HOOSIER HYPE SEXUAL ERUPTION
Terps need a win at Indiana in Big Ten/ACC challenge SPORTS | PAGE 8
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
R. Kelly’s Untitled is a misstep in the name of love-making DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6
THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Our 100TH Year, No. 64
Police investigate Harvard Road sexual assault SGA Incident happened early Wednesday morning, no suspect description released of Har vard Road to report a sexual assault, county police spokesman Cpl. Mike Rodriguez confirmed. Although police are continuing to investigate the assault, it is still unknown where the alleged sexual assault occurred. Rodriguez did not know if the woman who reported the crime was a student.
Staf f writer
An investigation is ongoing in a sexual assault that was reported to police early Wednesday morning, Prince George’s County Police said. At about 2:40 a.m., a woman called police from the 4600 block
THINKING
Police have not released any suspect descriptions. This incident marks the second reported sexual assault close to the campus this semester. On Nov. 1, a 21-year-old student was raped in her home on Dickinson Avenue. The last sexual assault reported in a crime alert to the university
community prior to the November incident was in Februar y, when a man raped a student and left her stranded on a highway after picking her up in his car. No alert was sent out to students regarding Wednesday’s crime. estelle@umdbk.com
UPSIDE DOWN
BY KARA ESTELLE
Staff writer
One school bus is turning the world of alternative fuel upside down. Literally. The Topsy Turvy Bus rolled onto the campus yesterday, ready to throw students’ perceptions about energy sources for a loop. The bus is a regular school bus with another upside-down school bus stacked on top. But that’s not its only claim to fame — the bus runs solely on deep-fryer grease. Operated by the Teva Learning Center’s Jewish Climate Change Campaign, the bus is
New process gives groups more guidance BY EMILIE OPENCHOWSKI Staff writer
Topsy Turvy Bus aims to make students reconsider energy usage BY DANA CETRONE
financial appeals decline
traveling the country spreading the group’s message of energy sustainability and efforts in the Jewish community to promote environmental awareness. The bus parked in front of the Hillel Center for about two hours, an effort sponsored by the Student Government Association and Am Ha’Aretz, the university’s Hillel’s green initiative group. “Am Ha’Aretz is a brandnew group, so this was a great way to help out a new group and put on an event,” SGA spokeswoman Michelle McGrain said. “The SGA is
see BUS, page 3
LEFT: Baruch Schwadrom of the Teva Learning Center discusses the Topsy Turvy Bus while on board. RIGHT: The Topsy Turvy Bus parked outside Hillel during a tour intended to promote environmental awareness among Jews.
PHOTOS BY JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK
Student groups seeking additional funding should have an easier time finding answers to budgetar y and finance questions after the SGA Finance Committee implemented a new advisor y process this semester. The new process is more individualized and has contributed to a 25 percent drop in the number of student groups appealing their budgets to the finance committee. Only one group — the Student Government Association — is appealing to the full SGA legislature. The SGA is charged with divvying up hundreds of thousands of dollars among student groups each year. In the past, student-group leaders would go to a mandator y meeting with the SGA vice president of finance. The entire Finance Committee would then hold two optional workshops, in which group leaders could get more specific advice, but the meetings felt rushed and only a few minutes could be spent on each group. Under the new system, each of the finance committee’s 15 members has been assigned 20 to 25 student groups to work with, and each group can receive individual attention as needed. The new process fulfills one of SGA President Steve Glickman’s campaign promises, and officials believe it’s responsible for the decline in student group funding appeals. Last fall, about 20 groups appealed to the finance committee, and four appealed to the legislature. Despite an increase in budget applications from 145 to 189, only 15 groups appealed to the committee this year. “I thought assigning individual members to the specific organizations would be more effective,” SGA Vice President of Finance Andrew Steinberg said. “It
see FINANCE, page 2
Holiday breaks see spikes in city burglaries With students gone, empty houses and apartments make prime targets BY AMANDA PINO Staff writer
While students are away, it seems, burglars will play. After Thanksgiving break, senior journalism major Gregg Sussman returned from his family home in New Jersey to discover expensive belongings — including iPods, video-game consoles, cameras, televisions and a laptop — were stolen over the weekend from the house he shares with four other students. “My drawers were open; my closet was ripped open; there was stuff
Building a better burger Student’s sweet pepper burger wins lightly entered Dining Services contest BY AMY HEMMATI Staff writer
Kelly Benson loves burgers. And until winning Dining Services’ original burger contest, he never imagined making money doing anything other than flipping them. “When I saw the advertisement for the contest, it immediately made me think of the summer where one of my two jobs was working as a cook in a restaurant called Jakes Hamburgers,” Benson, a freshman letters and sciences major, wrote in an e-mail. “When we weren’t busy and I was hungry, I was allowed to cook food for myself, and I tried different combinations each time, eventually ending up with my favorite, the sweet pepper burger.” The Dining Services contest ran from Oct. 13 to Nov. 1 and was created to promote the gourmet burger station in the Diner, which opened at the beginning of this semester. Students were asked to enter original burger recipes with toppings. The winner’s burger invention would make it onto the menu at both dining halls. Benson’s winning burger features grilled bell peppers, bacon, provolone cheese and the option of grilled onions. He won a $50 Terrapin Express gift card. The burger is currently on the menu at the gourmet
see BURGERS, page 3 ILLUSTRATION BY SHAI GOLLER/THE DIAMONDBACK
see BURGLARIES, page 3 TOMORROW’S WEATHER:
Rainy/50s
INDEX
NEWS . . . . . . . . . .2 OPINION . . . . . . . .4
FEATURES . . . . . .5 CLASSIFIED . . . . .6
DIVERSIONS . . . . .6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . .8
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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009
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ONLINE
Boxing club reinstated after administrative mix-up
TODAY Students happy to get back to practice after paperwork problems led to club suspension
TELEVISION COLLEGE PORTRAYALS: FACT OR FICTION? For those that have watched NBC’s Community College, Chevy Chase walks the college corridors as a whoknowshow-old returning student, Joel McHale (wait, isn’t that the guy from The Soup?) is a washed-up lawyer always ready to talk himself out of a mess and Ken Jeong (think crazy Asian mobster in The Hangover) is a self-deprecating Spanish teacher. But is the Spanish study group of diverse and quirky characters really representative of students at reallife community colleges? See what The Diamondback and one community college professor have to say about it on your favorite university news blog, Campus Drive. Go to blogs.umdbk.com/campusdrive for this blog post and more like it.
