121310

FALL 2010 FINALS EDITION

FINISHED OFF

BRAIN FOOD

Terps squander late lead against Boston College in ACC opener, 79-75

Actor Rainn Wilson’s new book is an odd debut

SPORTS | PAGE 18

Monday, December 13, 2010

DIVERSION | PAGE 12

THE DIAMONDBACK Our 101st Year, No. 74

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Man evades police in car chase on Rt. 1 County police say suspect tied to two purse snatchings and tanning salon robbery

BY MARISSA LANG Senior staff writer

Prince George’s County Police are searching for a man who allegedly nabbed two purses, robbed a tanning salon and then ran two police cruisers off the road in a car chase northbound on Route 1 Sunday evening — all within about an hour.

In what District 1 Com-

Coach-in-waiting James Franklin will reportedly stay on with the Terps next season. FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

Vanderbilt passes on Franklin, sources say Auburn coordinator reportedly picked over Terps’ coach-in-waiting

BY JEREMY SCHNEIDER Staff writer

Terrapin football offensive coordinator James Franklin reportedly has not been offered the Vanderbilt coaching position, maintaining his coach-in-waiting status in a Terp program that has invested significantly in his future.

Franklin emerged as a candidate for the Commodores’ vacant coaching position last week, quickly becoming one of the top choices to replace former coach Robbie Caldwell. But according to a report Sunday afternoon by The Washington Post, Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn accepted Vanderbilt’s offer to become the team’s new coach.

Other news sources reported that Malzahn had not yet accepted the position

see FRANKLIN, page 18

mander Robert Liberati called an unusual string of incidents, the man — who police described as a middleaged white man — snatched the first purse outside the Pizza Hut north of the campus on Route 1 at about 4:30 p.m., then allegedly grabbed another outside the Clarion Inn at 5:12 p.m.

Just minutes later, a man walked into North Beach

Tanning, in the Campus Village shopping center accross the street from the University View, at 5:24 p.m. and asked for change, witnesses said.

When an employee reached for the cash, the man grabbed her from across the counter, took the money and fled, witnesses said.

“Police came in here asking questions at around 8,” said junior computer science

major Oscar Pacheco, who works next door to the tanning salon at DP Dough.

“They told us he just reached over the counter and took the money.”

An officer saw a car matching the description of the sedan used in the previous three crimes driving north on Route 1 shortly after police received word of the tanning salon robbery, county police

spokeswoman Cpl. Erica Johnson said. When the officer tried to pull the car over, the driver didn’t stop, Johnson said.

Although exactly what happened next is unclear, Johnson said the suspect rammed his vehicle into the police cruiser near Tecumseh Street — near Jiffy Lube — at which

see CHASE, page 3

Double duty Balance is key for undergrad parents

BY LEYLA KORKUT Staff writer

After hours of lectures and studying for exams, the typical student might come home to a sloppy dorm, hang out with friends or simply relax.

But what for most students is the end of the day, for junior journalism major Erica Mink it’s only the beginning. Mink comes home every day to Alisha, her 2year-old daughter.

“I have to go home and be really patient,” Mink said. “I don’t get a lot of work done. When I come home, I’m a whole different person.”

Mink, 20, had her child be-

fore she graduated high school and now balances motherhood, a part-time job and a heavy course load.

She went to school part time for one semester and still tries to schedule her classes with at least one free day a week so she can spend extra time at home with her daughter.

“I have to keep in mind when she’s in day care,” she said. “I definitely have to budget my time well.”

The job may be overwhelming to some, but Mink said she can handle her hectic schedule.

“I’m a pretty good multitasker,”

see MOTHERHOOD, page 3

JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

Party over here, party over there

Police target student misconceptions Crime alerts will be altered to provide context

BY BEN PRESENT Senior staff writer

In addition to fighting crime, police and university officials are turning their attention to another threat that has infiltrated the student body — fear.

Although crime on and around the campus is at a four-year low, according to data from University Police, students still cite crime as one of the biggest issues facing this university.

In fact, several said they felt more surrounded by crime this year than in years past.

University Police are working with

see CRIME, page 11 CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

Windy/30s

INDEX

NEWS . . . . . . . . . .2 OPINION . . . . . . . .4

Drinking scene shifts from bars to homes

BY RACHEL ROUBEIN Staff writer

Editor’s note: The last names of several students have been withheld because they discuss drinking underage.

In 15 years with the College Park Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Bill Corrigan has been deployed to aid intoxicated students all across the city.

Since 2007, most of these alcohol-related calls — a classification that includes anything from falling down to

FEATURES . . . . . .7 CLASSIFIED . . . . .6

DIVERSIONS . . . . .12 SPORTS . . . . . . . . .18

pulling fire alarms — had been coming from the streets surrounding Thirsty Turtle, Cornerstone Grill and Loft, R.J. Bentley’s and other downtown bars.

But after Turtle closed last month, the volume of the calls didn’t change, Corrigan said — they just started coming from students’ homes instead.

“Now we’re in one of those periods where we run a vast majority of our calls to the apartment buildings,” he

see PARTIES, page 3

www.diamondbackonline.com

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

PARTIES from page 1

Junior journalism major Erica Mink balances a full student schedule with caring for her toddler, Alisha. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

MOTHERHOOD from page 1 Mink said.

Unfortunately, she can’t plan for everything, she said. One night before a major exam, her daughter became ill. Instead of studying for her test, she had to take care of her child.

“When you have a kid, you can’t study like everyone else can,” she said. “Obviously, school is your first priority, but your kids are also your first priority.”

Alli Matson, the university’s sexual health education programs coordinator, said undergraduate students with children run into these issues often.

While the University Health Center cannot give out absence notes to students with family emergencies, she said, students can talk to professors about rescheduling their exams.

Pregnant students in particular are usually excused by their professors if they expect to go into labor around exam time, Matson added.

“I’ve worked with students in that position,” Matson said. “Generally, for the most part [professors are] pretty understanding. Depending on when this happens, if it’s the middle of the semester, you’re going to be expected at some point to come back for the semester.”

Matson added that, unlike their peers, undergraduate students cannot live on the campus with their children. Student parents can live near the campus in private apartments and houses, but none is as close as the Graduate Gardens and Graduate Hills apartments, which only accepts

graduate students and their families.

“I think at the end of the day it’s less so a conscious choice,” said Mike Glowacki, the Resident Life Department’s assistant to the director.

“It’s the incredible demand for housing on campus. We have populations that are underserved. We start with graduate students that are underserved. There’s never been a real movement to acquire the housing or the land necessary to create familystyle housing.”

Matson said the health center does not keep statistics of how many undergraduate students are pregnant or have children.

However, none of the students she has worked with has ever needed to drop out of school because of added responsibilities; having a strong support group seems to be a crucial factor in the decision to stay in school, Matson said.

Mink said it was her family’s support that made the difference. During her first semester, she went to school part-time, and her mother helped take care of her daughter.

“I don’t think I’d be able to manage without my family being so supportive,” she said.

Support isn’t everything, Mink added. She said undergraduate mothers need to have the right attitude to succeed at fulfilling all of their responsibilities.

“You definitely have to have a good head on your shoulders,” Mink said.

“You have to be motivated to get up every single morning and still be able to do your work at the same time.” korkut@umdbk.com

said, noting this shift doesn’t make his job any more difficult. “When the Thirsty Turtle was there, we wouldn’t go there three or four times for a fire alarm. ... We’re dealing with the same number of people every night, but now we’re dealing with them in a shotgun pattern all over the city.”

This is not the first time he’s seen this transition.

“For years, it was Terrapin Station, and then we saw that shift to a more off-campus party environment for years, and then the Thirsty Turtle took that spot,” Corrigan said.

“There’s only so many people who can get into the Cornerstone and Bentley’s, and a lot of people are opting not to do that; they’re just staying at home and drinking.”

Sam, a junior government and politics major, is one of the many students who have changed their habits since Turtle surrendered its liquor license Nov. 10.

His weekend plans used to be set in stone: Ever y Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, Sam would head straight to Turtle. Now he has to find an apartment or a house to serve his purpose.

“I’ve gone to countless house parties since then. I definitely think there’s a transition going on,” Sam said. “It gives the campus more of a house-party school rep more than a bar-scene rep.”

Although some officials lauded Turtle’s closing as a significant victory in the battle against underage drinking, some have since acknowledged that the problem persists.

“I did not anticipate that the closing of the Thirsty Turtle would eliminate or eradicate underage drinking nor

CHASE from page 1 point another officer took over the chase.

The suspect crashed his car into the second officer’s cruiser near Hollywood Road in the same fashion as the first, Johnson said.

“Same thing happened to both cars — he rammed both of them,” she said.

The two police officers involved in the chase were not hurt following the crash, Liberati said.

As more officers joined in, the chase continued north into Beltsville, where the suspect fled on foot, leaving his vehicle near Virginia Manor Road and

“Before it was pregame, Turtle, postgame. Now, it’s just party.”

LAUREN FRESHMAN LETTERS AND SCIENCES MAJOR

would it eliminate or eradicate irresponsible drinking,” University Police Chief David Mitchell said. “What it did do was stop a business owner who was not acting in the best interest of students or their safety.”

Mitchell — who previously said Turtle wasn’t the only problem, but that it was a major one — said the bar closed too recently to distinguish a houseparty trend.

“We’re watching what is happening right now,” he said. “It’s quite too premature to draw any particular conclusions.”

Especially after two other downtown bars — Santa Fe Café and The Mark — shuttered last semester, Turtle’s closing has caused a problem for Norma Cunningham, who has lived on Norwich Road in Old Town for nearly 40 years and wasn’t disturbed as frequently by her student neighbors before the bars closed.

“It’s really gotten bad,” Cunningham said. “They just want to party all the time.”

Some students, such as senior communication major Tommy Iacopelli — Cunningham’s next-door neighbor — have said it’s the only way to gather all their friends together in one spot.

In an interview earlier this semester, Iacopelli said the revocation of Turtle’s liquor license would lead to more house parties, and as far as his house is

Muirkik Road, Johnson said.

“It’s a really wooded area around there — that’s where he took off,” she said.

Although police tried to follow him and even called in a canine unit to follow the man’s trail, the suspect remained at large Sunday night.

“No apprehension yet, but hopefully we’ll have a closure soon,” Liberati said at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, adding the case has been taken over by the county’s Criminal Investigations Division, which typically handles major crimes.

Liberati said the unusual nature of the string of incidents paired with the rapid pace with which they occurred and similar suspect descriptions tipped police off

concerned, it has.

“Personally, yes, we’ll have more parties,” he said Friday night, after Cunningham had called police to his house because of excessive noise.

And when students like Iacopelli have more parties at their houses, neighbors such as Cunningham rely on Prince George’s County Police to break them up.

But Prince George’s County Cpl. V. Fleming — who has been patrolling after-hours College Park for more than five years — said he can’t conclusively identify any post-Turtle transition in the city’s nightlife.

“It’s hard to tell,” Fleming said.

“They’ve always had parties in this town.”

Nick, a freshman accounting and finance major, said while he thinks the school hasn’t fully transitioned away from bars, he’s definitely been frequenting houses more often.

“There’s a lot more running around looking for parties,” he said. “It’s hard for us freshmen. You have to pull more strings to get into parties.”

University Police spokesman Sgt. Ken Leonard said Turtle’s closing has had both negatives and positives.

“The closing has two effects,” he said. “The first one is that people are going to be displaced to other areas to go drink now. ... Obviously, there may be less controls in those other environments, but it can be a good thing because they are not traveling alone while intoxicated.”

But not all students — such as Lauren, a freshman letters and sciences major — are drinking in their own homes. Instead, they’re trekking from dorms on North Campus to alternative alcohol sources: houses and apartments.

“Before it was pregame, Turtle, postgame,” she said. “Now, it’s just party.” roubein@umdbk.com

that they were seeking one man.

Although the investigation is ongoing, Liberati said it does not seem the suspect used a weapon in any of the incidents.

Workers at DP Dough, which was robbed over the summer, said despite how close to home Sunday’s crime wave hit, they’ve grown numb to it all.

“Hey, this is PG County — it’s a livable community,” said Ed Darnell, a student at Montgomery College who works at the eatery. “Or maybe you should say survivable.”

Senior staff writer Ben Present contributed to this report. mlang@umdbk.com

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

Opinion

THE DIAMONDBACK

MARISSA LANG EDITOR IN CHIEF

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

KATE RAFTERY

ANN SUN

MANAGING EDITOR

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

JUSTIN SNOW

KEVIN TERVALA

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Staff editorial

Guest column

Aiding higher ed

The SGA in review

A

As recently reelected Gov. Martin O’Malley prepares his budget for the 2011-2012 t the moment, this university sits on the edge of a dramatic, transformative and wholly positive change — one that, if achieved, will not only lead it to fiscal year and as state delegates and senators prepare for the legislative session new and greater heights but will also allow it to impact local, state, national beginning in January, this board urges them to prioritize funding for this university and for higher education in general. and international communities in exciting and substantive ways.

To be sure, this will be no easy feat with a projected $1.6 billion budget shortfall.

