February 6, 2014

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

T H U R S DAY, F E B R UA R Y 6 , 2 01 4 ANNAPOLIS 2014

Transgender anti-discrimination bill could pass

By Jim Bach @thedbk Senior staff writer Since 2007, bills aimed at stamping out discrimination against transgender individuals have stalled in the state’s General Assembly, but this year, advocates said there finally might be enough momentum building to get legislation through.

The Fairness for All Marylanders Act would prohibit discrimination by employers, in public accommodations

and in housing on the basis of gender identity. The most recent attempt to pass a measure addressing this issue came last legislative session, when the bill failed to make it to a floor vote by a single vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

But 2013 wasn’t the only year the legislation met a similar fate. A version of the bill has been floating around since 2007, passing on the floor of the House of Delegates in 2011 but not making it much further, as it was never brought to a vote in the

Senate. Other incarnations were granted hearings in the 2010 and 2012 legislative sessions.

The biggest barrier to passage this year comes from the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Without a favorable report, the bill won’t be brought to a vote on the floor. Its undoing last year came when a 6-5 vote derailed it, and the committee has seen only one change. Sen. Joseph Getty (R-Baltimore and Carroll), who See FAIRNESS, Page 2 the state house of delegates passed the bill in 2011, but it died in the Senate. kelsey hughes/the diamondback

Hazing bill would make penalties far harsher Fine could increase to $5,000 for incidents

By Darcy Costello and Talia Richman @dctello, @talirichman Staff writers

marilee lindemann (left), director of the university’s LGBT studies program, speaks at Hoff Theater before the screening last night of The New Black, a documentary about LGBT rights. lena salzbank/the diamondback

A COMPLICATING CONVERSATION Documentary screening focuses on state’s LGBT, black communities

By Sarah Dean @thedbk Staff writer Guests in Hoff Theater last night erupted in applause as the images on the screen recalled the passage of Question 6, this state’s same-sex marriage referendum.

The referendum’s passing in 2012 was celebrated as a victory for many of the subjects in Yoruba Richen’s documentary film The New Black, which screened in Sta mp Student Un ion’s Hoff Theater last night. The film and

a following discussion with Richen composed the first part of the LGBT studies program’s twelfth annual lectu re ser ies, t hemed Q ueer Intimacies.

The film explores the intersection of race, religion and politics in this state’s black community, where Richen said same-sex marriage is a hotly contested issue. The film focuses specifically on the lead-up to the 2012 elections, showcasing “the African-American community’s evolution on the issue,” Richen said.

“There has been an assumption that the African-American com-

munity is particularly homophobic because of the power and influence of the black church,” said LGBT studies program Director Marilee Lindemann, who hosted the event.

“Anything that complicates these overly simplistic assumptions is all to the good.”

Richen said the film was not originally going to focus on this state, but that the story brought her here.

Richen said she started work on the film in response to the 2008 election of President Obama and the passage of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California.

“It was a night that we felt a lot of elation, obviously, for the election of the first black president, and then there was this big gay marriage defeat. And what happened pretty much immediately after was that they started to blame AfricanAmericans for its passage,” Richen said. “I wanted to see why these two groups were being pitted against each other and how it became black against gay. And within that, there was a complete loss of voices from the black LGBT community.”

See LGBT, Page 2

The photographs show shirtless pledges face down on the floor. In some, the men have pigs’ feet in their mouths. In others, they lie in pools of their own vomit.

This university’s 2008 Delta Tau Delta hazing scandal spawned national coverage and led to the chapter’s suspension. But soon, such incidents could result in even tougher penalties.

With backing from University System of Maryland Chancellor Brit Kirwan, Sen. Jamie Raskin (DMontgomery) said he will introduce a bill during this legislative session to increase the criminal fine for hazing from $500 to $5,000.

See HAZING, Page 3

Mass violence threats might soon be crimes

Israeli author encourages criticism, pride in country

State bill gets tough on public talk of murder

Ari Shavit speaks before 150 on bestselling book

By Jim Bach @thedbk Senior staff writer

By Grace Toohey @grace_2e Staff writer Ari Shavit defines himself as a proud Jew, Israeli and Zionist — but that doesn’t mean he is afraid to voice his criticism on those matters.