BY NICK RHODES Staff writer
Earlier this month, members of the university’s boxing club received their worst blow in years — a suspension. Campus Recreation Services officials suspended all club activity after officers failed to properly document two competition trips the boxing club participated in earlier this semester. But after three weeks of waiting, the ban lifts today, allowing members to resume training as a team, club president Stephen Walsh said. “It’s been kind of a frustrating three weeks,” said Walsh a senior mechanical engineering major. “We’ll be able to learn from it. Not only the boxing club, but the other sports clubs as well.” An estimated five members of the boxing team went on trips to Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md., and Virginia Military Institute in early November but neglected to fill out and submit the necessary travel reports to Campus Recreation Services officials who oversee club sports. Each time a club goes on a sanctioned trip, officers need to submit a travel report that con-
FINANCE from page 1
There’s plenty of new basketball and football coverage on Terrapintrail.com, the official sports blog of The Diamondback. In football, the regular season is over and the ACC will be sending seven teams to bowl games this season. Check out the last of our ACC football power rankings, along with the announcement of the AllACC teams and a podcast recapping where Ralph Friedgen’s job lies — only on the blog.
allows organizations to meet when it’s flexible for them, and it allows representatives to give them more personalized attention.” The finance process has occasionally provoked controversy in the past because student groups are often upset when denied. For example, this year, groups requested $876,376, but the SGA could only allocate $471,873. Under the old system, organizations that made minor mistakes didn’t have a chance to correct them before submitting their applications. But with additional
Here’s a formula I know you’ll love: Your old stuff +DBK Classified
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tains the trip itinerary with details of who is attending, who is driving and where members will be staying. “It really is a simple document,” Walsh said. “It’s not a difficult thing to do. It’s a shame that we didn’t get it taken care of.” Walsh, who has been president for more than a year, chalked the oversight up to “miscommunication” between the club’s officers. When officials heard rumors of the trip, they called Walsh in for a meeting at which he admitted to the trips. Subsequently, all boxing club activities were suspended through the end of the month. “I think they realized that it was really a mistake, and I think they were surprised that we slipped up like this,” Walsh said. “I have a strong feeling it won’t happen again.” Since the suspension, the boxing club members have missed around a dozen practices and will miss up to three competitions. The practices, which occur three times a week, will begin again this week. But the lasting impacts this slip-up could have will be felt in and out of the ring.
and individualized guidance, committee member Brian Toll said the number of mistakes has decreased. “Things like insufficient documentation or breakdown of fund requests used to cost many groups a lot of funding,” said Toll, a junior finance and accounting major. “Of course, these things still happen. But [the new process] has helped immensely.” Jewish Student Union President Eric Merin said the new system made it simpler to communicate with the finance committee. “When you only have the vice president of finance to ask questions to, it puts a lot of pressure on him to communicate the needs of hun-
Kerry Conroy of Maryland and Danielle Gabordi of UNC box during Maryland's annual Boxing Invitational in the spring semester. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK
“I feel really bad that [club members] were dragged into the suspension,” Walsh said, adding that only a handful of
dreds of student groups,” Merin said. “[Now] it’s not just one person on top. Creating a system that’s more accessible also makes it more transparent.” But Toll said many of his allotted student groups didn’t take advantage of the new process. Out of his 25 groups, he said only seven actually contacted him to meet up. “It’s a shame more people didn’t meet with me,” Toll said. “If it were up to me, I’d like to make it a requirement. It’s really only going to help them, and it puts a name and a face to the process for us.” Steinberg said he would consider making the workshops mandator y, but first he plans to sur vey student-
club members compete and most attend practice for the rigorous workouts. Other members just want to
get back to sparring with each other rather than with Campus Recreation Services. “It’s definitely a relief to get back to practice,” treasurer E.J. Mead said. “I think it definitely is a good life-learning experience. This might seem to a lot of people like it’s a little thing, but obviously to some people it’s not. To the CRS it’s not.” Mead, a finance and accounting double major, said he hopes other clubs learn from their mistakes. But not all members were as accepting of the punishments handed down by officials. “I was pretty upset about the whole thing,” personal relations officer Sara Khalatbari said. “I thought it was pretty ridiculous.” Khalatbari, a senior communication and psychology double major, said because members pay dues to have access to facilities, the club shouldn’t have been suspended over an administrative technicality. “It definitely put a major halt to our progress, because we’re a pretty new club and we’re just building up and then this happened,” she said. rhodes@umdbk.com
STUDENT-GROUP APPEALS If groups are unhappy with the amount they were originally allocated by the SGA, they can appeal, first to the finance committee and then to the full legislature. A new process for advising student groups has decreased the number of appeals this year. Fall 2008 Appeals to the finance committee: About 20 Appeals to the full legislature: 4 Fall 2009 Appeals to the finance committee: 15 Appeals to the full legislature: 1 group leaders by the end of the semester to get their feedback. “It’s something we can consider,” Steinberg said. “But it’s not always the best prac-
tice to force someone to do things. We want student groups to want to come to us with questions.” eopenchowski@umdbk.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK
BURGLARIES from page 1 everywhere,” he said. In areas densely populated with students, holiday breaks can be prime time for breakins, as most residents vacate College Park for their hometowns. But police presence is typically scaled down during winter months because there are fewer students in the city. Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich, who was re-elected this year, has been an advocate for increased police presence during the winter months. Sussman said he thinks the house was targeted because whoever broke in knew residents in the Old Town neighborhood were elsewhere. “There were no cars on my entire street, no cars in the driveway,” he said. “No neighbor to see what was going on.” Residential break-ins spiked last December, numbering more than 100, according to crime statistics for District 1 —