Building off of the successes of former university President Dan Mote, new univerCuts to the state’s budget must be made to balance it — a requirement in the state’s sity President Wallace Loh has charted a new course for this institution that promises unprecedented greatness. As Loh explains it, the university is not just a vessel of edu- constitution. However, as Loh and others have rightly pointed out, this university, cation or an insular bubble unto itself, it is the most powerful and potent force for through training and educating youth, is perhaps the best tool there is for increasing change in this state. And to that end, Loh hopes to use this university as a tool for the the economic vitality of this state. Indeed, in an interview with this editorial board public good, expanding educational opportunities for all people, advancing the eco- before the November election, O’Malley stated that by investing in this university, the state is essentially investing in itself. A strong university sysnomic interests of the community and supporting democracy tem attracts new businesses and produces a talented workin the nation and abroad. force more likely to offer a return on the state’s investment And Loh is not the only person who has advocated a new This university is on the cusp by staying local. model for higher education; many other individuals and instiMoney does not materialize out of thin air. But by renewtutions have proposed changes which would alter the very of true greatness, but it will not ing the state’s commitment to legislation that would ensure ideological base of this university. The University System of reach it unless the state stable state funding for the university — such as the proMaryland’s Board of Regents, for one, has committed the 13 state colleges and universities that fall under its control to prioritizes funding for higher posed Tuition Cap and College Opportunity Act, which was sponsored by state Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Anne Arundel and increasing enrollment by 45,000 students in the next decade education in the upcoming Prince George’s) last legislative session — the state could — many of which would come through community colleges legislative session. provide a path to the greatness this university and university or would be classified as “non-traditional” in some other way. system aspire to achieve.

Additionally, with a new cadre of administrators — vice Although it was estimated that the Tuition Cap and College Opportunity Act would presidents, deans, directors — who have been or will be appointed will bring new ideas and philosophies, which will further enhance the stature and impact cost the state $320 million over the next five years — a staggering cost in light of the recent recession — that does not mean some of the recommendations mentioned in of this university.

At various points throughout this past semester, this editorial board has expressed the bill could not be implemented independently and at a lesser cost.

Before putting higher education funding on the chopping block, the state should its support for these innovative and transformative ideas, and the board reiterates that fully explore all of its options. While maintaining any substantive funding for this unisupport today.

However, without financial support for these ideas, they will remain just that: ideas. versity will no doubt be difficult, it is necessary — not only for this state as it seeks to And the dramatic transformation of this university — one that will benefit not only the improve its economic standing, but also for this university as it seeks to become a leader in both education and public service. institution itself, but also the city, county, state and nation — will not come to pass.

Our View

Editorial cartoon: Shai Goller

Our stuff: In strangers we trust

A

h, finals week. Chances are, you’re reading this article while drinking a 5-Hour Energy in Footnotes Café, or on your laptop at a table on the psychedelic second floor of McKeldin Library.

Either way, we both know you should be studying. (However, I encourage procrastinating long enough to finish this article, and maybe even the Sudoku puzzle.) But what happens if you finish your fifth caffeinated beverage and realize you have to relieve your Starbucks-filled bladder? There’s no way you’re going to pack up all your stuff and give up your prime studying spot just for some basic bodily function, but what else can you do?

As much as we may hate to be trapped in the library, we all know how important positioning is (that’s what she said!). Seating in McKeldin can make or break your finals week. A quiet cubicle on the sixth floor is essential for some, while others can

ELLEN LINZER work in a noisier WAM lab environment. If you get your perfect seat, you’d have to be insane to give it up!

Well, my friends, I’m sure you already know the answer because I bet you’ve done it before. Simply ask the person sitting closest to you if they can watch your stuff.

“Uh, excuse me, can you watch my stuff for a sec?” is probably the most common question asked across the campus besides “Wanna go to Turtle tonight?” (Uh-oh, never mind). I’ve watched people’s backpacks, books, papers, coats and laptops in just about every building I’ve ever sat in for more than 10 minutes. I’ve proba-

bly asked for the same courtesy once or twice myself. Every time I’ve stood vigilant guard of someone’s possessions, I’ve wondered, how many people ask a perfect stranger to watch their stuff and come back to a deserted crime scene?

It seems like such a stupid risk for us to take. People in the “real world” would never dream of leaving valuables with a stranger that sat next to them in a café. What are we judging our neighboring studiers on? Maybe it’s their looks — a good-looking person could never be a thief, right? Or maybe it’s because they’re also studying, or at least taking a Facebook break, which means they care about school, which must make them a decent human being. I guess I don’t look threatening, but what if I’m in the market for a Mac? I’ve always had a PC, and some of those new Macs look sa-weeet! Just kidding. Honestly, you can let me watch your stuff and I prom-

ise I won’t steal it.

Like I said, I’m sure you’ve done it before. I know I’ve done it, and I know my friends have, too. I have yet to hear of somebody losing their stuff because of the negligence of a doe-eyed freshman too concerned with ENGL101 or because a senioritis-infected senior with his earphones in barely heard the request in the first place. And although it seems like a really silly habit of ours, it makes me feel a drop less cynical that thousands of 20-somethings trust one another enough to leave their valuables in one anothers’ hands for a minute.

The library warns us that it only takes a minute for a thief to strike, but it also wouldn’t allow us to bring food in until last semester, so I’m not really too worried.

Ellen Linzer is a senior English major. She can be reached at linzer@umdbk.com.

Superstitions: Embracing the insanity

A

s students approach final exams in a state of abject panic, most of us desperately search for anything that might give us an advantage. Testudo is inundated with gifts and nose rubs, while particularly desperate souls dance wildly with their pajamas on inside out in hopes of receiving a reprieve from the snow gods.

Each person has their own secret to success. Whether it is 12 hours of sleep, three Red Bulls or Wiccan incantations, you probably know by now what works for you. What is my secret to academic success? Well, I bless the rains down in Africa.

It began freshman year when I had the spontaneous yet genius idea to listen to the song “Africa” by Toto before taking each exam. I worked out a system whereby I danced around my room, epically air drumming. Then, as soon as the song ended, I was out the door on the way to my exam. While my roommates found these antics more amusing than effective, I got an “A” on every exam, and thus a superstition was born. I have since listened to “Africa” before every exam of my college

career with magnificent results.

Believe what you will, but Toto is responsible for my years of academic success. However, my superstitions have not stopped there.

Each year I have added a new tradition to my exam preparation. By the end of exam week I will more closely resemble the Geico caveman than the handsome mug shot you see here as I grow out my exam beard. And last year, I decided I needed something for luck during an exam so I started wearing Terps wristbands on my left arm.

While some might argue that my success should be attributed to studying hard and being brilliant, I know it is these superstitions that see me through. And while I am not qualified to comment as to the statistical significance of that statement, I believe it to be true and that is what counts.

Clearly I love superstitions; they are a fun and quirky way to be yourself, and they can help assuage some of your stress by creating a routine. Plus, they totally work! It seems, generally speaking, college students are a ver y superstitious

ROB RIKER group. From rubbing Testudo’s nose for luck to going out in your lucky shirt to avoiding stepping on the point of failure, we irrationally believe our arbitrar y actions influence our futures. But how do all these intelligent people believe in luck and superstition? Well, why not? So much of what we do in college is based on reason and logic, why not be illogical and look for luck in strange places.

I have been a fan of superstitions for a long time. Since a young age I have been obsessed with baseball, and there are few people more superstitious than baseball players.

On my first team I was No. 8, and ever since eight has been my lucky number and continues to appear in my ever yday life. Being a Red Sox fan certainly has not helped my sanity, but when we finally broke the

curse of the Bambino, I felt my sacrificial burning of a Yankee hat was responsible for pushing us over the edge. I have a long list of quirky superstitions, some more ordinar y than others. I kiss the clock and make a wish at 11:11, a practice that, while occasionally awkward to explain to strangers, is also a great conversation starter.

At this point you are probably thinking this kid is totally insane, and you may be right. Superstitious behavior is more socially acceptable if you are an eccentric billionaire rather than a quirky college columnist. But if you believe anything I have said, then go out and check your horoscope, get your palm read and do your snow dances. If you are someone who is aided by superstitions, then embrace them.

As I near the completion of my college career I have one last exam superstition to add to my list, but when it comes down to it, I will be blessing the rains down in Africa.

Rob Riker is a senior government and politics and history major. He can be reached riker@umdbk.com.

A

s the semester comes to an end, most of us reflect on classes, campus events and social outings. Freshmen think about their first semester at this university and how different their lives are now, while those graduating reflect on their past years at the university. I would like to take this time to reflect on the achievements made by the Student Government Association on behalf of the student body and the campus and note what needs to be improved when classes resume next month.

The beginning of this school year brought change, with a new university president, athletics director, interim vice president of research, assistant vice president of student affairs, director of Stamp Student Union and student group accounts coordinator. The SGA took the lead in forming relationships with these new members of the university community, and it will continue to do so over the course of the year.

In this midterm election year, the SGA also led a coalition of student groups that registered more than 1,500 students to vote and, more importantly, ensured that those students voted on Election Day — in College Park or in their hometown. Additionally, the SGA supported the Latino Student Union, the Asian American Student Union and other student groups by committing to lobby the federal government to pass the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act — which the House of Representatives passed.

On the campus, the SGA continued the successful Keep Me Maryland philanthropic drive to keep students facing financial troubles enrolled at the university. The SGA also provided SmarTrip cards to every incoming freshman.

We also reached out to often overlooked students. The SGA organized a Transfer Student Mixer, which helped transfer students meet one another and learn about opportunities at the university. And we hosted the BYOBooks Major/Minor Fair, which was specifically tailored to showcase underrepresented majors and minors.

The SGA has continued to make safety a top priority, with the continuation of our On- and Off-Campus Safety Walks, which bring together students, administrators, staff, police and local officials to address the most pressing safety issues on and off the campus.

This year also saw the Crime Time campaign, which aimed to educate students about nighttime safety.

Off the campus, the SGA also worked with police to prevent the over-serving of alcohol at bars that puts thousands of students’ lives at risk. Additionally, we continued to improve relations between students and city residents at the inaugural College Park Day. With those accomplishments already realized, the SGA will continue to diligently work for the student body through the year. We will work closely with the student representatives of the University Senate to enact a Good Samaritan policy. When visiting with legislators in Annapolis in February, we will start a dialogue with state legislators, as well as our university professors, to promote the use of free, open-source textbooks that may significantly reduce student expenses.

The SGA will also host campus-wide events for the entire student body, such as the Spring Barbecue, the SGA/Alumni Association Speaker Series and the Multicultural Expo.

As we take the time to reflect on semester at this university, we should also take the time to look forward. I ask that you reflect on the state of our university: What would you like to see changed? The SGA encourages you to share your thoughts to better our community. I wish everyone the best of luck on their finals. Try not to spend too much time reflecting on the past, and enjoy your winter break and all it has to offer. Then take the time to think about your return to this university in the spring. The spring semester will hold many more accomplishments, events and memories to later spend time reflecting upon.

Steve Glickman is the SGA president. He can be reached at SGAPresident@umd.edu.

CARTOONISTS WANTED The Diamondback is currently seeking paid editorial cartoonists for the 2011 spring semester. If you are interested in applying, please e-mail opinion@umdbk.com to request an application.

POLICY: Signed letters, columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback’s editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Best of the semester “A lot of people felt we had disrespected “This must stop. I’m ready to padlock the the military.”

Thirsty Turtle tonight.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement, on Terp fan behavior at the Navy football game.

Sept. 8 | The Diamondback

Guest column

False assertions

O

n Dec. 9, The Diamondback published a paid advertisement on its third page, a vicious and erroneous propaganda piece funded by a group called Facts and Logic About the Middle East. Most noticeable and offensive are its gross revisionist inaccuracies and overt lies, while the most frightening aspect is the insidious agenda behind the propaganda. Why do the severely unethical human rights violations, war crimes and terrorist policies of a foreign nation need to be publicly rationalized to American college students? Due to size limitations, there isn’t enough room to expose the entire range of inaccuracies in this propaganda piece, but some of the most offensive examples must be noted.

First, it cites the “myth” of a Palestinian nation and goes on to say Palestinians, as a people, do not deserve a homeland. The very idea of the modern nation state is a recently invented European concept. The modern Palestinians are descendants of the area’s indigenous inhabitants, and that alone qualifies them to live where their ancestors have lived for thousands of years. FLAME says the state of Israel has not and is not occupying “Arab territory.” In fact, the Israeli occupation of Palestine is not a seriously debated issue. The United Nations Security Council refers to Palestinian lands as “the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.” Furthermore, the declaration of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention stated that the areas where Palestinians live are occupied and that the Fourth Geneva Convention provisions regarding occupied territories apply.

FLAME then goes on to say that the presence of Israeli “settlements” in Palestine are “not an obstacle to peace.” To truly understand the effect of these so-called “settlements,” imagine if a powerful foreign nation established hundreds of fortified colonies throughout this country, reallocated American resources as it saw fit, established “occupier-only” roads and created arbitrary, dehumanizing checkpoints manned by soldiers that we would be subjected to while driving from city to city. Imagine if the continued foreign military presence destroyed our homes, separated communities with walls, imprisoned thousands of Americans without charge or trial, violently dispersed non-violent protests and crushed all perceived resistance with total impunity and disregard for human life.

As inconceivable as this may seem to Americans, this is the daily situation faced by Palestinians under Israeli occupation. A lasting peace cannot be maintained while Palestine is not allowed sovereignty within its own borders and is subjected to such violations of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states that “the Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”

The founder of FLAME, Gerardo Joffe, has publicly stated that “all Arab Muslims may not be a bunch of fanatics, but I’ve never met one who isn’t.”

Why then are we hosting the views of racist propagandists who think nothing of altering historical truth to advocate for the agenda of a foreign nation hell-bent on pursuing illegal human rights violations? Why are FLAME and other like-minded pro-Israel lobbyist groups intent on spreading propaganda in the interest of a foreign power? Perhaps because, if Americans knew the truth of this situation, they might revise their policy of unconditional support for Israel. And that, I imagine, is precisely what FLAME is afraid of.

David Trent is a junior history major. He can be reached at dctrent@gmail.com.

