological age,” committed suicide after the affair. A string of commentators tried to tie the events together, with disastrous consequences. Incredibly, a recent USA Today column went so far as to suggest that performances like Cyrus’ may contribute to rape. Underlying this conclusion is a fundamentally misogynistic logic, one all too common on college campuses. Rather than viewing acts of female sexual expression in their own right, some people first consider the negative reactions that sexual expression can elicit — “That girl is dressed like a slut — she’s asking for it.” Implicitly, a share of responsibility is transferred from attacker to victim, putting the burden on women to not “egg on” sexual predators. This is a backward mentality, and it’s harmful to the college party scene. College women are in a bind; they face intense pressure to dress lightly when they go out, but they have to worry about the consequences of appearing “too inviting.” Freeing up women to act without restrictions would create a far more relaxed party atmosphere. Thus, holding predators entirely responsible for their actions and rooting out sexual assault is a social and moral imperative. Admittedly, this argument contains an important element of selfinterest. As a college-aged male, I find the notion that the way someone dances or dresses could dictate my actions repulsive. This line of thought reduces males to mindless animals, guided only by our libido. College guys should man up, reject this slight and take responsibility for their own actions. Charlie Bulman is a sophomore government and politics major. He can be reached at cbulmandbk@gmail.com.
DIVERSIONS
Chainz From PAGE 6 One Direction (feat. 2 Chainz) The latest meteorically successful boy band will most likely soon face the challenge that defeats nearly all of its ilk at some point or another: evolving into a credible band that appeals to more than sixth grade girls. Nothing would demonstrate the band’s growing maturity more than to join forces with the Chainz himself. In a perfect world, the track would be exquisitely titled, “Best Song Ever, Part 2.” Nickelback (feat. 2 Chainz) Despite Billboard naming it the top group of the past decade; despite selling more than 50 million records worldwide; despite taking an endless amount of beautifully introspective pictures, Nickelback is one of the most widely hated bands in the world. Collaborat-
ing with a hip, edgy rapper like 2 Chainz would be ideal for this aging band looking to find critical success again. What do you mean you can’t imagine eight bars from 2 Chainz on “Photograph”? The Rolling Stones (feat. 2 Chainz) Call me a dreamer, but I can already see these legends going on tour together and participating in countless tour-busdrug-bust standoffs. And while 2 Chainz isn’t quite the septuagenarian rocker Mick Jagger is, 36 is getting pretty old to be a controversial rapper. It may do him good in the long run to have aging musicians to relate to, especially if the Stones allow him access to the fountain of youth that has somehow kept Keith Richards alive. Forty more years of 2 Chainz — you heard it here first. jantoshakdbk@gmail.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 | The Diamondback
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Features ACROSS 1 Make like a beaver 5 Girder insert 10 Thin coating 14 Exercise system 15 Teen faves 16 Sheriff Taylor’s kid 17 Daybreak, in verse 18 Dance move 19 Ribs, to Cato 20 Kidnapped 22 Gather bit by bit 23 Excuses 24 Peeve 26 Jesse -- of track 29 Colorful houseplant 33 Gets boring 34 -- and dined 35 Day- -- paint 36 Like some quiches 37 Airliner capacity 38 Rustic lodgings 39 King, in France 40 Goes it alone 41 Soprano’s pieces 42 Earthworms 44 Fresh 45 Alice’s diner 46 Tortoiseshell inlay 48 Avoid expiration
51 Went at full speed 55 Violinist Leopold -56 -- for the ride 58 Change 59 Rugged cliff 60 Potato pancake 61 “Terrible” tsar 62 Nostalgic time 63 Raised, as a question 64 Longest river
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27 28 29 30 31
Prairie schooner -- Marbles Breezy greetings -- fatuus Radius companions 32 Like fallen logs
34 Joins, as metal 37 Gardener’s need 38 “Sliver” author (2 wds.) 40 Knocked off 41 Late tennis great 43 Surface
DOWN 1 Fitness centers 2 Whistle time 3 Pearl Mosque site 4 Lewdly 5 The slow lane 6 Lays off work 7 Empty space 8 Antiquity 9 Mao -- -tung 10 Tricked 11 -- dixit 12 Bart’s sister 13 Spiteful 21 Use foul words 22 Spiky flower 24 Declaims 25 Cousteau’s islands 26 Kind of house or hat
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HOROSCOPE STELLA WILDER