3
He said he later saw televian area including Hyattsville and College Park — on the sions and other belongings county police’s website. It was lined up in the hallway near an one of the worst months for open back door, presumably residential break-ins for all of prepared by the burglar or burglars to carry out of house 2008, second only to July. had the crime A county police not been interspokesperson said rupted. The stua tally of the total dent then immenumber of burgladiately left the ries during Thankshouse and called giving break would 911. He said he be available later filed a report this week. about the crime Sussman’s GREGG as soon as police housemate — a arrived. senior from New SUSSMAN SENIOR JOURNALISM MAJOR Although both York who declined County and Unito give his name — said he was the first to versity Police have concenarrive back at the rental prop- trated efforts in the past to erty, almost catching the bur- encourage students to take responsibility for the safety of glar in the act. “When I came in, I noticed themselves and their belongsomething was off because ings by locking their doors the door was unlocked,” he and windows, Sussman and said. “I figured somebody his housemate said they did had just come home before everything they could to preme, until I saw another door vent the crime. They claimed unlocked, too. Then I heard they locked all of the house’s noises, and a minute later I external doors and windows heard a car start up and before leaving for the holiday weekend. speed off.”
“I was shocked — doors were locked.”
“The next day, we saw where the robber had ripped out an AC unit and board to climb through a window,” Sussman’s housemate said. “There were sticks and leaves from outside on the ground underneath it.” Sussman said this wasn’t his first run-in with crime in the city — he and his housemate’s cars have been dented and a side-view mirror was stolen — but he added the break-in still rattled him. “I was shocked — doors were locked; windows were locked,” he said. “Breaking into a car is one thing, but I was just shocked that someone actually came into the house.” While the seniors said the loot stolen cost more than enough to classify the crime as a felony, Sussman said his renter’s insurance deductible was too high to actually save him much money. “All I can think of to do is to take every single thing that’s valuable home,” he said. apino@umdbk.com
The Topsy Turvy Bus sits outside the Hillel Center.
JACLYN
BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK
BUS from page 1 really into promoting environmental awareness, and this is a great way to do that.” The bus contained a few beds and a long table that held a filtering device used to help run the bus on its unusual fuel. The bus was painted on the sides with the Teva Learning Center emblem along with those of other Jewish environmental groups. “We collect used oil that’s dirty and still has the breading from whatever was being fried,” campaign team member Baruch Schwadron said. “We have a centrifuge, which is state of the art technology that filters the oil down so we can use it in the main tank.” Team member Peisach Stadlin said the bus was also tied into Hanukkah, the upcoming Jewish holiday commemorating an oil lamp burning for eight days and nights. “We are taking the oil and making it last longer and living that miracle,” Stadlin said. President of Am Ha’Aretz
Jesse Rabinowitz said a few group members are also a part of Teva and told the rest of the organization about the bus. The bus team hosted tours and explained to students how the grease system worked. They also played songs and encouraged students who came to see the bus to sign their pledge for environmental awareness. “It was wild,” junior Jewish studies and philosophy major Micah Chervin said. “I learned about how diesel engines can use biofuel as a source.” Sarah Levine, a senior Jewish studies major, also enjoyed the tour and saw a deeper meaning in the environmentally friendly bus. “I think that the Teva bus is a symbol for change towards Jewish environmentalism,” Levine said. The university was the bus’s 10th stop on its nationwide tour of Jewish communities, which began in March. Stadlin said there are still another 30 stops to go until it reaches its final destination in California. cetrone@umdbk.com
The Diner features the new sweet pepper burger. VINCE SALAMONE/THE DIAMONDBACK
BURGERS from page 1 burger stations at both the North and South campus dining halls and will be available until the end of the semester. To the disappointment of Dining Services, however, the contest received little student interest. Benson’s sweet pepper creation was one of only five entries in the competition. “I was really disappointed,” said Senior Executive Chef John Gray, who judged the competition along with other Dining Services employees. “I thought we would get more entries.” Of the five entered, one was a veggie burger with mushrooms and Swiss cheese, similar to the veggie burger currently on the menu. Two others called for ingredients to be added to burger patties, disqualifying them since line cooks don’t have time to put anything into the meat. The last entry was a burger with an Indian flair served with a yogurt sauce. “I thought I had a chance to win
since my burger is original and was the best combination that I tried out of many,” Benson said. Gray said that the competition came down to the sweet pepper burger and the South Asian burger. “I was pretty sure the one with the Indian flavor wouldn’t go over as well as the sweet pepper burger,” Gray said. While many students knew that the competition was going on, few took the time to enter. “There have been posters outside the burger station at the Diner for a month,” said freshman computer science major Jim Chapuran. “But I didn’t consider entering because I’m not creative, and I don’t have any good ideas.” Benson, however, is happy to see his original recipe on students’ trays across the campus. “The first day my burger was [available], I got a text from my friend that said I won, and I went down and tried it,” he said. “It followed the recipe I sent in fairly well, and I have to admit it was pretty good, too.” hemmati@umdbk.com
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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009
Opinion
KEVIN ROBILLARD
THE DIAMONDBACK YOUR INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK PHONE: (301) 314-8200 | FAX: (301) 314-8358 3150 SOUTH CAMPUS DINING HALL | COLLEGE PARK, MD., 20742 NEWS@UMDBK .COM | OPINION@UMDBK .COM
