The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper
T H U R S DAY, O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 01 4
Tawes Hall to receive $15.9 million renovation Despite previous upgrade, theater scheduled to become complex of multiuse classrooms By Rokia Hassanein @rokiahass Staff writer Tawes Hall is undergoing a “major” renovation that will bring more office space and five new general purpose classrooms for this university’s arts and humanities college, Facilities Management officials said.
The project, which involves renovating 29,000 square feet in Tawes Hall’s old theater, will cost about $15.9 million, said Bill Olen, capital projects director. Construction began in June and is scheduled to conclude in November 2015. Because the project is an adaptive reuse of the old theater, Olen said, the
renovation promotes sustainability within the university. “This scope is much more sustainable and cost effective than building new, which could be a third more expensive,” Olen said. “The reuse and repurposing of classrooms — that’s very sustainable and highly efficient.” The worst of the noise disruption that the project would bring is already over, he said, as the demolition of the original stage and balcony took place See tawes, Page 2 Tawes Hall will undergo a $15.9 million renovation in the building’s old theater.
rachel george/the diamondback
Univ health officials set Greek life liaison role Senior pilots outreach program geared toward stopping illness spread By Grace Toohey @Grace_2e Staff writer
Amy Parkhurst, research assistant and manager for the Jeffery Lab, observes cave fish, which do not have eyes, in the lab on the second floor of the Biology-Psychology Building. james levin/the diamondback
BLIND AS A CAVE FISH Eyeless cave fish provide researchers a glimpse into sight development and mechanics By Joe Zimmermann @JoeMacZim Staff writer Fish tanks line the walls of a second-floor lab in the BiologyPsychology Building. Swimming in some are little silver tetras that look fit for a common fishbowl. In others, there are creatures that appear more like a pet store’s Halloween special — pale and alien,
with slight streaks of translucent pink and, most notably, no eyes. While their looks don’t give it away, these two kinds of fish are actually the same species, biological cousins separated by only a few million years spent in different settings: one in surface streams and the other in the total dark of caves. In a study published in Nature Communications on Oct. 20, researchers from this university se-
quenced the genome of the blind cave fish variety of the Mexican tetra to determine what in their DNA m a kes tet ras so d i f ferent from their surface-dwelling counterparts. William Jeffery, a biology professor and co-author of this study, said the Mexican tetras provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study what genetic changes cause such drastic physical differences,
which evolved in such a short time period. By cross-breeding the cave and surface fish and studying hybrid fish with a particular trait, researchers are able to determine which areas of the genome are statistically associated with a particular trait, said Eric Haag, a university biology professor who See fish, Page 7
Campus livestock provide local meat for dining halls Officials: Sale for meat is a common practice By Joelle Lang @joelleRlang Staff writer The lambs born and raised on the Campus Farm last spring will have a new home in November — the plates of 251 North. Dining Services purchased 14 lambs in March from the agriculture and natural resources college and is serving 12 of the lambs — which went to slaughter in June and have been frozen since — in 251 North the week of Nov. 3. The remaining two lambs were sold and used last week by the Green Tidings food truck in braised lamb sandwiches. These lambs, 13 male and one female, were raised by last semester’s ANSC235: Applied Small Ruminant Partition class, otherwise known as “lamb watch,” in which
“All animals are wonderful and the fact is that you are always killing wonderful animals. Is it really terrible that you knew this one?” Caldwell said. “[Students] are eating burgers and steak. This lamb is no different, except that we know these animals have had wonderful lives.” Sophomore animal sciences m ajor Taylor B ega n i nter n s for Green Dining and said this project supports local food and reduces the negative impacts of A lamb, born in March, on the Campus Farm. Many are sold for their meat. josh loock/the diamondback transporting food. “So much lamb we eat in the U.S. students spend one-on-one time preparing us that some of our lambs is imported from other countries, would be sold for meat.” caring for lambs. Wooleyhand said because most but getting lamb produced on these Sophomore animal sciences major Jessica Wooleyhand, who took the of the lamb is being sold for meat farms reduces the carbon footcourse last semester and raised twin anyway, she is not upset that the print,” Began said. “We’re really lambs, said students were warned their lambs will be used for specials on just trying to emphasize that students should know where their the campus. lambs would be sold for their meat. Crystal Caldwell, Campus Farm food is coming from. It’s important “My lambs were adorable, almost like little puppy dogs. I knew it was coordinator, said that most of the to have food that is local and food coming, but it was still hard because male lambs on the Campus Farm are that is humane.” I formed a bond with them,” Wooley- sold for slaughter or auction and the hand said. “They did a pretty good job females are used or sold for breeding. See lamb, Page 3
ISSUE NO. 35 , OUR 105 TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION DBKNEWS.COM
Submit tips, comments and inquiries to the news desk at NEWSUMDBK@GMAIL.COM
@thedbk
TheDiamondback
Scan the QR Code to download our mobile app
SPORTS
Senior Tal Lee had spent two yea rs a s a peer educator for the University Health Center’s HEALTH Works program when she decided last semester she needed to spread her knowledge to a new community. This fall, she is piloting the Greek Health Center Liaison program. “It’s pretty much a wellness training program for Greek members to become advocates for well-being in their community and gain important skills and learn how to address mental health issues that are pretty prevalent among college students,” said Lee, an individual studies major studying public health and structural inequalities. See greek, Page 7
Polling panel explores gov data impact Survey studies result in shifts in campaigns By Jon Banister @J_Banister Senior staff writer This university’s Center for American Politics and Citizenship recently began a partnership with The Washington Post to create in-depth public opinion polls. A crowd of more than 150 students Wednesday watched a panel of Post reporters and CAPC faculty discuss their first poll and the gubernatorial race. The poll, which was released on Oct. 14, showed Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown ahead by 9 percentage points and also revealed several trends about the most important issues for voters. Taxes were the top issue for 30 percent of respondents, and when the poll asked which candidate respondents trusted to better handle taxes, Hogan held an 11-point advantage. Post reporter Jenna Johnson said polling results often change the way See polling, Page 3
OPINION
JUST KEEP RUNNING
STAFF EDITORIAL: A campus for all abilities
The Terrapins football team’s success in establishing the running game has proven crucial entering Saturday’s Big Ten contest at Penn State in State College P. 12
More can be done to make the university more accessible P. 4 DIVERSIONS
AN AFFECTION FOR APPLEBEE’S Hyattsville man is beloved karaoke fixture at local restaurant P. 6