orn today, you know more than most how to enjoy a situation fully. To that end, you are almost always the first one to jump into a situation with abandon. You are usually more interested in quality than in quantity, and you understand that while having a lot of something is desirable to some, having the best of something is desirable to all. That’s just how you strive to live from day to day, seeking the best of whatever is available to you at any given time. You are something of a risk-taker, but you are not foolhardy or careless. You always consider the odds before doing something, but once you decide on doing it, you do it with freedom and delight. You always welcome the advice of others, but you are perfectly frank about the possibility that you will not take it. And why should you take all the advice you are offered? The truth is that not everyone understands or appreciates your unique perspective, and thus most advice may not be applicable to you. Also born on this date are: Linda Gray, actress; Rachel Ward, actress; Maria Muldaur, singer; Paul Walker, actor; Barry White, singer; Joe Pantoliano, actor; Mark Knopfler, musician; Jesse Owens, Olympic champion. 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.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -The instructions you receive may conflict with your notion of what is really going on. Discussion is in order, surely. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You can reconnect with your own desires as you seek something that will provide a much-needed pickme-up. An evening mixup adds some fun. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You’ll receive a gift of sorts. Change is in the offing, and when it begins, you’ll likely make sense of a complex issue. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- The decisions you make today are likely to result in a quicker pace as you move forward from this point. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You may want to examine your own methods and compare them to those of someone you greatly admire. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -You may have more time on your hands than you had anticipated, but you have plenty to do, so you’ll be able to use it productively.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You may experience a subtle but significant shift in your thinking or attitude. Others notice, too, and adjust accordingly. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You’ll be assessing your own needs today. What a friend provides you may result in something far more pleasurable than expected. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You may have the feeling that someone is looking over your shoulder. Indeed, you may have to put your foot down! GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- It’s anyone’s guess where you get your inspiration, but you know perfectly well that you can find it almost anywhere today! CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Whether you attribute your good fortune to the stars, to destiny or to fate, you will be able to enjoy the results of a lucky turn. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Someone you call a friend may be trying to pull you away from your own center. There’s no reason to take this all that seriously, however. COPYRIGHT 2013 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
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Diversions LIST | WHO NEEDS TO FEAT. 2 CHAINZ
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
2 CHAINZ
A celebration of the life of Tauheed Epps aka 2 Chainz By Joe Antoshak @joeantoshak Staff writer In 2011, an aging Tauheed Epps took a long, hard look at his stage name and came to the conclusion that things just weren’t working out. While Epps had found some success with the two misspelled words of his old title (Tity Boi), he knew his com-
mercial growth depended on a more family-friendly moniker. He needed something catchy. He needed something iconic. Most importantly, though, he needed something printable. So after what must have proven a lengthy and anguishfilled process, Epps stumbled on perfection, and 2 Chainz was introduced to the world. Today marks the 36th birthday
THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
ON THE SITE
CATCHING FIRE
Coldplay recently stirred controversy by contributing an original song to the soundtrack of the new Hunger Games movie. Is this “selling out?” The Diamondback’s Danielle Ohl and Cory Blair weigh in. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.
of the artist now forever known as 2 Chainz. Most commonly referred to by suburban adolescents in a mock southern drawl, the term “2 Chainz” has become something of an institution in the two-and-a-half years of its existence. He’s already recorded a No. 1 album in his debut, Based on a T.R.U. Story, and will very possibly have another with the release o f h i s fo l l owup, B.O.A.T.S. 2 #Metime, this week. The world can’t get enough of the Georgia ra p p e r — and here’s to ironically hoping that will never
normal relationship material with Mr. Chainz contradicting her positive description of the male character by simply stating something along the lines of, “She got a big booty so I call her Big Booty.” Note: perfect for breakups.
change. The way I see it, his best bet at longevity is to diversify. Rap is cool, but think how much cooler it would be to see 2 Chainz and Dave Matthews performing side by side in a dimly lit coffee house on the Lower East Side. Genre be damned, these five artists are at the top of my list for a 2 Chainz collaboration within the next year.