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MANAGING EDITOR
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OPINION EDITOR
Staff editorial
Guest column
Talk it out
The other green drug
T
he Great Recession was launched on Wall Street, with an assist from and the implications budget problems would have for diversity at the university. It’s Washington. From there, it has sped through the rest of the nation and nice to know Mote thinks diversity is important, but we never doubted he did. What the world, wrecking havoc on the budgets of states, cities and families. people doubt is that diversity efforts will be treated fairly as the university slashes its Though students feel the sting of the recession through cutbacks, layoffs budget. Relative to the scope of the problem, this letter was truly ineffective. And transparency — real transparency — is critical to effective communication. or furloughs, they can’t yell at former Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit or former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. But their university president is just a few Every time the administration stonewalls and refuses to release relevant information, trust declines. The natural reaction to this is: What do they have to hide? The budget steps away, making him a ready target. A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education outlines how academic lead- central website was nice, but its uses for someone trying to understand in detail how the university works are limited. We aren’t bureaucrats. ers are communicating with students, faculty and staff, trying to But where we’d like Mote to improve most is the frequency project calm in the face of a never-ending stream of financial bad with which he addresses the campus and makes himself availnews. By examining what other officials have done, we can see university President Dan Mote has done fairly well but could still University President Dan able to the community. We rarely hear from Mote unless there’s a crisis (or it’s Maryland Day). In his State of the Campus speech improve his transparency and visibility. Mote has been optimistic to the point of absurdity at times, Mote could establish good- in September, he conveyed many things the university has will with a stronger focus achieved. If Mote wants to put a positive spin on our current situbut that’s better than being gloomy. In letters and e-mails he ation, he should do so by using these achievements as support. has issued since this summer, he consistently ends on an on communication. While Mote’s letters have provided important details about encouraging note, lauding the university “family” for sticking budgetary matters, he could adopt techniques used by some of together and thanking us for being so understanding. But he his peers to keep the “university family” in the loop. For example, the chancellor of should do more than thank us — he should inform us. For example, the president of Ohio State University used one such letter to push the University of California at Riverside, Timothy White, writes a weekly 500-word for changes, including the realignment of five arts and sciences colleges. Instead of note to the university community. The feedback has been largely positive because simply lamenting the hellishness ahead, he used the crisis as an opportunity. Mote people have a general feeling they know what’s up in the administration. While has said in his letters that we will emerge a more “efficient” university. But how? Mote may not need to adopt such a frequent communication tool, it would diminish Being upfront and specific about how cuts could help the university might give peo- the idea that administrators are always hiding something. Overall, Mote has done well considering the circumstances. His letters are short ple hope, not lackluster words of encouragement. It’s also important for the administration to speak with one voice to quell confusion. and concise and do provide absolutely essential information. Although leadership is When Cordell Black was dismissed and outrage ensued, Provost Nariman Farvardin not judged solely on the ability to communicate, maintaining morale is essential. somehow ended up as the top voice. But when 600 students march on the adminis- Despite his accomplishments in the world of rhetoric, he could do more to support tration building, we think it’s worth clearing Mote’s schedule. Instead, Mote released the university community during these times. It might take a little extra time, but a letter addressing diversity 10 days later in which he ignored the spark that lit the fire Mote may find his job easier with a calm “university family” to back him up.
Our View
Editorial cartoon: Justin Cousson
Thanksgiving diary: Wailing and Wale
B
ecause I’m still too drowsy
from Thanksgiving break to write anything coherent, I think I’ll take a rain check on this week’s column. But don’t worry, because I’ve got a solution. I happened to record the events of my family’s Thanksgiving dinner in my journal, and I think I’ll just show that to you guys instead. Enjoy, and I’ll be back next week with another one of my just-barely adequate columns you all love so much! 5:22 p.m.: Thanksgiving dinner 2K9 is starting. My Uncle Chad is saying grace. 5:23: Still saying grace ... 5:30: OK, seriously, Jesus is not responsible for all this. I’m just trying to eat my dinner here, and thanking Christ for every single thing that’s ever happened isn’t going to get me my food any faster. 5:35: Locate the turkey, locate the turkey ... AHA! Found it — right by
MIKE
SANDERS the sea of old people. I’ll be feasting in no time! 5:40: How long does it take for old people to pass a plate of turkey around? Jesus Christ. 5:47: My dad just asked me how school is going. I’m going to force-feed him turkey until he forgets he asked me that. 5:50: You know, when you really think about it, stuffing looks exactly like puke. I think I’ll bring this up to everyone. 5:51: My mother just left the table, disgusted. 5:55: Family’s arguing about poli-
tics. I think it’s time for me to slip on my headphones and listen to some Wale. 6:00: So much for that. I couldn’t hear my dad yelling at me through the music, but there’s no way I could pretend not to notice his death stares. Headphones off. 6:02: I just piled corn, turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and cranberry sauce onto a small roll and ate it. I am all that is man. 6:30: My cousin and I just spent more than 20 minutes talking about Star Fox 64. Specifically how we’d rather be playing that than entertaining family right now. 6:32: “Try some apple pie,” says my mother. “Try a somersault!” I say, doing my best Peppy impression. My cousin and I laugh knowingly. 6:33: Actually, this apple pie is pretty damn good. I’m sorry for doubting you, mom. There’s probably a lesson to learn here, but I’m too drowsy to grasp it.