TERRAPIN PULSE What would you give up to avoid final exams?

A case of Four Loko

32%

Chipotle

25%

Sportsmanship (or lack thereof)

10%

A finger

5%

My soul

15%

Nothing, I like exams! 14% Total number of votes: 189

“It was a thrilling experience to know I’m for real and legit now.”

University President Wallace Loh, on his first official day in the office.

Nov. 2 | The Diamondback

University Police Chief David Mitchell, on Thirsty Turtle following the quadruple stabbing.

Oct. 13 | The Diamondback

Santa Claus: A College Park wishlist

W

hen I was 8 years old, I finally figured out the deep, dark secret of Christmas: There was more than one Santa Claus.

There had to be. Because if there was only one Santa, the whole “Christmas story” wouldn’t make any sense.

I mean, I certainly bought into the basics of it: Mysterious fat man breaks into your house every Dec. 25, leaves you dozens of presents made from elfish slave labor and whisks away from the scene of the crime in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. Also, there was something about Jesus.

I never had a problem with any of that. But what I always had a problem with was the assumption Santa did it all in one night, somehow covering the entire globe in just 24 hours. As a young boy with a scientific background — I had a Dr. Dreadful Edible Food Lab — I simply could not, in good conscience, believe in that part of the story. I was determined to root out the truth. And when I was 8 year old, I did just that.

I’m sure you guys can pick up the rest of the stor y from here because it’s fairly predictable. I became con-

MIKE

SANDERS vinced that there were actually millions of Santa Clauses, and my head started to swell with crazy visions of “British Santa Claus” and “Canadian Mountie Santa Claus.” My friends laughed at me. My mother worried about my mental health. And years later, I realized the actual deep, dark secret of Christmas: There is no Santa Claus, my parents are both liars, the world is really just a cold, dark place, and I’ll die alone. I then spent the rest of my childhood crying softly in my room.

But part of me still wants to believe what I know to be false. My inner child — which brings you most of this column anyway — still wants to believe there really are millions of Santa Clauses. So maybe, just maybe, there’s a College Park Santa.

In fact, I’m going to come right out and say it: I believe in College Park

Santa, and I believe he’s finally going to come this year. And he’ll come bearing gifts.

Like maybe he’ll finally give this city the bar scene it deser ves. We’ll come back from winter break to find that Santa Fe Cafe and Thirsty Turtle (new motto: 40 percent less stabby!) have re-opened, along with three new bars.

Maybe CP Santa will drive out the creepers. You know, the ones who masturbate in public and make our lives a living hell. Maybe he’s a vengeful Santa, full of hate and righteous anger.

Or maybe he’s the opposite. Maybe he’s kind and loving. And perhaps his jolly influence will make the city’s crime rate go down, so we can finally walk around at night in peace.

Maybe he’ll bring back Chicken Rico (this one is mainly for me).

Maybe he’ll make this a better place to live, and in doing so, teach us the true meaning of Christmas ... I know it’s something about Jesus.

Mike Sanders is a senior history major.

He can be reached at sanders@umdbk.com.

at issue What’s been the biggest event that’s happened at the university this semester?

“ “

Lisandra Achaibar Sophomore Letters and Sciences

Mwika Kankwenda Sophomore Communication

Oh! Definitely the closing of Thirsty Turtle.”

The blackout game and the tailgates before the blackout game.”

Allison Dorf Sophomore Communication

“ “

The change in the Global Communities program.”

The arrival of President Loh.”

Tommy Ji Sophomore Mechanical Engineering

Commencement speeches: Help wanted

I

t must be nice to attend a school that scores incredible commencement speakers year after year.

There is, after all, no more exciting time for college students than commencement. It is then, surrounded by their friends and family, that the sacrifices they have made to their brains and livers over four years finally pay off.

And for thousands of students across the country, the headline moment is when a big-name personality speaks to students directly, pushing them to excel and do great things.

Just think: Harvard’s 2008 graduating class landed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to deliver their commencement address. Last academic year, those that graduated from George Washington University had First Lady Michelle Obama, New York University had Alec Baldwin and Tulane University had Anderson Cooper.

This university, however, is about as good at attracting interesting commencement speakers as it is accommodating student drivers. Year after year, it seems, students patiently await the announcement of who will headline their graduation ceremony. They mull over whether it will be someone awesome, such as political satirist Jon Stewart or the U.S. president, or if it will be someone incredibly boring, like every previous speaker.

As was announced last week, those seniors lucky enough to be graduating this winter will hear the inspiring words of a lawyer (and “activist”) from Baltimore. His name is Craig Thompson, and you have never heard of him. Thompson is an alum-

JUSTIN SNOW nus, has hosted a radio show, works for a major law firm and was named one of the state’s 60 most influential people by The Daily Record, a newspaper you’ve also never heard of.

According to senior government and politics major Emily Burke, chairwoman of the commencement speaker committee, Thompson was the first person the committee asked, claiming the members were attracted to his activism and involvement. Surely it was a thrill for Thompson to receive the invitation, but good grief — a lawyer from Baltimore sets the bar?

Winter commencement has a long history of being the ugly and pathetic sibling of spring commencement. Last year, seniors not only had their ceremony postponed due to a ridiculous amount of snow, they were also subjected to listening to the vice president of a company that builds bombs. A few years before that, the CEO of the United Way of America lulled students to sleep.

And before that, the committee picked a professor, as if students don’t have to listen to them enough as it is.

Spring commencement tends to bode a bit better, but not by much.

Last May, while the Silver Fox was gracing Tulane’s graduating seniors with his presence, this university’s seniors were listening to Victoria

Kennedy, whose only relevance was that her late husband — Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) — had just died.

While her speech was just as generic as any other commencement speech, it was hard not to wonder if we could have done the least bit better.

Students do have alternative options, though. YouTube provides a plethora of commencement speeches recorded from all over, allowing students to find a favorite and pretend it is their own.

Nevertheless, in the long run, whatever bigwig (or nobody in this university’s case) speaks at commencement is irrelevant. Their lofty words about going out into the world as model citizens and pursuing one’s dreams are overused, overwrought and forgotten almost as quickly as they are spoken. A well-off business owner or lawyer may provide a nice success story, but they are far from memorable.

And that, it seems, should be the committee’s ultimate goal: selecting someone memorable. For students, the selection of someone who has garnered a name for themselves based on their ability to make people laugh, cr y or think should hold some sway. It is who they are that is remembered, not necessarily what they say. The committee has once again failed to meet that goal this semester, and students have once again been cheated out of a suitable commencement speaker.

Alas, in the end, I suppose there is always YouTube.

Justin Snow is a senior history major. He can be reached at snow@umdbk.com.

Staff column

Going beyond the zone KEVIN TERVALA

T

oday marks the beginning of the end — at least for me. Although there are still finals to take and grades to obsess over, for all intents and purposes, the fall semester has drawn to a close. Although I’m thrilled I no longer have to read a seemingly endless number of books and articles while attempting work two jobs and have a social life, I’m sad to see this semester go. As a senior set to graduate in May 2011, I know my time as an undergraduate student at this university is almost up. And that reality is something I’ve been tr ying to cope with since it hit me over Thanksgiving break.

Four years ago, however, if anyone had asked me whether I thought I’d be sad to leave this campus and graduate, I’d have answered with a resounding “hell no.” As a senior in high school, this university placed dead last on the list of colleges and universities I wanted to attend; I applied simply because my parents made me. After all, as a lifelong state resident, I was eligible for instate tuition — something that was ver y attractive to my parents, if not my financially unaware 18-year-old self. I never actually wanted, or thought, I would end up going here for four years. In actuality, after I learned I’d have to accept this university’s offer of admission, I was distraught and spent an entire weekend in my room, in the dark, listening to Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” on automatic repeat. And then I ended up almost taking a year off to go and train as a farmer in Guatemala rather than go to this university.

But luckily for me, I didn’t.

Even though I never wanted to go to this institution, choosing to go here rather than running away to help grow coffee in Guatemala was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life (despite the fact that it was forced upon me).

I am most certainly not the typical Terp. I don’t go to football games (or sporting events of any kind); I was never really into the bar scene; and my academic interests — art histor y, mainly — are things that high-ranking university administrators seemingly do not prioritize. In spite of all of these things, my experience as a student here has been wholly positive and has shaped and molded me into the person who I am today.

And that’s because I got involved, I tried new things, and I pushed myself to step out of my comfort zone. In short, I found a niche for myself. From the Student Government Association to the University Senate to The Diamondback to Pride Alliance to Campus Recreation Ser vices, I’ve tried it all, and along the way I’ve had a great time, made a whole bunch of memories and formed some wonderful friendships.

And that is what ever y student should be doing at this university.

Although we are all here to get an education — and it can be a wonderful education if you tr y hard enough and invest your time and energy into it — college is also a time when we should be tr ying new things and pushing ourselves beyond what we are comfortable with.

So as this semester ends and many of us start thinking about the new year and perhaps the new semester, I encourage all of you to step outside of your comfort zones and tr y to get involved in something new. Whether that’s volunteering at an organization you have no experience with, joining a club you haven’t attended before or even actually speaking to people who sit next to you in class, make sure you do it.

Your life will be all the better for it. I know mine is.

Kevin Tervala is a senior art history and history major. He can be reached at tervala@umdbk.com.

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

English lecturer remains jailed despite being granted $100K bail Attorney says he expects Joanna Findlay out soon

BY LEAH VILLANUEVA Staff writer

More than two weeks after a judge granted Joanna Findlay $100,000 bail, the English lecturer remains jailed in St. Mar y’s County on murder charges. However, her attorney said he expects her family to come up with the money

soon to let her go free until her trial.

At a hearing in St. Mary’s County District Court on Nov. 24, Findlay’s attorney, John Ray, persuaded a judge to grant her bail on the condition of pretrial supervision. Prosecutors argued she should be kept in jail after she was charged with second-degree

murder in the Oct. 30 shooting death of her husband in their Hollywood, Md., home.

Findlay’s parents traveled to southern Maryland from her native Scotland after she was arrested; a neighbor said her mother plans to stay in her house until after the trial.

Her parents have declined to speak to reporters and calls to

JOANNA FINDLAY her house were not returned last week, but Ray said on Thursday they were working to post her bond “any day now.” She remained jailed as of Sunday night, according to court records.

“She’s hanging in there,” Ray said of Findlay. “She’s as well as she can be under the circumstances.”

“She’s very worried about her classes and what’s going on with her students,” Ray added.

Findlay’s classes — four sections of two Junior English courses — have been taken over by substitutes. Calls and e-mails to the director of the English department’s Professional Writing Program inquiring whether Findlay would resume teaching if released were not returned.

Junior biology major Alan Auckland, who took Findlay’s ENGL398C: Writing Case Studies and Narratives, said he was fond of his former teacher and even sent her an encouraging e-mail after her arrest. He said he was glad to hear she has the chance to make bail.

“She must be having an awful experience. All I can say is that I wish her the best.”

ALAN AUCKLAND JUNIOR BIOLOGY MAJOR

“I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be in prison for so long,” he said. “But her career is probably ruined.”

“She must be having an awful experience,” Auckland added. “All I can say is that I wish her the best.” villanueva@umdbk.com

----------------

Classified CALL

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY ADS

RATES

• Larger Type • Sold In 1” Increments • One Column Wide • $33.00 Per Column Inch

35¢ per word $3.50 minimum ALL CAPITAL LETTERS........35¢ extra per word Bold letters..............................70¢ extra per word vmA All ads must be prepaid

OFFICE HOURS

DEADLINES

9:30AM – 4:30PM Monday – Friday 3136 South Campus Dining Hall

The deadline for all ads is 2PM, two business days in advance of publication.

SPECIAL Run the same classified or classified display ad 4 consecutive days and get 5th day FREE!

DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM All Classifieds & Classified Display ads will run online at no additional charge.

301-314-8000 TO PLACE YOUR AD, OR BY EMAIL: ADVERTISING@DBK.UMD.EDU

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

INTERNSHIP/PAID Wanted: Aggressive, outgoing go-getter to work with Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Advisors. Call Bill Flanigan, Senior Vice President: 301-961-0131.

Administrative Assistant

BELTSVILLE, private apartment, 2 bedrooms, dining area, living room, sunroom, skylights, central air and washer & dryer.

Walk-in closets, ceramic tiles. Cats allowed. $1297 including utilities. 301-937-8609.

Are you graduating this semester? Need a job now? Office in Beltsville, MD, is looking for an immediate hire as a Sales Associate to work Mon. thru Fri. 9 am-6 pm. This is NOT a telemarketing position. $12-$15/hr. to start, depending on qualifications. Email resume & cover letter to: gsijobopps@gmail.com.

Takoma Park company seeking a strong, self-motivated individual with years of business experience to multitask in customer service, inside sales and basic bookkeeping.

Excellent telephone skills required.

Full time and part time.

Quiet room in student house behind Bentley’s. $750/month, plus share of utilities. collegeparkhouse@aol.com; 301-474-7981.

MODELS WANTED for testing digital photography and video. All body types, nationalities, ages over 18 considered. Pay $10/hour, call 571-319-9999.

PAID/INTERNSHIP. POTOMAC INVESTMENTS. Wanted: aggressive, self-motivated go-getter to work alongside a senior vice president, Ed Alzona. 202-861-7773.

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM. Paid survey takers needed in College Park. 100% free to join! Click on surveys.

IT Techs Flex. hrs. P/T between 8:30-5:00 M-F. In office network support and monitoring, software and hardware troubleshooting, administer email (Outlook) and technical assessment of various software packages. Computer Science major preferred. Will train. kbalimtas@globalexpress.net

Send resume to: creativefiling@aol.com.

CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP. Great Pay, Flexible Hours!

Near Bethesda Metro. $13/hour. PT or FT. Email resume: bethesdafinancialfirm@gmail.com.

CHILD CARE

After School Driver/ Babysitter Needed

MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST. Laurel outpatient physical therapy. Evenings Monday through Thursday, 4:30-8:30 (varies) starting ASAP. $10/hour. RSItherapy@rsitherapy.net or FAX 301-498-0009.

in Takoma Park, MD. Drive 13 yr. old to swim practice. M, T, Th, F 3:30-7:30 pm.

Large break in between. Car needed. Great pay. Email Becky at rchasesmith@gmail.com.

Starts second semester.

THE DIAMONDBACK

FOR SALE

Is Seeking an

Online Sales Intern for Spring 2011

FOR RENT

Courtyards

JOB BOARD Click on “Job Listings” in our navigation bar.

College Park (Cherokee St.)

Free Time in December?

Inpatient, 4 Days/5 Nights, up to $930, Research Study Testing FDA approved medication.

Call 1-866-706-8833.

Email us at: recruiter@snbl-cpc.com.

Earn $1000-$3200/month to drive our cars with ads. www.AdCarDriver.com.

In University View. Available Jan. 17, 2011-May 27, 2011.

Rent $885/month. Contact Sean at 410-409-6759 or seanthomaslynott@gmail.com.

One bedroom apartment. Available now. $895/month plus utilities. 7405 Columbia Avenue. Houses also available (effective 6/1/2011). 301-431-0067; 301-980-1288 or email ecb1985@gmail.com.

BERWYN HEIGHTS. Bedroom with half bath for rent. Quiet house close to campus. $640/month, utilities not included. Call 240-593-8608.

ROOMMATES

ROOMMATE(S) WANTED 1-2 roommates needed in large 4 bedroom house. Berwyn Heights, 5 minute drive to campus. Standard appliances provided w/washer/dryer and built-in bar in basement. Rent: $640 each, $470 for two roommates. Call 240-291-4823 or email: estottle@umd.edu.

NEED MONEY FOR RENT? You can find a job in the Diamondback Classifieds!

Send / Receive Local / Long-Distance (international not available)

Diamondback Business Office

Congratulations to The Diamondback’s

Senior Rep of the Week

Mark Watkins &

Rookie Rep of the Week

Julia Halloran The Diamondback Classifieds Thousands read

THE DIAMONDBACK

3136 South Campus Dining Hall PHONE: 301-314-8000 Mon.-Fri. 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Advertise with us Call 301-314-8000 for advertising information

College Park Area. Studio. Air conditioned, wall-to-wall carpeting, washer/dryer, marble kitchen. Near Metro/UMD. All utilities included.

No smoking. $650/month.

703-715-6200.

By Visiting www.diamondbackonline.com

Consider a Weekend Clinical Trial

Room with Private Bath

3 ROOMS, spring 2011 at TEP Fraternity House (4603 College Ave.), 2 blocks off campus, right by restaurants and nightlife. $595/month including utilities, internet, cable, and maid service. Call Eugene at 443-255-8104 or e-mail tepmanagement@ gmail.com.

FAX SERVICE

MISCELLANEOUS

2x2 female quad spot available!!

In building 600 (first floor). Contact mharper1322@gmail.com if you would like to take over the lease for Spring 2011.

Room in five bedroom house available 1/1/11. $500/month includes all utilities, cable, internet, landscaping and house cleaning. Less than 1 mile from UMD. 240-421-0900.

Bartending! $250/day potential. No experience necessary.

Training provided.

1-800-965-6520 x116.

House for rent in College Park. Available now. 5 large bedrooms, 2 full baths. Great house in excellent location.

Only $2700/month. Call for details: 202-549-7778.

Terms negotiable. Know someone looking?

Refer them and earn $500 cash!

WALK CAMPUS – College Park house – available August. 410-544-4438.

SERVICES DISSERTATION EDITING — Theses, papers. Wordprocessing. Style manual experts.

301-474-6000 anytime.

Own a condo for less than you pay in rent. 9250 Edwards Way #514, Hyattsville. Go to www.dilloncrew.com or call Alex at 202-250-0021.

If interested, contact Chelsea at

See Hundreds Of Different Job Listings On THE DIAMONDBACK

CONDO FOR RENT, $2500/MONTH. College Park Towers (Hartwick), contiguous to the campus, Route 1 and the stores and restaurants. Large corner unit. Two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bath, etc. – excellent condition. Utilities included except for cable or phone. Available December 1st. Call Mel at 301-806-8674.

3 ROOMS, spring 2011 at TEP Fraternity House (4603 College Ave.), 2 blocks off campus, right by restaurants and nightlife. $595/month including utilities, internet, cable, and maid service. Call Eugene at 443-255-8104 or e-mail tepmanagement@gmail.com.

SERVICES

UPDATED 2 BR, 1 BA CONDO MINUTES FROM CAMPUS ONLY $59,900

advertising@dbk.umd.edu.

Position to be filled by January 14.

Training provided.

Awesome student house. Available now and second semester. Fancy kitchen, deck with hot tub, great neighborhood. Near Plato’s Diner. collegeparkhouse@aol.com; 301-471-7981.

FOR RENT SOUTH CAMPUS ROOMS AVAILABLE

BY FAX: 301-314-8358

Room rents for $500 plus 1/3 utilities + cable. Available 1/6, 1 mile from UMD. Share a house with an Asian male roommate.

Interested call 714-331-7177 or gtsui@hotmail.com.

One bedroom in house for spring sublet. On 38th Avenue, just off campus. Purple line accessible. Washer/dryer. $600/month. mlaibson@umd.edu.

1 bed/bath apt. for lease at University Club.

720 sq. feet with balcony. Sleeps 3 comfortably. $1250/month. Perks for signing! Call Shane at 443-386-9401.

❖ APARTMENTS

❖ DELIVERY 8147-G Baltimore Ave., College Park

Thank You to the Diamondback Advertising Staff for all your hard work!

Happy Holidays and see you in the Spring!

Chris Nardi Martin Collier Mark Watkins Brandon Ward Lindsey Diamond Shaun Vasavada Julia Halloran Mark Salvador Matt Ziemski Brittani Fowlin Tyler Hughes Romina Nally Zach Daidone Jon Cook Antonette Tubera

301-474-1313 Open Late: Sun.-Thurs. 10:30am-1:30am Fri.-Sat. 10:30am-3am

Heritage Park Apartments Now Leasing!

• UMD Student Discounts • University of MD Shuttle • 2 Miles from Campus

Call 1-877-273-2458 1818 Metzerott Road

– 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartment Homes – Roommate Style Doubles – Controlled Access Building

GET 25% OFF With purchase of any regular priced item.

9pm until Close.

With coupon. Pick-up only.

❖ RECREATION

Physical Therapy on Campus PHYSICAL THERAPY • SPORTS MEDICINE 4321 Hartwick Rd. • College Park, MD

301-277-6616

www.Heritage-Park-Apts.com

Call now for your appointment!

www.prosportscare.com

SKYDIVE!

Easy one-day first jumps year round from 22-Jumper twin-engine airplane at over 13,500 feet! (540) 943-6587. We offer GIFT CERTIFICATES & complete courses of skydiving instruction for Skydiving certification & instructors ratings too!

And don’t worry if you wet your pants.They’ll dry on the way down.

WWW.SKYDIVEORANGE.COM

❖ AUTOMOTIVE

❖ RELIGION

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved: TU WH OU SH Q T I P

D E F

B O S E

S DUTC A ARRA T GL AR EP MO EARP L UANDARY NT SNEER DOL T Y L E UMA S S PR ESSAY SA T AOS N PAYROL L ANE HOOD N Y A OW L E EAR OSAG

28 29 30 31 32 34

Split-level Bk. writer Palette adjunct Fiery horse Prom attendees Latch onto

1

2

3

37 40 42 43 45 46 4

Made from yarn Lives Talent Used tire — kwon do Best 5

12

13

16

17

19

6

20

8

26

28

33 36

22

29

30

40

32

38

41

42

45

43

46

47 50

31

35

37

49

11

15

34

44

10

24

27

39

Iceboat need Cato’s bear Take a card Sports network Moo goo — pan

9

21

23 25

52 54 55 56 59

18

48

51

52

57

58

61

62

64

53 59

54 60 63

65

66

© 2010 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

55

56

orn today, you are a brave and forthright individual, able to say what you are thinking without any embellishment or disguise, often catching others off guard with the sheer honesty and openness of your selfexpression. Of course, this is not something you do every moment of every day; you certainly understand the importance of being in line with the expectations others may have and of accepted propriety of a given situation. Still, you are known for breaking down all kinds of barriers simply by saying something that others do not, though the very same thought may be on their minds as well.

You’re willing to throw caution to the wind when you feel there is something to be gained as a result.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You may be thrust into a situation that demands the utmost attention from you — and the willingness to learn by doing.

You have a sensitive nature, and you seem to know what people around you are feeling and thinking, especially when you take any time at all to get to know them.

There is an overtly sensuous side to your nature, and you will seek out and pursue sensual pleasures, inviting others to explore that aspect of their lives as well with you.

You’re not the kind to settle down prematurely.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — A personnel change may not affect you directly, but you’re going to have to make certain adjustments behind the scenes.

B

Also born on this date are Jamie Foxx, actor; Ted Nugent, rocker; John Davidson, entertainer; Christopher Plummer, actor; Dick Van Dyke, actor and comedian; Van Heflin, actor.

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.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You may have some trouble following instructions to the letter, but some of your improvisations will be preferable.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Don’t begin to feel that anyone is out to get you, even though one or two people may be looking over your shoulder.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — It’s most important that you stick to the timetable; any deviations from the schedule are likely to work against you at this time.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Appearances may surprise you; you’re expecting one thing and you get another — or do you? Ultimately, the truth is revealed.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may be confusing two issues that are not related — and yet the way you see it, they are one and the same. Assumptions work against you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You may wish that you were somewhere else, doing something else, but soon you’ll hit your stride and your attitude will improve.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Those who gravitate toward you are likely to want something that only you can give — and yet they may not be willing to give anything back.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You can use the time to your advantage, even if there is very little to work with. What you do unseen by others is most valuable.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You may have to indulge in a falsehood for a time in order to come through for a loved one in the end. The end justifies the means.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You’re likely to run into someone from your past who isn’t willing to let bygones be bygones. Take care to avoid any incendiary reactions.

Copyright 2010 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE SPONSORED BY:

FANTASY PICK ‘EM! Baseball • Football • Nascar Horse Racing • Basketball NCAA MARCH MADNESS Go to: oddsmaker.com/fantasy Enter: diamondf100 on sign-up page for FREE $100

YOUR NAME HERE BEAR ON CAMPUS

NEW CARTOONIST WANTED

TUNG PHAM

R.J. BENTLEY’S RESTAURANT • DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PARK

FREE CLASSIFIEDS

Call 314-8000 for more information.

7

Window ledges Sinister Yin complement “— kleine Nachtmusik”

14

H I CED Y NOT E E FRAN NGRE L ARA SODAS K I L T S R GL UE I G ANE P L I NGS EON WH A C K S A LOE T L AME E ESPN

Run your classified for 4 consecutive days and receive the 5th day FREE!

48 49 50 51

THURSDAY 4429 Lehigh Road 301-927-6717

Now accepting Visa, MasterCard & Discover

$1 OFF

Any $5 Purchase

Offer Details: One coupon per party.

Coupon void if altered.

$2 Domestics, $2 Rails, 25% Off Appetizers, $2 Sour Apple, $2.50 SoCo

FRIDAY $2.50 Rails, $2.50 SoCo, $4 Jager & Bud Light 16 oz. Drafts HAPPY HOUR 4-7 pm $2.50 Bud 1/2 Price Appetizers

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

R.J. BENTLEY’S RESTAURANT • DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PARK

ACROSS 49 Dainty fabrics 53 Meddle 1 Breathe hard 57 Rockies ski resort 5 Marathoner’s 58 Silent flyer concern 60 Is mistaken 9 Insect-eater 61 Quaint hotels 12 Stravinsky 62 Radio parts or Sikorsky 63 Without delay 13 Old saying 64 Not sm. or med.

15 Thole fillers 65 Pre-discount 16 Bowling alley price 17 The L in LEM 66 Sunrise 18 Bone below the elbow 19 Flashlight battery DOWN 1 — the lily (2 wds.)

2 Seaweed 21 Grimier extract 23 Fix typos 3 Toshiba rival 24 Disappointing 4 Come before firecracker 5 White-faced 25 Treated an 6 Fully developed icy road 7 Put up food 28 Most dangerous 8 By Jove!

33 Non-earthling 9 South Seas 34 Gourmand’s paradise malady 10 “Rule Britannia” 35 Go steady composer 36 Elev.

11 Bygone tyrant 37 Jane Fonda film 14 Learned 38 Visit 15 Surpassed 39 Minstrel 20 Blissful spot 41 Raid the fridge 22 California’s 42 In leaf Big — 44 Cable channel 25 Swedish imports 46 Rural sights 26 Muezzin’s deity 47 Snack on 27 Explosive oily 48 Weigh, liquid as evidence

Degree of Difficulty: EASY

TODAY’S SUDOKU PUZZLE SPONSORED BY:

9204 Baltimore Ave. (Rt. 1) College Park, MD 20740 (Between Super 8 Motel & American Legion – Behind the Barnside Diner)

301-474-3003

15% OFF Entire Bill

Dine-In, Carry-Out or Delivery Not Valid On Catering Or Alcohol. $8.50 minimum required Please specify coupon when ordering.