Kenny G (feat. 2 Chainz) Sure, Kenny G is a masterful musician, and sure, he could probably seduce the majority of the global population with just his saxophone and candlelight. But sometimes words are necessary for full artistic expression and 2 Chainz might be the supreme candidate for Kenny to properly verbalize his ideas. And if you think Kenny G has never considered himself to be “going so hard you’d think I mixed the Viagra with the soda,” you’re just kidding yourself.
Ta y l o r Sw i f t ( f e a t . 2 Chainz) In what would probably be the greatest stroke of artistic juxtaposition in the history of man, this track would ideally consist of Swift singing her
See Chainz, Page 4 photo courtesy of allindstrom.com
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thursday, september 12, 2013 | sports | The Diamondback
notebook From PAGE 8 Rivals.com, has been used in more of a specialist role with the Terps, he’s seen his limited chances as opportunities to make an impact on the coaching staff. “It was a great moment because right there, I showed the coaches what I could do, so they could build more trust in me,” Ngakoue said Tuesday. “So they could trust me in the field, and I could have more playing time on the field, so that was basically a great experience.” Ngakoue — who said his mother named him after French tennis player Yannick Noah — has appeared in both games so far for the Terps and has recorded one tackle and a pass deflection in addition to his pick. “It’s tough coming from high school and playing as a freshman,” coach Randy Edsall
said. “It really is. I got a lot of respect for these kids that are doing that. I think it’s a great compliment to them in terms of how hard they work and how hard they have to study to get themselves on the field as a true freshman.” Edsall said Ngakoue’s role isn’t likely to change, as the Terps have a wealth of talent and experience ahead of him. But the coaching staff has shown no qualms about putting the best talent on the field, no matter the experience level. And Ngakoue knows this. So despite his youth, there’s a chance for him to be a contributor. “It’s just motivation for me to work harder each day at practice to ultimately get more playing time and eventually become the starter,” Ngakoue said. “It’s just motivation. I don’t look at it like a downside or anything like that. It actually humbles me from being
7
one of the top high school recruits in the area and country, so it’s a humbling experience. All the great ones had to go through it.”
CORNERBACKS C o r n e r b a c k J e re m i a h Johnson will be sidelined for the next seven to eight weeks with a broken left toe, but thanks to quality depth at the position, Terps coaches don’t seem to be fretting over the loss of the returning starter. Isaac Goins and Will Likely, two of the Terps who will assume larger roles in Johnson’s absence, impressed in the Terps’ 47-10 victory over Old Dominion. With Johnson sitting out, Goins had an interception on the Monarchs’ first drive, and Likely got the game ball after totaling a team-high 11 tackles in his first career start. To defend Old Dominion’s
spread offense, though, the Terps dipped even deeper into their secondary depth, playing reserves, such as safety A.J. Hendy and cornerback Alvin Hill, for long periods. The Terps responded by holding Heinicke to 18-of-34 passing for 166 yards and three interceptions. “I think we have some depth,” Edsall said. “We’ve had to reach into some of that depth already, but it’s been good.” While the overall depth is key, coaches may rely on Goins and Likely the most to replace Johnson. Goins, a senior who was originally slated to be the nickel back, will now start at corner, opposite Dexter McDougle, while Likely, a highly touted freshman from Belle Glade, Fla., will slide into Goins’ old spot. Edsall and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart appear confident that both Goins and Likely will be able to ef-
fectively fill in for Johnson. Likely especially has garnered the admiration of his coaches. “I always thought he was a special player,” Stewart said when asked if he had expected Likely to perform the way he has. “When you got [wide receiver] Stefon Diggs, did you expect him to do the things he did? You kind of did. Will, he’s doing a great job. I think he’s a special player.”
MAKING PICKS Last season, the Terps had four interceptions in 12 games. This season, they’ve already matched that total after two. McDougle had a juggling interception in the opener against Florida International, and Goins, safety Sean Davis and Ngakoue all picked off Heinicke on Saturday. “I think it’s just guys doing their jobs and putting themselves in position,” Edsall said.