6:41: I think my family is the only one in America to have more dessert offerings than dinner offerings. The spread of pies and cakes I’m looking at right now is absolutely ridiculous. 6:47: Man, oh man, I’m gonna pay for this chocolate pie later tonight. And I don’t mean with money. I’m talking about a different type of payment. A more sinister type of payment. 7:00: My mom and grandma have been arguing over who should take home the leftovers for the past 10 minutes. I hate these stupid, passive-aggressive fights that always break out after Thanksgiving dinner. There’s enough food here to feed all of Namibia — why can’t you both take it home? I think I’ll retire to my room and continue my date with Wale. This Thanksgiving sucked. Mike Sanders is a junior history major. He can be reached at msanders@umdbk.com.
Copenhagen and climate: Going all-in ess than a week from now, crucial international negotiations will take place in Copenhagen. At stake is the replacement of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, set to expire in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol is largely considered a bust, since major emitters such as the United States didn’t participate. However, collectively, the European Union is on track to surpass its Kyoto goal of reducing emissions 8 percent below its 1990 levels by 2012 by achieving a 13 percent reduction. Contrary to arguments from detractors, the European countries that participated in a cap-and-trade scheme grew their economies and reduced emissions. Unfortunately, many did not follow suit, and thousands of climate experts warn of an impending catastrophe if the world warms by more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which would trigger an array of tipping
L
points. We’re currently on track for 6 degrees Celsius of warming, referred to by scientists as the “doomsday scenario.” Not that governments need to rely on predictions or theory — temperature is currently trending upward with greenhouse gas emissions. The past decade has been the warmest on record, eclipsing the previous decade, which had surpassed the one before that. It was recently reported that summer ocean surface temperatures were the warmest on record. Sea levels are rising at double the rate that had been forecast just a few years ago. One damning analysis for the United States compiled every daily record high and low temperature that had been set over the past six decades, finding that since the 1960s, the ratio of daily record highs to lows has increased from 0.77:1 to 2.04:1 during the 2000s. This is only a far off problem if you plan on dying young. The United States and China are
MATT
DERNOGA being far more proactive in the negotiations than they have ever been before. Both recently announced short-term 2020 emissions targets they would be putting on the table at Copenhagen, marking the first time both countries have come to an agreement over reducing emissions. One of the best-kept secrets finally coming out is that China has been installing wind and solar power at such a ridiculous rate, it has expanded its goals of producing wind and solar power to 30 gigawatts for wind and 2 gigawatts for solar by 2011, a sixfold and 15-fold increase, respectively. The argument that the United States shouldn’t act on emissions because
China won’t is dead, and in many respects that country is moving quicker than this country is. Despite circumstances in 2009 being much different than 1997, achieving success at Copenhagen is a challenge. It’s an attempt to align the energy and land-use policies of every country in the world to achieve steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The current proposals by the United States and China, the two biggest emitters, are an unprecedented step in the right direction, but they fall far short when measured up against what the science says is necessary. Other countries are looking to the United States and China for leadership. When the United States put a number on the table, China followed. Given the stakes, it’s time to up the ante. Matt Dernoga is a senior government and politics major. He can be reached at dernoga@umdbk.com.