Not valid with any other offers or specials.

Limited delivery area. Valid on delivery, eat-in or carry-out.

Must have coupon. Expires 12/19/10.

DBM123

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

Univ. investigates fraternity, sorority for alleged misconduct Officials are reviewing Pi Kappa Alpha and Zeta Phi Beta

BY SARAH MEEHAN AND RACHEL ROUBEIN Staff writers

University and police officials have opened investigations on two Greek life chapters after accusations were brought against Pi Kappa Alpha and Zeta Phi Beta.

While the university has not yet taken any formal action against fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha’s chapter, commonly known as Pike, the university’s chapter of Zeta Phi Beta — a historically black sorority in the Pan-Hellenic Council that had eight members as of last spring — was suspended last month, Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life Director Matt Supple said.

Supple said the university is working with Pi Kappa Alpha’s national headquarters and local alumni advisory board about the chapter’s “failure to comply with university expectations and risk-management violations,” though he declined to comment on the specifics of those allegations.

The university has not revoked its recognition of the chapter, he said.

Neither officials from Pi Kappa Alpha nationals nor chapter members returned phone calls as of last night.

Zeta Phi Beta will be suspended indefinitely while the university and two police departments investigate allegations of hazing that surfaced earlier this semester, according to DFSL officials.

“We suspended them on Nov. 3 for failure to comply with our intake guidelines,” Supple said, but he would not describe the alleged actions.

In the university’s Chapter Expectations document, “intake” refers to the process of initiating new members — known as pledging. Any chap-

Pi Kappa Alpha is still in its Fraternity Row house despite an investigation into its conduct. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

“We suspended [Zeta Phi Beta] on Nov. 3 for failure to comply with our intake guidelines.”

MATT SUPPLE DEPARTMENT OF FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE DIRECTOR

ter’s intake program must be six weeks or shorter, and new members must have accumulated 12 credits and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Existing members must explain and obey the university’s policy on hazing, which is a crime under state law.

The university passed on its information about the alleged incident or incidents to Prince George’s County and Baltimore City police departments, a standard practice when the possible misconduct occurred in other jurisdictions, Supple said.

“Any time it involves hazing allegations, we will forward those allegations and/or report on to police and allow

them the opportunity to investigate first,” Supple said.

Whether the chapter will hold onto its university recognition will be decided based on the results of each investigation, Supple said. If the charges prove to be true, the sorority will lose its university recognition for four years or until the last active undergraduate member graduates, he said.

Prince George’s County Police did not return phone calls, and Baltimore City Police declined to comment on their investigation.

Supple said he did not know of any previous incidents at the Zeta Phi Beta chapter since it was founded in 1973.

Another historically black sorority — Sigma Gamma Rho — was suspended last year, he said, and the group is not listed as a current chapter on the DFSL website.

Members of the sorority and Zeta Phi Beta’s national executive director declined to comment, and the Pan-Hellenic Council president could not be reached for comment. meehan@umdbk.com, roubein@umdbk.com

ON THE BLOG blogs.umdbk.com/campusdrive HERE COME HOVERCRAFTS The lobby of the Kim Engineering Building was unusually crowded Friday with throngs of students cheering as their homemade hovercrafts glided along a runway.

It is the culmination of the first-year engineering students’ semester-long project. And they eagerly awaited their turn to test these machines, which were about the size of a human torso and tangled with dozens of wires that allow the devices to defy gravity.

These machines rely on buzzing fans and a programmable battery to defy gravity and sail about 20 feet along an obstacle course.

Visit the Campus Drive newsroom blog for more about this year’s hovercraft course. Campus Drive also has the word on the Student Government Association’s university-themed caroling.

MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

“One Good Turn Deserves Another”

ACADEMY 8 STADIUM THEATRES NOW FEATURING 3D! JOE’S CRAB SHACK OPENING SOON! Route 1 North to Greenbelt Rd (Rt 193) East, one mile on left

6000 Greenbelt Road (301) 345-1500 www.beltwayplazamall.com Marshalls, Target, Foot Locker, Gallo Clothing, Burlington Coat Factory, Academy 8 Stadium Theatres, Giant Food, Gold’s Gym, Three Bros. Pizza, Shopper’s World, Big Lots, Jo Ann Fabrics, Toys “R” Us, Staples, Radio Shack, Payless Shoesource, CVS, Atlanta Bread Co., Chipotle & over 100 other stores & restaurants. Also watch for more Discount Store Openings.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

9

10

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

DREAM Act passes U.S. House, reinvigorates activists’ goals Students pledge to keep pushing bill through Senate

BY YASMEEN ABUTALEB Staff writer

Even in the face of adversity, students won’t stop dreaming.

After almost 10 years of struggle, support for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act — a piece of legislation that would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country before age 16 and serve in the military or attend college for at least two years — hit an all-time high this semester when the federal bill passed 216 to 198 in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night.

Although the future of the law will be determined by a Senate vote this week, students said pass or fail, they won’t stop fighting for what they believe is right.

Political pundits have speculated the DREAM Act will not garner the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate, but students said the House vote was enough motivation to continue advocating for the bill, regardless of the final outcome.

“When it passed [in the House], it was a pretty fulfilling moment; I guess more so because I know I was part of the movement to put it there in the first place,” Latino Student Union Vice President José Centeno said. “For us to make it this far already, we can’t give up now. Our efforts are definitely going to get ramped up if it doesn’t pass this time.”

Student organizations, including the Student Government Association, Latino Student Union and Asian American Student Union, have devoted this semester to rallying student support behind the DREAM Act, hopeful their initiatives would allow their voices to be heard in Washington.

But sophomore government and politics major Zach Cohen, an

SGA behavioral and social sciences legislator, said that while immigration is an important issue facing the country, the DREAM Act is not the best solution.

“If done properly, it can be a good thing,” Cohen said. “But we need to strike the balance between preserving the integrity of our laws and do what is right and what will make our country stronger in the end.”

When the SGA voted to approve a resolution that demonstrated student support of the DREAM legislation, Cohen was the only dissenting vote.

For students outside of the organization, the SGA vote was a pivotal moment.

Shortly thereafter, the AASU launched a card-writing campaign in which 325 students from six colleges and universities across the state, including 125 from this university, wrote letters in support of the act to congressmen. AASU Vice President of Advocacy Camden Lee, a senior American studies major, then hand-delivered the cards to the offices of the state’s senators, Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin.

Many students said the House vote is a result of renewed pressure by students around the country this year — over the summer, thousands of undocumented students and supporters converged on the National Mall to demonstrate their unyielding support of the controversial legislation.

“I think this shows that representatives are really taking notice of students, and it shows that when we work together, we show them that we really care about these issues,” said journalism legislator Michelle Chan, who wrote the SGA resolution.

“I hope that we’ll continue to fight [if it doesn’t pass] because it’s still important that we fight for issues that are important.”

Andre Beasley, a member of the SGA and College Democ-

“I think this shows that representatives are really taking notice of students.”

Demonstrators look on as Student Government Association Director of Student Groups Kaiyi Xie speaks in favor of the DREAM Act at an October SGA meeting. FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

MICHELLE CHAN SGA JOURNALISM LEGISLATOR

rats, who co-sponsored the bill, said Republican gains in last month’s midterm elections won’t deter students’ hopes.

“We’re moving in the direction of continuing to support the DREAM Act, regardless of whether the Republicans shift their agenda to focus on something else,” Beasley said. “Even if it doesn’t get passed next week or in the next Congress, I think people will certainly try their best to make sure that people are still engaged in the issue.”

Robert Koulish, a government and politics professor who specializes in immigration issues, said although the bill’s chances of passing the Senate are unlikely, the DREAM Act is a piece of legislation that needs continued advocacy to become law.

“I think the student advocates need to push for it regardless of what the Senate does,” he said.

“You have to continue to get popular support. The more popular opinion you get, the more politicians will respond to that from either party.”

Koulish added history has shown that when the public rallies behind legislation, the government will eventually comply with their demands.

“Like all civil rights legislation in histor y, it takes years to get these things through,” he said. “You don’t give up after a defeat.” abutaleb@umdbk.com

WIN $300 IN PRIZES *Register your vote for the 2010-2011 Diamondback Readers’ Choice Awards. This is your chance to influence the paper that influences you!

Make your opinion heard today. Entries will be randomly selected to win prizes from the following businesses**:

Bagel Place $80 Gift Package

$50 Gift Certificate

3 $10 Gift Cards

$25 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

3 Brunch Packs

3 Sweatshirts

Entry deadline: December 13th, 2010. Results will be published in The Diamondback’s Readers’ Choice Awards on January 26, 2011.

Please send or drop off completed entries (at least 15 blanks must be filled in to be counted or entered for prizes. 1 entry per person) to: Readers’ Choice Awards, c/o The Diamondback, 3136 S. Campus Dining Hall, UMCP, College Park, MD 20742 or drop them off to 3136 South Campus Dining Hall.

Or, this survey can be filled out online. Go to Diamondbackonline.com. Click on Readers’ Choice survey button. **Prizes subject to change.

Name____________________________________ Email_______________________________ Class Level_______________ How do you find out about events on campus?_____________________________ How often do you read The Diamondback?___________________ Where do you go when you visit the Stamp?_________________________________________________________________________________ What is your favorite Diamondback supplement/special issue?____________________ How often do you visit the Stamp?_____________________

Entertainment & Nightlife: Best Place to Dance ______________________________ Best Sports Bar __________________________________ Best Dupont Circle Bar ___________________________ Best Adams Morgan Bar__________________________ Best Baltimore Bar _______________________________ Best Comedy Bar ________________________________ Best Drink Specials ______________________________ Best Place to Hear Live Music _____________________ Best Movie Theater ______________________________ Best Place to Bowl _______________________________ Best Beer Selection_______________________________ Best Liquor Selection_____________________________ Cheapest Cover _________________________________ Best Billiards____________________________________ Best Place for Events _____________________________

Food & Beverage: Best Food Delivery ______________________________ Best Desserts____________________________________ Best Bagels _____________________________________ Best Wings _____________________________________ Best Wait Staff __________________________________ Best Chinese Food _______________________________ Best Japanese Food ______________________________ Best Italian Food ________________________________

Best Mexican Food ______________________________ Best Pizza ______________________________________ Best Seafood ____________________________________ Best Sushi ______________________________________ Best Burgers ____________________________________ Best Vegetarian__________________________________ Best Salads _____________________________________ Best Fast Food __________________________________ Best Fine Dining_________________________________ Best Coffee Shop ________________________________ Best Place to Take a Date _________________________ Best All-Around Restaurant_______________________ Best Sandwiches/Subs ___________________________ Best All-you-can-eat Buffet _______________________ Best Late-Night Dining___________________________ Best Place to Take Your Parents____________________

Stores & Services: Best Place to Buy Beer/Wine ______________________ Best Supermarket________________________________ Best Bakery _____________________________________ Best Tattoo Parlor________________________________ Best Car/SUV Make _____________________________ Best Bank_______________________________________ Best Hair Cuts (Men) ____________________________ Best Hair Cuts (Women)__________________________ Best Tanning Salon ______________________________

Best Nail Salon __________________________________ Best Cell Phone Provider _________________________ Best Women’s Clothes____________________________ Best Men’s Clothing _____________________________ Best Place to Buy Gifts ___________________________ Best Place to Buy School Supplies _________________ Best Terpwear___________________________________ Best Online Store ________________________________ Best Place to Buy Textbooks_______________________ Best Place to Sell Textbooks _______________________ Best Bargains ___________________________________ Best Place to Buy Dorm Decorations _______________ Best Swimwear__________________________________ Best Greekwear _________________________________ Best Shopping Center/Mall_______________________ Best Bookstore __________________________________

Campus Life: Best Place to Live On-campus _____________________ Best Place to Live Off-campus_____________________ Favorite Study Place _____________________________ Best U. Organization _____________________________ Best Parking Lot_________________________________ Best Spring Break Group _________________________ Best Place to Work On-Campus ___________________ Best Place to Work Off-Campus ___________________

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

CRIME from page 1 university President Wallace Loh to address student concerns on multiple platforms: First, University Police Chief David Mitchell said a new communications plan will help alter the perception of crime among students; second, following a safety walk in which students pointed to a lack of lighting as a safety concern, emphasis will be placed on illuminating the streets both on and near the campus.

Mitchell said he hopes police can communicate a widely missed narrative by including more context and details in crime alerts.

“We have a great story to tell, and we need to communicate that story effectively,” he said. “The story is simply this: Crime is at a historic low. And we need to work in conjunction with the student body, staff and faculty to keep it that way.”

According to data kept by University Police, violent crime — homicide, robbery, sexual assault, simple and aggravated assault and

11

hate crimes — is down nearly 70 percent from 2006. That number has been on a downward trend since then. Property crime is down a third from 2006, as well, but has increased slightly since last year.

Prince George’s County Police District 1 Commander Robert Liberati said crime in the city is just about where it was last year. County police officials have said crime is down in the county at large, and the trend continues in College Park.

But students said they haven’t noticed much of a change. In fact, for some, efforts to raise awareness and keep students safe, such as crime alerts and outreach campaigns, have produced a sense that crime is anything but declining.

“I feel like [crime is] a constant thing,” junior psychology major Steven Parker said. “It hasn’t really changed.”

Others agreed, pointing to various ways they hear of crime in the area as a reason for student unease after a rash of six robberies took place on and near the campus in the first two weeks of the semester.

Sophomore philosophy and psychology major Mica Kel-

machter said once she moved onto South Campus, closer to Route 1, she started to hear more about her friends’ run-ins with crime. That, more than e-mails or news reports, hit much closer to home, she said.