Endoh From PAGE 8 see our whole engine is going to purr a little bit better.” Endoh has the ability to cover ground sideline to sideline and end line to end line. His technical skill offers a trustworthy outlet in the middle of the field and allows him to break down opposing defenses with a combination of dribbling and precise through balls to the Terps’ host of talented forwards. “He opens up a lot of things, not only for me up top, but for the midfielders he’s working with,” forward Patrick Mullins said. “He’s always looking, trying to get behind defenses, and his movement is valuable to our team. Without that movement, things wouldn’t work as smoothly.” Teammates and coaches agree Endoh’s offensive play is spectacular, but the midfielder is equally valuable in
tigers From PAGE 8 of Notre Dame to the ACC forced the conference to adjust the schedule. Instead of having a week to recover from the games in California, the Terps had just four days. After flying back from the West Coast on Monday, players went to practice and attended classes Tuesday before boarding buses early yesterday. Some players are hoping the combination of constant travel and little rest doesn’t show on the field tonight. “It’s been pretty difficult. Some people are pretty tired,” defender Megan Gibbons said. “I’m hoping it does not affect us tomorrow. It’s gonna take some bad games to finally get where you want to be, and hopefully we’re over that now.” Despite the unexpected changes to the schedule, coach Jonathan Morgan is doing all that he can to make the best of the situation. That includes making sure his players are getting rest and hydrating. They’re also using compression pants that help rejuvenate their bodies. “I’m trying to take it pretty light on the girls as far as training goes, but really other than that, we’ve just got to try and deal with it,” Morgan said. “Thankfully they’re all pretty fit kids, and being able to recover should be a little easier because they are in good shape.” Unfortunately for Morgan, injuries are forcing two top players to sit out tonight’s game. Forward Gabby Galanti, who scored the go-ahead goal against Navy in the Terps’ victory Sept. 1, came away with an injury against Santa Clara on Friday. Morgan said defender Erika Nelson also suffered an injury in Sunday’s game against Stanford. While he said he didn’t know any more about the extent of
“I think guys are playing a little bit faster. I think they’re playing a little bit confident because they know what they’re doing.” The four interceptions have come from four different players in several different situations. Goins and McDougle made plays on the ball in one-on-one coverage, Davis jumped in front of an errant pass that Heinicke threw while on the run from Terps defenders and Ngakoue snatched a ball after it was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Whitfield. “Definitely think the way we’re practicing, we’re attacking the ball a lot better,” outside linebacker Matt Robinson said. “We’re putting a lot more emphasis in 7-on-7 drills on making sure we at least leave the drill with an interception.” dgallendbk@gmail.com akasinitzdbk@gmail.com
the defensive half. The Terps’ style of defense involves a lot of pressure, and Mullins said that pressure would fail without a player like Endoh. “He’s got the great mindset where he wants to work,” Mullins said. “He wants to go side to side. He wants to get stuck in on people. And that’s what playing that position is all about.” In a slow start to the season — the Terps are 1-2-1 entering tomorrow’s matchup at North Carolina — Endoh has been a spark and a model for the rest of the Terps. And entering the heart of the conference schedule, Cirovski knows that a player like Endoh could be what his team needs to rebound from its season-opening struggles. “Good players make others around them better,” Cirovski said.“And I think he’ll be the kind of player that will make others around him better with things he does on both sides of the ball.” dpopperdbk@gmail.com
their injuries, Morgan did say neither would play against the Tigers, and Galanti didn’t even make the trip to South Carolina. When the Terps take the field tomorrow, they will face a somewhat inexperienced but youthful team. Clemson brought in a freshman class of 11 players, and all but one of them has played in every game so far this season. And some of them are already leaving their marks. Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan has already posted three shutouts in the Tigers’ first five games. She also boasts the conference’s fifth-lowest goals against average (0.55). A native of Whitby, Ontario, Sheridan was the starting goalkeeper for the U-17 Canadian National Team, which won the silver medal in the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. Fellow Canadian Rachelle Beanlands, the Terps’ starting goalkeeper, had experience playing with Sheridan for Team Ontario. “Us both being goalkeepers, we’d train together on the Ontario provincial team,” Beanlands said. “She would call me Grandma because I’m two years older than her.” While the T igers had a miserable ACC record last year, going 1-9 and finishing 10th, Morgan doesn’t want to look ahead to the other ACC foes just yet. He sees them as a program that is tired of losing, and while Clemson might not be on the same level as No. 1 North Carolina or No. 2 Virginia, it could be just as dangerous. “That’s how we were when we weren’t very good. It’s like teams will overlook you and look past you and you’re hungry to want to prove yourself, so you go out there with this extra added incentive,” Morgan said. “We have to be prepared for Clemson. They have that same type of incentive.” nmunsondbk@gmail.com
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thursday, september 12, 2013
FOOTBALL | NOTEBOOK
MEN’S SOCCER
In new role, Ngakoue makes early impact Terps equal 2012 interception total with 4; secondary steady in Johnson’s absence By Daniel Gallen and Aaron Kasinitz @danieljtgallen, @AaronKazreports Senior staff writers Yannick Ngakoue knew exactly where he was supposed to be and exactly what he was supposed to do Saturday in the Terrapins football team’s game against Old Dominion. The outside linebacker was going to rush the B-gap between the Monarchs’ left guard and tackle to try to pressure quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
But then he saw fellow outside linebacker Marcus Whitfield break into the Old Dominion backfield and throw his arms up in front of Heinicke’s pass. Ngakoue backed off and watched as Whitfield tipped the ball into the air. The freshman tracked it and pulled it in for his first career interception. While Ngakoue, a Friendship Collegiate Academy graduate who was rated Washington’s top player by See notebook, Page 7
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Road slate continues tonight at Clemson Terps playing third game in six days vs. Tigers By Nicholas Munson @nickmunson1 Staff writer When the Terrapins women’s soccer team takes the field at Clemson tonight, it will be playing its third road game in six days. That kind of schedule is a challenge for any team, especially when taking into account the talent the Terps have
faced: Santa Clara is receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Top 25 poll; Stanford is ranked No. 3 and the Tigers could provide another test for the Terps at Historic Riggs Field. But it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Tonight’s contest was originally scheduled for Sunday, but the addition See tigers, Page 7
MIDFIELDER TSUBASA ENDOH scored one goal and dished two assists when the Terps beat Duke, 3-1, on Friday at Ludwig Field. christian jenkins/the diamondback
just the beginning After early uncertainty, Endoh joins Terps and thrives in midfield role
By Daniel Popper @danielrpopper Staff writer One month ago, Tsubasa Endoh didn’t know if he would play for the Terrapins men’s soccer team this season. The midfielder — who played in 20 games last season — came to College Park in the spring of 2011 and immediately entered the program for an intensive Englishlanguage class in the Maryland English Institute. Although Endoh attended school full time as a freshman, he did not earn any credits toward his degree, putting him at risk of not fulfilling the requirement for student-athletes entering their second year of college enrollment. The Tokyo native was forced to apply for a progress-toward-degree waiver, which would potentially grant him an exception from the credit requirements. So Endoh’s 2013 season was in the hands of the NCAA.
But the organization acted quickly and approved the sophomore’s waiver in what coach Sasho Cirovski called a “record turnaround.” Endoh would be suiting up in the Terps’ season opener against Stanford. “Off to California by myself,” Endoh wrote in a tweet Aug. 29. “It’s somewhat behind schedule, but now my waiver got approved! It’s time to join my best team in this country.” The Terps felt Endoh’s on-field energy immediately. Despite practicing just twice with the first team before facing Duke on Sept. 6, Endoh was electrifying and fit in well with his teammates in the home opener. He scored a crucial rocket like left-footed strike from the top of the box to tie the game at 1-1, and he assisted on the next two goals, leading the Terps to a 3-1 victory. “He’s a playmaker,” Cirovski said. “He’s a connector. He’s a great two-way player, and once he gets in a groove with the other players, you’re going to See endoh, Page 7