ZACH BROWN
W
hat is a drug? Right away, the word “drug” conjures up images of marijuana, cocaine, acid — some of the illicit drugs of our time. More than that, a drug is anything that physiologically affects the human mind. A drug changes your perception and alters your state of mind to one different than your most natural, purest state of cognition. Caffeine, alcohol and sometimes even chocolate can be considered drugs as well. But there is another drug, one that has distorted the priorities of the university administration to the point of absurdity. That drug is money. Money has become the drug of choice for our beloved administration at the university. We, the students, have been clear in our stance that as a public university, we cannot be a profit-driven institution represented by a single Wall Street-esque view of promoting profitable agendas above honest education. Yet, just as alcoholics do not want to hear about how their use hurts those around them, the administration, particularly the Office of the Provost, refuses to listen to us. Last month, university President Dan Mote sent all of us, his “family,” a reassurance of his commitment to diversity, claiming, “While racial and ethnic diversity are clearly important, so are diversity issues around culture, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, age, socioeconomic status and others.” This still does not address the core issue that remains unseen by the administration: It is not merely the existence but also the open exchange of dissenting views among people of any and every culture that must be encouraged. Everyone is looking at the same picture through different lenses. So let me make this clear: The administration has been promoting diversity. Their definition, however, is flawed. There has been a search for cosmetic diversity among university officials, which has resulted in a multicolored façade on top of a decisionmaking team of naysayers. “Diversity,” according to students, is about a diversity of thought. The views of others with whom you may or may not agree should not only be heard but should be valued and discussed freely as well. The creation of a diverse community is not a counting game. Lecturer Dorith Grant-Wisdom is one of the only government and politics instructors to specialize in developing world politics, particularly in Latin America. Cordell Black’s job as associate provost for equity and diversity will be cut to a part-time position. Black’s contributions to this community have been invaluable, as he has been a continual voice of dissent from within the administration. This explains why Provost Nariman Farvardin changed his reasoning for Black’s repositioning from a “budgetary” to a “personnel” decision, according to student leaders who met with the provost. An intervention for the university’s addiction to profits is in order. For that reason, a new student group — Students Taking Action to Reclaim our Education — is fighting for Black’s reinstatement and a permanent decisive role for students to play in the university’s decision-making process. Increased inclusivity is the permanent change students, staff and faculty are fighting for. Essential liberty is fueling our fire, and as such, we will not fail. Zach Brown is the president of NORML Terps and an organizer for STARE. He can be reached at zattackbrown@gmail.com.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 | THE DIAMONDBACK
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Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER
CROSSWORD ACROSS 63 White cliffs locale 65 Trickle down 1 Rock-band need 66 Pinocchio, often 5 Leather for 67 Riled up honing 68 Urn homophone 10 E-mail nuisance 69 Doctrines 14 Mrs. Charles 70 Lopsided 15 Hippie greeting 71 Bread grains 16 Big horn 17 Magnets attract it DOWN 18 Dromedary 19 “Mister Ed” actor 1 Jungian term 2 Fable ending 20 Chant 3 Electric plug part 22 Tub accessories 4 Famous trail (2 wds.) (2 wds.) 24 Seaweeds 5 Humane org. 25 Horticultural art 6 Iced drink 26 Tiny jumper 7 Stallone role 28 Rips 8 Tuna habitat 32 Psychic’s intro 9 Beats down (2 wds.) 10 Staying power 35 UK broadcaster 11 Large tawny cat 37 Not clear 12 Help a thief 38 Came down with 13 Bulk 39 Sighed with 21 Shinto or Zen delight (abbr.) 41 Ms. Thurman 23 Catch 42 Mean and nasty 25 Rum cake 45 Yale grad 27 Online auction 46 Quartet member 29 Soft color 47 Show surprise 30 Junk food buys 48 Hull bottom 31 Wave makers 50 Clunkers 32 Inventor 54 Oven light — Sikorsky 58 Be my guest! 33 Feeling miffed (2 wds.) 34 Sicilian volcano 61 Awning 36 Ernesto Guevera 62 Import vehicle
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orn today, you tend to go through life with a smile on your face no matter what is going on in your own life, or in the lives of those around you. This doesn’t mean, of course, that you don’t take things seriously; on the contrary, you can be as serious as the next person, but you are always quick to remember that life is fleeting and should, therefore, be enjoyed. Thus, your smile. You know how to get pleasure out of almost every development life brings — and if it doesn’t take the form of outright enjoyment, you can certainly appreciate the lessons you learn.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — It won’t take long for you to persuade others of the righteousness of your thoughts or actions. They’ll understand you right away.
When it comes to love, you seem at once to be wise and experienced and, at the same time, impetuous and youthful. Those who find themselves romantically involved with you are in for quite a ride, for you are nothing if not adventurous and, at times, quite surprising.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — A healthy give-and-take can result in more than a fleeting reward. You and a partner may be starting something deeply satisfying in many ways.
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Also born on this date are Mary Martin, actress; Bette Midler, actress, singer, comedienne; Richard Pryor, comedian and actor; Lou Rawls, singer; Woody Allen, writer and director; Lee Trevino, golfer.
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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Things are likely to start quickly, and on a note of high expectation. You have it in you to see things to a lofty conclusion. ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You can improve yourself and others at the same time, provided you maintain an open mind and remember to learn from those you instruct.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You’re looking for a certain challenge, and it’s likely to come your way — but in disguise. You won’t know it until you’re fully immersed.
structing you to do things in a manner that goes against your instincts and training. Avoid knee-jerk reactions. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You’re determined to get to the bottom of a mystery that has plagued those around you for some time. The answer is simpler than expected. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — It won’t be difficult for you to determine what course to take. The signs all point in one direction, and your instincts concur. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — With the help you receive from those behind the scenes, you should be able to accomplish something that others will be proud of, too. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You may not be able to sustain a long-term, heightened effort, but you can surely make progress a little at a time, and stay in the lead.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Someone in charge may be in-