“The big thing is it’s one thing to receive an e-mail, but it’s another thing once you start hearing stories from friends about people they know that have encountered the crime firsthand,” she said.

“That’s when it starts to get scary because you start to realize that it could affect you.”

Liberati said keeping students safe — and ensuring they feel safe — was a big emphasis once students began returning from summer vacation.

The uptick in muggings at the beginning of the semester was short-lived, in part because police emphasized patrolling the city’s streets more so than they have in the past, he said. Liberati added the city saw a slight increase in property theft, burglary and theft from cars, but despite the increase in muggings at the beginning of the semester, violent crime ta-

pered off to be about the same as previous years, if not less.

“We spent a lot of resources in College Park this semester,” Liberati said of the six incidents that occurred within the first two weeks of the semester. “We weren’t perfect but I don’t know what else we could have done.”

Since early October, when three men allegedly robbed a student walking on the campus near Anne Arundel Hall, there have been few crimes to report. Last month saw a just one crime alert notifying students of a woman who was mugged while walking down the stairs in the Mowatt Lane Parking Garage.

“We focused efforts on prevention of crime through enhanced security measures, such as the cameras on campus,” University Police spokesman Sgt. Ken Leonard wrote in an e-mail. “We continued the use of many safety programs, such as the Walking Escort Service, Blue Light Emergency Phones and many others.”

Some students said while crime alerts help, they should be accompanied by text message notifica-

CRIME ALERTS Crime alerts sent during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 fall semesters: 2008: 13 2009: 5 2010: 8

This semester’s crime alerts: Late August: 1 September: 4 October: 1 November: 2 December: 0

SOURCE: University Police tions. Others said high-profile incidents, such as the quadruple stabbing outside Cornerstone Grill and Loft in October, aren’t helping.

“Robberies are very text-worthy,” sophomore letters and sciences major Brian Gilda said.

With the advent of a new crimealert strategy, police officials said, students can expect more details — not only about the crime itself but about the bigger picture of safety at this university. For instance, if a robbery were to occur, Mitchell said, police would include all the details they usually do as well as when and where similar crimes had occurred and results from any subsequent investigations. Alerts

will also label more clearly whether the incident occurred on or off the campus, he added.

Police will also continue to engage with university organizations — a partnership that led to the launch of Crime Time – Get Home Safely, an awareness campaign that warned students of the 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. window when police say violent crimes take place. The initiative, despite being backed by many local businesses, was largely met with skepticism by students.

“I didn’t buy it,” junior dietetics major Halima Garrett said. “I feel like every time is crime time.” present@umdbk.com

MORE ONLINE

www.diamondbackonline.com GROUP TO BUILD NEW HOUSE FOR UNIV. PRESIDENT The President’s Residence (shown) was deemed structurally hazardous and will be replaced within two years.

CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

CITY MAY SEE OVERSUPPLY OF STUDENT HOUSING After several Route 1 apartment buildings simultaneously rushed to address a housing shortage, some now struggle to fill their rooms.

‘KEEP ME MARYLAND’ FUNDRAISER FALLS SHORT Students donated more than $3,000 to charity, but organizers had expected a bigger response.

FOR LITTER CAMPAIGN, STUDENT GETS TRASHY While few students would consider removing litter an ideal summer vacation, a sophomore English major found her experience on rural roadsides surprisingly fulfilling.

SINGLE-STREAM SYSTEM BOOSTS UNIV. RECYCLING After launching two successful eco-friendly initiatives this semester, officials said the university is on the fast track to increasing recycling rates.

Congratulations to the following Panhellenic Women who earned 4.0 GPAs! Spring 2010 Alpha Chi Omega

Demi Dooros Brooke Clemency

Sydney Blum Katherine Breen Cristin Carey Julia Cooch Lauren Hanbury Michelle McCrone Madeline Prebil Rachel Sclarsky Nicole St. Marie

Rachel Braunstein Rachel Boertlein Rudy Knott Eileen McLaughlin Jenna Winarick Kim Goldman

Alpha Delta Pi

Delta Delta Delta

Amy Butler Mollie Gansky Jae Hogan Ilana Kelsey

Peggy Vetter Georgia Harper Kerry Ryan Helene Rosendorf Ellen Davidson Liz Roberts

Alpha Epislon Phi Brittany Barretta Lauren Feldman Sammi Goldstein Rachel Schwartz Sara Zalcgendler Jill Sobelman Stephanie Lessans Lindsey Brand Riva Kantor Staci Kearns Merideth Lasner

Alpha Omicron Pi Courtney Hannon Alicia Misci Missy Painter Maddie Barnett Allie Rodriguez Meg Sawyer Martine Mastriani

Alpha Phi

Delta Gamma Elaine Bylis Rachel Grier Deanna LeBlanc Kate Luxner

Delta Phi Epsilon Jessica Macklin Laura Galanti Marisa Perry Shannon White Jennifer Fields Alli Copeland Samantha Goldhagen Jaime Michele Golstein Samantha Aster Brittany Damato Sarah Friedman

Danielle Kopkin Cara Levy Melissa Roth Julie Steinberg

Kappa Alpha Theta Fallon Goodman Catherine Harrington Cara Neufeld Meredith Polm Rachel Reis Julie Wiley

Kappa Delta Morgan Barker Kathleen Tran Lucy Haller Kristie Barron Annie Hunter Jen Pang Emma Andrews Corrine Canning Danielle Dodgen

Phi Sigma Sigma Rena Glasser Taylor Gang Braun Ariana Peyser Amanda Fachler Michelle Loring Sam Shwartz Dana Babij

Sigma Delta Tau Miriam Brand Anna Burden Julie Farbman Sarah Grill

Samantha Haber Melissa Halpern Melissa Kahn Amanda Kanarek Allyson Lansey Amy Levinson Melissa Perlzweig Lauren Rosenberg Laura Taub Leah Weiss Alena Yarmosky Lily Siegel

Sigma Kappa Grace Corbett Lauren Fischer Dana Goetz Karen Golan Caroline Hubschman Sarah Kolb Holly Schemm Sarah Wenzel Amanda Bauman Julie Sachs Laila Shaulis Erica Stern Jacy Estep Diane Peng Rachita Sood Kelsey Driscoll Natasha Westheimer

Zeta Tau Alpha Katie Atallah Christina Buckless Corey Burke Laura Byrnes Elisabeth Connell Justine Dombroski Melanie Fajardo Alex Moulden Jessica Preusch

12

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES:

Diversions

Theater fan? Check Diversions online to find David Oliver’s preview of South Pacific at the Kennedy Center. Or, if you need some light reading to keep you busy over the long winter break, take a look at Alicia Balthazar’s review of Jay-Z’s autobiography, Decoded.

For the full stories, just click the Diversions tab at: WWW.DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

FEATURE | RAINN WILSON

Getting spiritual

BY MAY WILDMAN Staff writer

Judging by the character that made him famous, Dwight Schrute, one may not think Rainn Wilson is a purveyor of deep thought and profound ideas.

The Office actor’s debut book, SoulPancake, once again reminds us that characters are merely roles actors play, especially because the book is a decidedly un-Dwight-like en-

deavor.

SoulPancake is a book also written by three other authors, Devon Gundry, Golriz Lucina and Shabnam Mogharabi, that attempts to answer “life’s big questions.” These include: Why is talking about God so awkward? What single experience has most transformed you?

Why do we hate?

The book is based on a website created by Wilson, Gundr y and their friend Joshua Homnick. The site al-

BAGEL PLACE

(301) 779-3900

Route 1 • Across from S. Campus Visit us for lunch or dinner

Also try our Espresso, Caffe Latte, and Fruit Smoothies.

Buy One Bagel with Cream Cheese, Get One

FREE

Of equal or lesser value.

Not valid with other offers.

$1.00 OFF Any Deli Sandwich Not valid with other offers.

lows users to pose questions for others to answer. Users can also post ideas for lists and ideas for “creative challenges” — such as, “Go one day without any web connection.”

The website eventually spurred the idea for the book. Although it doesn’t have the same aspect of intercommunication and

Rainn Wilson talks about his new book, SoulPancake user generation, it can be thought-provoking in its own way. The book similarly has creative challenges, as well as art, quotes and trivia.

When putting together the book, the authors considered every question that had ever been asked on their site. Eventually they narrowed the list —

which Gundr y approximated as “40,000” — to the 180 that make up SoulPancake. “[The book should be] a little artifact, a little tool, that anyone can carry around with them to read wherever they are, whether they’re in line at the bank, sitting on a subway on their way across the city or sitting alone and decompressing at the end of the night in their dorm room,” said Gundr y of the goal for SoulPancake in a conference call

with The Diamondback.

Wilson’s beginnings could explain his affinity for the spiritual.

He grew up in a “Baha’i household in suburban Seattle with a father who was a sewer truck dispatcher/abstract painter/science-fiction novelist,” according to a press release.

The actor spoke of his frustration at the lack of discussion of spiritual matters.

“I always talk about this

see WILSON, page 13

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

13

REVIEW | THE KING’S SPEECH

His majesty’s secret flaw

BY WARREN ZHANG For The Diamondback

If you’ve already heard of The King’s Speech, it’s likely for one of two reasons. First, you may have heard about how the movie took the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (previous winners include Best Picture nominee Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and Best Picture winner Slumdog Millionaire). Second and more likely, you may have heard about the controversy over the movie’s MPAA rating.

The King’s Speech was rated R by the MPAA “for some language.” To be more specific,

CRUCIAL SUPPORTERS

QUEEN ELIZABETH, KING’S WIFE

LIONEL LOGUE, SPEECH THERAPIST

WILSON from page 12 stuff,” he said. “And people look at me so weird if I’m at a party and I’m just kind of like ‘So, do you think that we have a soul?’ And people look at me like ‘Huh?’ … And people make a lot of jokes like, ‘Oh, that’s the type of conversation you have when you’re stoned.’

the movie had the sheer audacity to drop the f-bomb twice (in a non-suggestive context) and expect a PG-13 rating. Disastrous for box office prospects? Perhaps, but this is Oscar season and any publicity is good publicity.

Director Tom Hooper’s (The Damned United) film tells the inspirational story of King George VI’s (Colin Firth, A Single Man) struggle to overcome his crippling speech impediment so that he may deliver a rousing radio broadcast that will boost the morale of British citizens and lead them to victory in World War II (spoiler alert: Hitler dies).

If the story sounds overly portentous, well, that’s because it really is. Writer David Seidler’s (The King and I) story overblows the stakes involved, and the marketing for The King’s Speech doesn’t help either.

It’s a testament to Hooper and the cast’s talent that the actual movie largely works.

The actors give spectacular performances that elevate a stuffy historical drama to a charming crowd pleaser.

Geoffery Rush (The Warrior’s Way) works as the eccentric speech therapist Lionel Logue and oozes confidence and wit.

He and Firth develop a convincing rapport and eventual friendship with the revelation of each character’s flaws beautifully strengthening their bond.

Firth nails King George’s stutter and low self-confidence, stealing several scenes with well-timed self-deprecating humor.

Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I) as Queen Elizabeth deftly balances both her character’s affection for her husband and her need to push him to overcome his stuttering in order to lead his country.

Hooper and cinematographer Danny Cohen (Pirate Radio) capture the performances through odd yet surprisingly effective framing. The two alternate between tight, fisheye lens shots of the characters, superbly communicating the pressure and isolation of the royal family, and off-center

Well, why are deep conversations only for when you’re stoned? Why can’t you have a deep conversation with people just in the real world?”

Wilson said one of his goals of publishing the book is to revive such discussions.

“Spirituality is pretty lame in our culture today — it’s either really flaky and New-Age-y or else it’s kind of born-again fundamentalist,” he said. “And

“Why are deep conversations only for when you’re stoned?”

RAINN WILSON ACTOR, CO-AUTHOR OF SOULPANCAKE

there’s no kind of in-between.”

Gundry explained the book’s way of getting people to

shots with plenty of negative space that hint at something deeper about the characters.

The costumes and set design are also wonderful, bringing to life both the rigidity and grandeur of pre-World War II royal life.

Yet all the charm and wit the cast and crew bring to the movie cannot fully cover up Seidler’s weak script. Seidler, to his credit, does inject a healthy dose of personality and spark into his writing, but the same cannot be said for the actual story and content of his screenplay.

The King’s Speech lacks substance. It’s essentially a period drama turned into a popcorn flick.

The reason for King George’s speech impediment is given as much screen time as Logue’s children’s obsession with model airplanes. Similarly, the fascinating isolation of the royal family from the average man is never explored, neat camera angles aside. By the end of the movie, you won’t feel as if you’ve learned more than if you looked up the characters on Wikipedia.

Even worse, the stakes never feel high enough to create the drama over Firth’s stuttering.

At its worst, the story feels like

Colin Firth stars as King George VI in The King’s Speech. The film revolves around the king’s attempts to overcome his speech impediment. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB.COM

that of a stereotypical sports flick lacking a sufficiently developed goal or obstacle.

By the end of the movie, when Firth inevitably makes it through his radio broadcast, there’s a palpable sense of anti-climax. We’re told that Firth’s ability to present a

confident, reassuring face to his nation is paramount to Britain’s success in World War II, but we never truly believe it. There’s a lingering sense of artificiality that ruins this well-crafted production. diversions@umdbk.com

MOVIE: The King’s Speech | VERDICT: open up and really think about such topics was through creative expression.

“We found that if you can infuse these kinds of topics with creative approaches to looking at them and if you infuse them with art, if you infuse them with creativity, we found that people are actually interested in talking about them,” he said. wildman@umdbk.com

1/2

CORRECTION Due to a reporting error, Friday’s story, “More than just regular gamers,” misidentified where the Gamer Symphony Orchestra held its first practices. The group began practicing in the Armory, not the basement of the library.