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REVIEW | R. KELLY
R. Kelly’s new LP, the disastrous Untitled, sounds like R&B porn ZACHARY BERMAN For The Diamondback
Perhaps R. Kelly is a genius: Having the insight to realize his record doesn’t even deserve a title is quite a feat, especially in this day and age of trendy soundalikes and Auto-Tune abusers. Then again, it’s more than likely that Kelly truly believes his new album, Untitled, is both original and valuable. Released today through Jive Records, the new fulllength album is just under an hour’s worth of smoothly sung songs about wanton sex and drug use, minus any sort of story or complexity. Kelly released this record 16 years after his first solo LP, 12 Play, and he still has not grown up. Like his first record, this new album sounds as if it was designed for one place and one place only: the bedroom. Indeed, Kelly seems trapped on this LP between the lyrics of a sexually degenerate eighth grader and an unintelligent
“Weird Al” Yankovic. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know it. This ignorance is especially evident on the album’s second track, “Exit,” on which he implores, “I got a big house, up in the mountains, let’s go/ And I even got a stripper pole,” before immediately requesting, “Girl, take me serious when I sing.” Despite being one of America’s most successful musical artists with such hit singles as “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Bump N’ Grind,” the 42-year-old Kelly seems tired on his latest material. Though his style hasn’t changed, he seems unwilling to make the extra effort to put any of his songs into the higher strata many of his earlier works attained. Take Untitled’s first single, “Number One,” a slow beat with possibly the most annoying hook created in 2009 — an overly masculine, pitch-altered voice echoing the title of the song over and over. It sounds nearly identical to the sort of cheesy stamps many DJs place at the beginning of remixes. The track features singer Keri
Hilson, one of six guest artists appearing throughout four songs on the LP. Unlike previous records, such as 2007’s collaboration-stuffed Double Up, Kelly has failed to recruit any particularly interesting guests for Untitled. Even worse, the man can’t write any new music worth listeners’ attention. Maybe Kelly’s years of court battles regarding allegations of his illicit interests in child pornography has drained him of the energy to make a song that addresses anything more than his animalistic desires. Throwaway track “Go Low” is a perfect example of the creative lull in Kelly’s music, wherein the singer describes what he wants to do to a woman. That’s about as much as can be tastefully repeated here. The disgusting, juvenile analogies to genitalia wouldn’t be out of place in a bathroom stall at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike, though they are sung with great passion over a tedious beat. This odd cross-section between emotional delivery and hilariously bad lyrics is the only
Classified CALL
reason to continue listening to this album. In essence, it is an anomaly. Listeners — even longtime fans — will have trouble believing R. Kelly has anything serious left to offer the world of music after this record, which is a veritable laugh factory. With silly compositions such as “Bangin’ the Headboard” and “Text Me,” a song that glorifies the act of sexting, it seems improbable that any one song could be the worst of them all. Then there’s “Pregnant,” the track that closes this aural circus of sexual depravity. Here, Kelly pines for domesticity, singing, “Girl, you make me wanna get you pregnant/ ... Knock you up ... / Never felt nothing like this/ She’s more than a mistress ... / Now put that girl in my kitchen.” It’s the sort of song that deserves one listen just for the inevitable chuckle, as verse after verse becomes increasingly sexist and devoid of reason, lasting six unbearable minutes. The actual instrumentals are nothing to get excited about either. The first eight tracks
never rise above a dull rumble of sparse drums and synthesizers as Kelly flatly sings his demoralizing vocals. Late in the album, “Be My #2” randomly breaks the string of boring instrumentals as a deftly executed dance track consisting of thick Daft Punk-affected funkdisco. Tolerable tracks like these were common on Kelly’s previous outings, but here the song seems more like something he had to do than something he wanted to do. But a few tracks later, the emotional buildup that structures “Elsewhere” is vaguely reminiscent of elevator Muzak, yet the repeated crescendos give Kelly plenty of room to stretch out his vocals and vaguely impress the listener. It’s a sign of good, if derivative, R&B music. Don’t be tricked by these micro-sized victories, however. The most confusing song on the album, “Supaman High,”
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mixes the obvious concept of the title with ideas about being rich and drinking alcohol in clubs, then weakly shouts it over a childishly repetitive instrumental. This track, along with too many others from the album, prominently features a rhyming shout-out to Patrón, seemingly Kelly’s favorite drink. Nothing can really prepare listeners for the failures of this album. If you are a longtime R. Kelly fan, then a listen may be in order, just to see where his mind has been over the last few years, through his legal issues and all. However, the album overall really only makes one thing clear: It’s time R. Kelly stopped being the butt of everyone’s jokes about child pornography. Instead, people should just not talk about him at all.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK
FRIEDGEN from page 8 take over when Friedgen departs. Potential staff changes and recruiting philosophies are also possibilities, should Friedgen continue as coach. And the emotional alumnus also said he wanted to emphasize more of his team’s positives, citing a lack of confidence as a major weakness for this year’s team. Players agreed with the importance of evaluating ways to better the team for 2010. “That’s something that needs to be done; 2-10 is not acceptable by any means,” linebacker Alex Wujciak said. “We’ve got to look at where the problems are and fix them this offseason.” Terrapin Club President Rick Jaklitsch, an admitted “big supporter of Ralph Friedgen,” said he believes Fried-
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gen is the best man for the job, and a coaching change could derail a promising future. “I think he’s the best X’s and O’s coach in the country,” said Jaklitsch, who added Terrapin Club funding could not be used to fund Friedgen’s $4 million buyout, as the donor organization has a direct purpose to fund scholarships for student-athletes. “I don’t think you can hire a guy who can help a football team and a university like Ralph Friedgen has.” Still, that is a question for Yow. As of yesterday, the 16thyear athletics director has consistently denied comment on the issue other than to say she would review the program and meet with Friedgen about its future, as she does with all coaches for all sports. Friedgen’s lawyer, Jack Reale, was reached in his Atlanta office yesterday but declined comment on the possibility of a buyout. “As far as I
know, Ralph Friedgen is still the head coach at Maryland,” Reale said. Friedgen’s players supported their coach. All four players — including two seniors — available to the media Saturday said they hoped Friedgen would be back next season. Throughout the past week, as rumors circulated, players have acknowledged their lack of influence on the situation while defending the coaches who recruited them. “This program was nothing before he came here,” said Wujciak, a junior who was named to the All-ACC First Team yesterday. “He went to three straight bowl games with 10-win seasons. Since I’ve been here, I’ve gone to a bowl game every year except this year. So obviously, he knows what he’s doing, and he has a lot of success doing it.” ajoseph@umdbk.com
INDIANA from page 8
Linebacker Alex Wujciak, shown in Saturday’s loss to Boston College, said he hopes coach Ralph Friedgen returns next season. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK
“Right now, we’re looking at this game as a way to get ourselves back into the rhythm of things,” said freshman forward and leading rebounder Jordan Williams, who struggled to stay out of foul trouble in the team’s losses last week. Indiana (3-3) would seem to be the perfect cure for the Terps’ struggles. The Hoosiers lost three games at the Puerto Rico Tipoff, including matchups to Boston University and George Mason. But this week, Milbourne said the team has kept its practice goals simple, focusing on upping its intensity, which lacked at times in Maui, especially early in games. Milbourne, who leads the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game, said some of his teammates might have gotten caught up in the excitement of the island paradise. “I think it’s more about us right now,” Milbourne said. “I think it’s more about the way we’re going to execute and the way we’re going to come out on defense.” Much of the focus remains on the Terps’ thin frontcourt as they continue to play without suspended forward Dino Gregory. Although Gary Williams has lamented not being “at full strength,” he’s hoping Jordan Williams and fellow freshman James Padgett benefited from the team being outrebounded 80-61 by more experienced frontcourts in two Maui losses. The freshmen, who have split minutes at the spot opposite Milbourne, seem to have a more favorable matchup against a Hoosier squad that starts a sophomore and a freshman up front. “The only way you learn is to really go against somebody and be taught a few things,” Williams said. That’s good news for a Terp team that bounced back from two losses at the Old Spice Classic last season with a quality win against Michigan, which eventually made the NCAA Tournament, in last year’s Challenge. In advance of a week that will likely make or break the team’s nonconference résumé, Williams isn’t using last week’s disappointment as an excuse. “That’s a long time ago in terms of the basketball season,” Williams said. “Hawaii seems like a while ago now.” edetweilerdbk@umdbk.com
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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009
Sports
Today on Terrapin Trail Go to Terrapintrail.com for coverage of tonight’s men’s
basketball game at Indiana and for our staff’s final ACC football power rankings.
Friedgen begins meetings with AD to discuss future
Terps head to Indiana for vital matchup
Yow: Decision on Friedgen will be made ‘as quickly as possible’ BY ADI JOSEPH Senior staff writer
The meetings to determine Ralph Friedgen’s future as the head coach of the Terrapin football team began Sunday, and Athletics Director Debbie Yow confirmed yesterday a decision will be made “as quickly as possible.” Friedgen must convince Yow his team’s 2-10 performance this season — the first 10-loss season in program history — was one buried by correctable errors and inexperience, simply the darkest hour in a tenure defined by the restoration of the program’s luster rather than a reason to buy out the two years and $4 million remaining on his contract. In an emotional postgame press conference Saturday
Team needs win for tournament résumé BY ERIC DETWEILER Senior staff writer
Landon Milbourne was fortunate to get a lot of sleep during the Terrapin men’s basketball team’s Thursday plane ride home from the Maui Invitational. Other than the needed rest for the senior forward weary from playing three games in three days, it wasn’t a very happy Thanksgiving. After finishing the preseason tournament without a win against a Division I opponent, the Terps’ only reward was a long trip home. But with a pair of key nonconference tests looming this week, the team needed to process it Maui disappointment and assess what went wrong quickly. “It’s tough when you have a lot of time to just sit there and think about what you did wrong, but it could definitely help,” Milbourne said. “It was a tough ride, but it was a learning experience.” The Terps (4-2) get their first chance to show what they’ve learned in their first true road game of the season tonight at Indiana as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Against the Hoosiers, who have taken their lumps since former coach Kelvin Sampson departed in February 2008 with the storied program in shambles, the Terps come in desperate for their fifth straight win in the Challenge, which the ACC has never lost. Almost as important, they hope a good road performance can springboard them into Sunday’s crucial BB&T Classic matchup with No. 3 Villanova.
see INDIANA, page 7
ON THE RECORD Terp coach Ralph Friedgen’s record in each of his nine seasons:
Guard Greivis Vasquez and the Terps failed to win a significant nonconference game in last week’s Maui Invitational. Tonight’s game at Indiana and Sunday’s matchup against No. 3 Villanova will be their final opportunities. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK
2001:
10-2 (7-1 ACC)*
2002:
11-3 (6-2)
2003:
10-3 (6-2)
2004:
5-6 (3-5)
2005:
5-6 (3-5)
2006:
9-4 (5-3)
2007:
6-7 (3-5)
2008:
8-5 (4-4)
2009:
2-10 (1-7)
*ACC Champions
after a 19-17 loss in the season finale to Boston College, Friedgen discussed potential systematic changes while affirming his faith and love for a team he has often referred to as one of his favorites. “I expect to be coaching this team next year,” Friedgen said Saturday. “I’ve put a lot of time in with these kids, and I want to see it through. But we’ll have to see. “They never quit on me,” he added later, choking up. “Why would I want to quit on them? I want to be there when they’re good, so we can think about these times, laugh at them.” Still, to right the ship — or even be given the opportunity to do so — Friedgen must answer substantial questions about his on-field product. The ninth-year coach briefly discussed the possibility of opening up the offensive playbook more next season, when the Terps will replace three-year starting quarterback Chris Turner with a more mobile signal caller, be it sophomore Jamarr Robinson or one of several inexperienced options. In the past, he has referenced the possibility of a return to a pass-option offense, a set he experienced great success with as an offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and with the Terps in his first three seasons. Friedgen said he has discussed the possibilities of a schematic overhaul with offensive coordinator James Franklin, who in February was named coach-in-waiting to
see FRIEDGEN, page 7