14

THE DIAMONDBACK | SPORTS | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

WRESTLING

Letts’ loss spells end for Terps in match vs. No. 18 Pride

BY JOSH VITALE Staff writer

With No. 9 Mike Letts coming to the mat for the Terrapin wrestling team, coach Kerry McCoy felt the Terps were in prime position to take control of Saturday’s match against No. 18 Hofstra. Trailing 13-10 before their stalwart 174pounder was set to start, the Terps would — at the least — tie the host Pride with a win as they neared the end of their toughest duals match yet.

Hofstra’s No. 16 Ryan Patro-

vich had a different idea, though, pinning Letts in the first round and staking the Pride a 19-10 lead that all but ended the Terps’ victory hopes.

The Terps closed out two of the final three matches with victories, but the pin of Letts proved to be too much for the No. 29 Terps to overcome, as they fell to Hofstra, 22-17.

“There was a big swing at 174,” McCoy said. “We expected to win that match, but we got caught in a tough situation. ... It’s kind of a tough pill to

swallow because I think we had the opportunity to win, but we fell a little short.”

“Everybody went out and battled hard,” 157-pound Kyle John said. “Unfortunately, Mike wound up getting caught, but you can’t hinge our performance on that. I think if we go out there and wrestle them again, we win the match.”

Even with the loss, there were positives in the Terps’ (53) match against the Pride (3-21). The teams split the 10 individual matches, and McCoy said the Terps’ performance

showed they have the ability to compete with any of the top teams in the nation. 165-pound Josh Asper also raised his individual record to 16-0 on the season, continuing his torrid pace on the mat.

“We controlled the pace of the match, and we were in better shape than their guys,” McCoy said. “Overall, the results unfortunately don’t line up with the effort a lot of times. To compete that way and go 5-5 against a top-20 team proves that we are at that level, but we have to get wins

“I think if we go out there and wrestle them again, we win the match.”

KYLE JOHN TERRAPIN WRESTLER

in those situations.”

The Terps have two and a half weeks until their next competition, so there will be plenty of time for the team to contem-

plate its performance Saturday.

But with the Midlands Championships approaching at the end of December, John said the loss should be added incentive for the Terps to raise their intensity level.

“This is a loss that hurts,” John said. “We should’ve won and could’ve knocked off a ranked team, so hopefully this motivates us to work hard through the winter break and come back next semester going strong.” vitale@umdbk.com

GYMNASTICS

Terps impress Nelligan in opening scrimmage

BY CONNOR LETOURNEAU Staff writer

The scores weren’t official and the stakes weren’t high, but the Terrapin gymnastics team had plenty to compete for Friday night during its annual Red vs.

Black intrasquad scrimmage.

“It’s the first time our fans get to see the 2010-11 team,” coach Brett Nelligan said shortly after the Black squad secured victory. “Plus, it’s the last chance for the squad to practice in front of a crowd before the [regular] season starts.”

Competing in front of more than 100 fans inside Comcast Center Pavilion, the Terps wasted little time pulling in perfect scores from the judging panel, composed of six student-athletes spanning five varsity sports.

During the first rotation, sophomore Black squad member Ally Krikorian scored the night’s first 10.0 for her vault performance. In a quick bounce back for the Red squad, junior Kyra Phillips and freshman Katy Dodds earned scores of 9.90 and 9.80, respectively, narrowing the Black team’s lead.

The Black squad began to pull away in the second rotation, when sophomore Kesley Cofsky and senior Abbey Adams delivered perfect scores on the uneven bars.

The two former All-East Atlantic Gymnastics League performers continued their dominance on the floor, combining with Krikorian to give Black three straight scores of 9.90 or higher.

“That performance on floor just proves that these girls are ready,” Nelligan said. “If today was the start of the regular season, they’d be ready to compete.”

In the end, seven perfect scores from the Black squad trio of Cofsky, Adams and Krikorian proved too much for Red in the 147.650-138.000 victory.

“Tonight helped us build confidence,” said Cofsky, whose allaround score of 39.65 led the meet. “I think we’re ahead of where we were last year at this time, which gives us confidence heading into meets that count.”

With less than a month remaining before their seasonopening meet at Kent State on Jan. 9, the Terps aren’t about to rest on their laurels.

“We’ll take a small break for Christmas, but we’ll be back in the gym Dec. 27,” Nelligan said.

“We can’t let up now.”

TERP NOTE: Freshman Karen Tang sat out the meet with an injured knee. Her absence gave the Black squad one more competitor than the Red squad. letourneau@umdbk.com

Here’s a formula I know you’ll love: Your old stuff +DBK Classified

$$$$$ Call 301-314-8000 for information

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

15

MEN’S SOCCER | SEASON IN REVIEW

Dream year ends steps short Loss in NCAA Tournament quarterfinals mars record year for talented Terp team

BY CHRIS ECKARD Senior staff writer

After trying to explain something for which he had few words, Terrapin men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski walked across the cold pitch at Ludwig Field by himself, surrounded by empty red bleachers and unfulfilled hopes.

He had built a seemingly perfect squad — one replete with a deep bench, seasoned backline, dominant goalkeeper and experienced and potent forward tandem. This was supposed to be the year the Terps won the program’s fourth national championship.

But the 18-year coach, who knows nothing more in life than soccer, had to again admit how cruel the game that he loves so much could be sometimes.

His Terps, who put together one of the most impressive seasons in program history, were finished. In a 3-2 double-overtime thriller, Cirovski saw his team fall at the hands of an upand-coming Michigan team.

The dreams of playing in Santa Barbara, Calif., for the College Cup abruptly came to an end. That there would be no next game for a team that had won 15 straight and tied the program record for shutouts was an unusual development.

“You try to find reasons, and it’s very difficult,” Cirovski said. “We didn’t have any regrets with how we played.

When you have that many

close calls, hitting goal posts and crossbars, and none of them go in the net and you get stung the way we did, it’s hard to take. That’s the beauty and the cruelty of soccer all wrapped up in one — we just were on the wrong side of it.”

Last week, Cirovski received a call from Akron coach Caleb Porter. His Zips had just secured their second straight College Cup appearance and a date with the Wolverines.

The Terps, Porter told Cirovski, were the one team they didn’t want to play.

“We were at the very top of goals scored and the least amount of goals against,” Cirovski said. “It was a phenomenal year.”

The start of the season didn’t go quite as planned, as the Terps lost in stunning fashion in overtime to Michigan State in their season opener in early September. A week later, they could only manage a tie at Boston College.

The Terps fell for a second time when they traveled to North Carolina later that month. The loss to the higherranked Tar Heel team on the road only propelled the team onward. The Terps wouldn’t lose again for the remainder of the regular season.

They soon dispatched Duke, 2-0, in front of a record-breaking crowd at Ludwig Field, blanked then-No. 2 Connecticut, 1-0, just four days later and exploded in Blacksburg, Va., to score seven times against a

Midfielder Billy Cortes, right, chases down a loose ball during the Terps’ 3-2 double-overtime loss to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. The quarterfinal loss ended a 15-game winning streak for the Terps. MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

hapless Virginia Tech squad.

The offense ranked among the nation’s best for the remainder of the season, while the defense allowed just three goals in the final 10 regular-season games.

“This was a team that was

fun to watch and fun to play on,” Cirovski said. “We scored goals at a record pace. ... It was a very close-knit team.”

The Terps took their winning streak, dominant attack and consistent defense down to Cary, N.C., where they

avenged their earlier loss to the Tar Heels with a 1-0 ACC Championship victory.

After earning the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, they trounced Penn in the second round, 4-0.

But following their offensive

masterpiece against the Quakers, the Terps’ attack sputtered in a 1-0 win against No. 15 seed Penn State. Those struggles continued against Michigan on Dec. 4, when the Terps scored just two goals on a season-high 33 shots.

“Of probably the four games that were played in the [NCAA Tournament] quarterfinals, we probably dominated the game most and were the team that came out on the losing end,” Cirovski said. “Our inability to put them away is just still at the forefront of my mind.”

This year’s roster seemed destined to reach college soccer’s final weekend. But the unexpected loss threw the Terps’ immediate future in flux.

The team will lose four senior starters in forward Jason Herrick, midfielders Billy Cortes and Doug Rodkey and defender Greg Young. Four others — forward Casey Townsend, midfielder Matt Kassel, defender Ethan White and goalkeeper Zac MacMath — could also be headed to the MLS SuperDraft.

Even with the potential loss of eight of 11 starters, Cirovski refused to call next year a rebuilding one.

“No doubt, the outlook is extremely bright and sunny,” Cirovski said. “We’re going to be really good. I mean really good.”

Still, the pain of this year’s shortcoming will weigh on the coach. Cirovski called the season-ending loss to Michigan the “most gut-wrenching and heartbreaking at Ludwig in my career.” He’s ended three of the past four seasons with a similarly poignant declaration.

The lone omission came in 2008, when the Terps won their third national championship. Anything less than titles fall short of Cirovski’s standard of excellence.

“I’m a good sport and not a good loser,” Cirovski said. “It just adds more fuel and more enthusiasm in pursuit of another championship. We’ll see if we can accomplish that goal next year.” ceckard@umdbk.com

FREE CLASSIFIEDS Run your classified for 4 consecutive days and receive the 5th day FREE! Call 314-8000 for more information.

16

THE DIAMONDBACK| SPORTS | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

After going big, Terps win big vs. UMBC, 71-45 Four-forward starting lineup starts strong in team’s eighth straight win

BY CONOR WALSH Staff writer

Terrapin women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese recognized the need for a change after uncomfortably close wins against Appalachian State and Loyola earlier last week.

She also recognized the Terps’ clear size advantage had become what she described last Thursday as the team’s “forte.”

So when Frese unveiled an unusual assortment of starters Friday night against UMBC, the only thing that seemed surprising about the lineup was how quickly it thrived.

With four post players joining lone guard Anjale Barrett for tipoff against the Retrievers, the No. 22 Terps charged out to a 12-0 lead over the first five minutes. They never looked back, cruising to their eighth straight win, 71-45.

“With the play of our bigs right now, we needed to find them more minutes,” Frese said. “Right now, our size is really helping us — we just want to continue to find ways to utilize it. We really came out early with that knockout punch.”

For ward Tianna Hawkins, who joined Barrett, center L ynetta Kizer and for wards Diandra Tchatchouang and Alyssa Thomas in the starting five, continued to impress. In her first start this season, Hawkins led the Terps with 16 points while also chipping in five rebounds in the decisive victor y.

The Terps also took an important stride forward on the defensive end in a game they controlled throughout.

In its previous two games, the team appeared disjointed on defense at times in surrendering its two highest point totals of the season.

But on Friday, the renewed focus on stingy defense shone through. The Terps (9-1) surrendered just 16 points in the first half, often forcing the Retrievers deep into the shot clock and causing several shot-

clock violations and poor, desperate shots.

“I thought we were really aggressive in the first half. …

We had great energy and intensity,” Frese said. “To see so many shot-clock violations, I thought we were able to give them some trouble.”

Thomas, who missed the team’s Dec. 7 game at Loyola with a knee injury, had a strong return to the lineup with 10 points and six rebounds. Her mid-range jump shot proved especially valuable, as the Retrievers (4-6) packed into the paint to stifle the Terps’ post play.

“There’s a lot of players [on

the team] that can create off the dribble and knock down open shots,” said Barrett, who added that playing with four “bigs” didn’t alter the way the Terps approached the game.

Barrett’s outside shooting also came in handy, as she made two 3-pointers in a 12-point, sixassist performance.

The well-rounded victory — 11 players scored in the win — sent the Terps into their nineday break for final exams on a high note.

They will return to action Dec. 19 at Delaware State in one of their final tune-ups before conference play begins at No. 5

Duke on Jan. 6.

“This is where you want to start clicking on all cylinders,” Frese said.

TERP NOTE: The time of the Terps’ Dec. 29 game in the Terrapin Classic has been changed to 11:30 a.m. at Comcast Center to avoid conflict with the Military Bowl, in which the Terrapin football team will appear at 2:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium in Washington.

The game will be the Terps’ second of the tournament and, barring an upset, will likely be against No. 20 St. John’s. cwalsh@umdbk.com

Forward Tianna Hawkins, right, finished with 16 points in the Terps’ win Friday night. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

EAGLES from page 18 biggest lead was just five points, both of which came in the first half. In the second half, the Terps held the largest and longest lead, but even that four-point advantage lasted just 15 seconds.

Struggles in transition defense hampered the Terps throughout the game.

“They ran a really nice press,” Boston College guard Biko Paris said. “But they were slow getting back on defense, so we had a lot of wide-open shots.”

The Terps’ full-court press allowed them to take their first lead of the night more than 12 minutes into the first half, when guard Sean Mosley went in for a layup after a steal. But the team often had trouble running back to set up its halfcourt defense.

“We’ve got to get down on ‘D,’ as simple as that,” Jordan Williams said. “We would just watch our teammate get the bucket, and we would just kind of jog back. We’ve got to be more mentally tough, a lot more mentally tough than we were out there tonight.”

Williams led both sides with a career-high 27 points. The

BOWL from page 18 Terps’ loss to Florida State in mid-November wasn’t enough to erase the images of empty seats from bowl officials’ minds.

“It’s something we can’t control — obviously, you want fans in the stands. But for whatever reason, it wasn’t like that this year,” O’Brien said. “Hopefully, it’s something we can learn from as a university and kind of promote ticket sales next year, so we don’t let this happen. But bowls are real political, and

sophomore forward added 13 rebounds for his ninth doubledouble this season, a mark that ranks first nationally.

But when Williams wasn’t scoring, the Terps’ offense often broke down before it could produce much. When that happened, the attack instead had to settle for lessthan-ideal scoring opportunities. The Terps shot only 17.6 percent from 3-point range, including an 0-for-6 performance in the second half. Boston College, meantime, shot 44.8 percent from deep.

The Terps could hardly afford to start their ACC schedule with a loss at home to the upstart Eagles. They have now lost all four of their games against teams ranked in the top 50 in the RPI, with each decided by fewer than 10 points.

With a break for exams and a longer hiatus in conference play, the Terps know there’s still considerable work to be done.

“We’ve got time now before we play another conference game,” Gary Williams said.

“Every game we play until then is very important for us to win, and how we go after practice each day. We have to go out there and we have to get better.” kyanchulis@umdbk.com

that’s definitely something that factors into it. Hopefully, from here on out, the attendance will keep increasing with us winning. You can’t expect fans to come after 2-10 seasons.”

What the Terps (8-4) can control is how they play against East Carolina (6-6), a Conference USA team that’s as dangerous offensively as it is porous on defense. The Pirates rank 118th in the country with 43.4 points allowed per game, but their 319 passing yards per game are seventh in the nation.

“Basically, what you’ve got to do is make them one-dimen-

17

ENGELKE from page 18

Forward Dino Gregory, center, scored 14 points and had five rebounds in the Terps’ 79-75 loss to Boston College.

The Terps next play Dec. 22 against NJIT. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

sional, and they’re already pretty one-dimensional,” Francis said. “But they run for 126 yards a game even though they don’t really run the ball that much. That’s because teams get so worried about stopping the pass that they forget that they can just hand the ball off.”

Even if it’s not exactly where the Terps wanted to spend part of their postseason, players admitted playing so close to home can be advantageous.

The team will be able to practice in its own facilities and maintain a routine similar to the one they’ve had all season.

did showcase all the questions surrounding this team as the university enters winter break.

“Stuff like this happens,” forward Dino Gregory said. “We’ve got to get better as a team this week in practice and then move on from there and not let it happen again.”

Most students won’t see the Terps in person for more than a month, and a lot could change in that time. The Terps will need to begin answering a number of questions, including: Who will emerge as the team’s second scoring threat behind Jordan Williams?

Will the Terps’ starting five remain intact after impressive play from freshman guards Pe’Shon Howard and Terrell Stoglin?

And just how good is this team after losing Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne?

So far, answers to that last question has been hard to gauge.

The Terps have dominated weak opponents — Seattle and UNC-Greensboro, for instance — and fallen to teams with clear talent advantages, such as the No. 3 Panthers.

They’ve twice played in games that have come down to the last shot, with Howard’s buzzer-beater against College of Charleston and Stoglin’s last-second, half-court miss against Temple producing split results.

And then there’s Sunday’s four-point loss to the Eagles.

When the game entered the final minute,

the Terps repeatedly faltered, giving Boston College forward Corey Raji a wideopen 3-pointer before turning the ball over on the ensuing possession. And after a missed 3-pointer from Stoglin with 17 seconds remaining, Raji put the nail in the coffin by making a free throw to give Boston College a four-point lead.

“It’s the little things that hurt us,” Gregory said. “We need to execute certain plays so we can win these games. As soon as we fix those things, we’ll start winning these close games.”

Countless times under Gary Williams, the Terps have proved the old adage of “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

Last season’s turnaround offers perhaps the best example. A year ago, the Terps were facing the same situation in front of them today. Without so much as a signature win, critics and fans alike believed an NCAA Tournament appearance was out of reach. But the Terps rallied late in the year to finish tied for first in the ACC, a comeback that both Williams and his players alluded to Sunday.

So even though the Terps lack much of a portfolio at this juncture of the season, there’s no reason to fret. The Terps’ four losses have come by a combined 20 points, and a few improvements from now until late January could make all the difference.

“Hopefully, we learned some things,” Williams said. “We don’t have to get a lot better, but we have to get better.”

If the Terps can do that, their big win will come soon enough. jengelke@umdbk.com

It’s certainly not where they wanted to be playing. But in Washington, the Terps have a chance to reach an impressive historical benchmark just one year after arguably the worst season in school history.

Of the “117 years we have [had] football here, we’ve had 13 teams that have won nine games or more,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “So that would be an accomplishment for this team. We’d be in the top 10 percent of all the teams in the history of Maryland.”

East Carolina’s dynamic offense should test safeties Antwine Perez, left, and Kenny Tate. MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

schneider@umdbk.com

Thousands read

The Diamondback Classifieds Call 314-8100 for advertising information

EXTENDED HOURS ALL FINALS WEEK 301-614-9663 YOUR LAST CHANCE BEFORE BREAK!

$1 OFF 2 ZONES

$3 OFF 3 ZONES

Don’t forget our Weekly Tuesday Special

Buy 2 Zones – Get 1 Free 301-614-9663

8145 J Baltimore Ave

18

THE DIAMONDBACK | MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010

Sports

Stay in touch over break Check out TerrapinTrail.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/DBKSports for the latest Terp news and scores this winter break.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Eagles ground Terps late Team denied crucial win in final minutes of conference opener

Coach-in-waiting James Franklin was a top candidate for Vanderbilt, according to reports. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

BY KATE YANCHULIS

FOOTBALL

Senior staff writer

Franklin reportedly passed over

In the final few minutes of Sunday night’s game against Boston College, the Terrapin men’s basketball team allowed a back-andforth game to spiral out of its control.

The Terps had held part of the lead through all but two minutes of the second half when they took a three-point advantage with 2:44 remaining in their ACC opener at Comcast Center.

But with a run of offensive breakdowns and missed free throws by the Terps, the Eagles rattled off a 7-0 run that dealt their hosts a devastating 7975 loss.

“Any time a game gets like that in the last few minutes, things happen,” coach Gary Williams said. “We missed some shots, they made their shots. It’s the first 38 minutes, a lot of times, that determines getting into that situation.”

After guard Adrian Bowie scored a transition layup to put the Terps ahead 75-72, Boston College forward Joe Trapani hit a free throw to narrow the lead to two points.

The Terps had their chance to put the Eagles away when a foul sent guard Cliff Tucker to the line. But the senior missed two free throws, and Boston College quickly evened the score.

Another missed free throw — this time by freshman guard Terrell Stoglin — handed possession back to the Eagles (8-2, 1-0 ACC). Forward Corey Raji made the Terps pay on the next possession, knocking down a 3-pointer that put Boston College up for good.

“We missed a couple of free throws, took a couple of bad shots and were not patient on offense,” forward Jordan Williams said. “We went away from what we wanted to do on offense when they took the three-point lead and we didn’t execute well.”

The Terps (7-4, 0-1) have now fallen in two of their past three matches, with losses to the Eagles on Sunday and Temple a week before sandwiching a win against woeful UNC-Greensboro.

Sunday’s fast-paced contest featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties. Each team’s

FRANKLIN from page 1 but is still considering it.

Franklin, who was named the Terps’ coach-in-waiting in Februar y 2009, was the Commodores’ second choice for the job, according to The Post. Other candidates, including Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, were reportedly in the running for the position.

Several factors made Franklin’s departure to the Southeastern Conference program a possibility. Athletics Director Kevin Anderson, who has expressed reservations about the concept of a coach-in-waiting, recently announced that coach Ralph Friedgen would return for the 2011 season.

Friedgen also has indicated he would like to continue coaching beyond next year, and Franklin is owed $1 million if he does not take over as coach by January 2012.

The development adds stability in both recruiting and player development to the Terps’ program. Considered a rising star in the collegiate coaching ranks, Franklin was named a top-25 recruiter by Rivals.com in Februar y after he managed to ink a solid recruiting class despite the team’s 2-10 record last season.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Danny O’Brien, the ACC Rookie of Year, was recruited by Franklin in high school and excelled this season in the Terps’ offense, which finished No. 42 nationally in scoring.

“He’s made me the player I am today,” O’Brien said. “I don’t know how to really say it, but he’s been a huge, key component for me being successful here because he took me under his wing from day one, and we’ve gone from there. So I give 100 percent of the credit to him.”

O’Brien acknowledged Saturday the team had discussed Franklin’s situation, but he insisted it would not be a distraction as the Terps prepare for their matchup against East Carolina in the Militar y Bowl on Dec. 29.

“He keeps us up to date on what his situation is — we’re really close,” O’Brien said.

“He’s a big reason why I came here. My focus right now is on beating ECU, and I know his is, too, so that’s really all we’ve talked about at length. So until anything changes, that’s all you can focus on.” schneider@umdbk.com

see EAGLES, page 17 Guard Cliff Tucker, No. 24, forward Jordan Williams, No. 20, and the Terps held a late lead against Boston College before falling in their ACC opener, 79-75. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

Loss gives no reason to fret — yet JAKOB ENGELKE

F

or the fourth time this season Sunday night, the Terrapin men’s basketball team squandered an opportunity to claim a signature victory.

But fans shouldn’t panic — there

is, after all, still a lot of basketball left to be played this season.

The Terps lost to Boston College on Sunday, 79-75, in their ACC opener, meaning that 11 games into their season, they have yet to win a game against a high-quality opponent. So far, the Terps’ season has been defined more so by the teams they’ve lost to than the teams they’ve beaten.

The Terps have had their shots at resumé-boosting victories, hanging tough against No. 3 Pittsburgh

and No. 16 Illinois in New York and Temple in Washington before hosting the Eagles yesterday.

But in each instance, the Terps came up short.

“We missed some shots. They made their shots,” coach Gary Williams said. “Give Boston College credit. They did a good job of isolating some matchups that hurt us a little bit. We didn’t do a good enough job on our offense or our defense in certain periods of the game, and it hurt us.”

FOOTBALL | MILITARY BOWL PREVIEW

Terps look to make Washington trip worthwhile After being overlooked in selection process, team will face explosive East Carolina team at RFK Stadium

BY JEREMY SCHNEIDER Staff writer

After an afternoon practice Saturday, Terrapin football nose tackle A.J. Francis recalled some sage advice his father had once offered: “Life sucks,” Francis said.

“The only thing you can do is get better.”

The Terps are taking that advice as they begrudgingly prepare for the Military Bowl on Dec. 29 against East Carolina. After the team’s 8-4 season and third-place finish in the ACC, players and fans alike believed the Terps warranted better than the conference’s eighth-ranked bowl.

But after last year’s 2-10 fiasco, they’re willing to take what they can get.

“I’m happy we’re going to a bowl. Temple has the same record as us, [and] they’re not going to a bowl at all,” Francis said. “So at the end of the day,

do I think we got robbed, considering we got tied for third place with a team we beat [N.C. State], and they got to the third-place bowl? Yeah.

But at the end of the day, life sucks. So you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt.”

When the Terps defeated the Wolfpack in the final game of the regular season, their eighth win seemed enough to send the Terps to one of the ACC’s more highprofile bowls.

But instead, it’s the Wolfpack headed to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla., while the Terps mull over their travel plans to RFK Stadium, a venue only 10 miles from the campus.

Several players took to Twitter to vent their anger with the selection in the days after the announcement. Even Athletics Director Kevin Anderson admitted his displeasure with the process.

The Eagles, who are riding a fivegame winning streak, are an experienced squad with a good coach in Steve Donahue, who won three straight Ivy League titles at Cornell before taking control at Boston College this season.

So the loss doesn’t mean the end of the world for the Terps, who still have 15 ACC games and a Jan. 15 matchup against No. 12 Villanova remaining on their schedule. But it

see ENGELKE, page 17

TERP SPORTS WINTER BREAK SCHEDULES Football: Dec. 29 vs. East Carolina (2:30 p.m. in Washington)

M. Basketball: Dec. 22 vs. NJIT (8 p.m.)

Dec. 29 vs. North Florida (8 p.m.)

Jan. 4 vs. Colgate (8 p.m.)

Jan. 9 at Duke (8 p.m.)

Jan. 12 at Wake Forest (8 p.m.)

Jan. 15 vs. Villanova (1 p.m. in Philadelphia) Jan. 20 vs. Virginia Tech (9 p.m.)

Jan. 22 vs. Clemson (2:30 p.m.)

W. Basketball: Coach Ralph Friedgen appeared during halftime of Sunday’s men’s basketball game to ask fans to support the Terps in the Military Bowl. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

But with the grim reality of their postseason destination now inescapable, the Terps are anxious to prove that they deserved plane tickets, not Metro farecards.

“Some people are disappointed, ... but those guys are over it,” quarterback Danny O’Brien said. “I think it’s

going to be a big reason why we’re going to have a chip on our shoulder all next season, which I think is going to end up being a positive. So I think there’s going to be a lot more positives than negatives going into this game, definitely.”

The team can at least take solace in the fact that its bowl

bid likely had little to do with what happened on the field this season. Rather, what happened — or didn’t happen — in the stands hurt most. Poor attendance at Byrd Stadium was a constant all year, and even a solid turnout for the

see BOWL, page 17

Dec. 19 at Delaware State (4 p.m.)

Dec. 28 vs. La Salle (noon) Dec. 29 vs. Liberty/St. John’s (11:30 a.m.)

Jan. 2 at Saint Joseph’s (2 p.m.)

Jan. 6 at Duke (7 p.m.)

Jan. 13 vs. Boston College (7 p.m.)

Jan. 16 at Clemson (3 p.m.)

Jan. 21 at Virginia (8:30 p.m.)

Jan. 23 vs. North Carolina (5 p.m.)