“We should all criticize what is wrong with Israel; we should be fair and honest about discussing Israeli wrongdoing,” Shavit said last night in the Prince George’s room of Stamp Student Union. “But we should also look at this astonishing human pride

because in many ways, Israel is the victory of the human spirit.”

Shavit, an Israeli journalist, columnist, commentator and author, spoke about his New York Times bestseller, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, last night to a crowd of about 150 people.

Professor Yoram Peri, director of the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies and Abraham S. and Jack Kay chairman in Israel Studies, introduced Shavit and moderated the event. Peri said he found Shavit’s work groundbreaking, thoroughly enjoyed his book and decided to use it in one of his classes this semester.

“His approach is critical. He is criticizing some of the policies of the gov-

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ernment of Israel, in the end, from the point of view of someone who is committed to the security of the state,” Peri said. “He’s a committed Israeli; it’s a very interesting approach.”

The story is told through personal stories and covers more than 100 years of Israeli history. The book begins with stories of Shavit’s greatgrandfather, an early Zionist in the 1890s, and goes on to describe the nation today. He said he tried to write the book from a new angle.

“I didn’t see a book that tried to deal with [the] overall Israel story in a personal way. This isn’t a coincidence,” Shavit said. “The fact

In spring 2012, then-19-year-old sophomore Alexander Song wrote in an online chat room that he wanted to “kill enough people to make it to national news,” threatening a shooting rampage on McKeldin Mall.

The threats matched patterns found on similar chat platforms, and word reached University Police.

Within 12 hours, police, the university’s Behavior Evaluation and Threat Assessment Team and information technology experts tracked down

ARI SHAVIT, an Israeli author, spoke last night in See shavit, Page 3 Stamp Student Union. rachel george/the diamondback

See VIOLENCE, Page 3

SPORTS

OPINION

TERPS LAND PRINCE TO FILL 2014 CLASS

STAFF EDITORIAL: Problems below the surface

Five-star offensive tackle Damian Prince, the state’s top prospect, chooses hometown school on National Signing Day P. 8

Steam leaks indicative of Facilities Management backlog P. 4 DIVERSIONS

HAPPIER HOUR, WE HARDLY KNEW YA Lamenting the end of Taco Bell’s ridiculously cheap offers P. 6

VOTED BEST OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING varsitycollegepark.com

for the 3rd year in a row

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

University students travel to Chile over winter break

By Erin Serpico @erin_serpico Staff writer On a skinny strip of land in South America lies a country of art, culture and the home of schoolchildren whom 11 university students visited during the winter term.

The group traveled to Chile in January to study abroad in three cities, as well as run and attend a camp with students from Valparaiso, Chile.

“It’s a study abroad program with a service project that’s rolled into it,” said Johnna Schmidt, director of the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House and co-leader of the trip.

As a part of ARHU 369C: Chilean Literature, Democracy and Social Change, the group spent time in Santiago, Valparaiso and Pucón. Through art and literature, they examined how the country recovered from its “traumatic past,” Schmidt said.

In addition to learning about the 1973 overthrow of former President Salvador Allende and the establishment of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship in the country, the group spent time at

FAIRNESS From PAGE 1

Colegio Pablo Neruda, a school in Valparaiso, entertaining younger students at a camp.

While staying at three different hostels over about 20 days, the group explored each city it visited and toured historic sites that corresponded with course content. When they studied the importance and prominence of the Roman Catholic Church, for example, they visited the Metropolitan Cathedral.

“We’d tie in the content to the site that we were visiting that day,” Schmidt said.

Freshman mathematics major Niko Schultz said that staying in the hostels was a unique experience because there were people from different countries, such as Brazil and Argentina.

“We got to meet people from all over the world, and you could listen to their stories,” Schultz said.

T he “cultural exchange project” the students completed at Colegio Pablo Neruda involved working with 22 children between 9 and 14 years old and running a weeklong camp for them filled with entertainment and activities, Schmidt said. During the school week, the children would come from

a specific member to change his or her vote.

“Any one of those six votes could step up and do the right thing this year, “ Thirion said, “Rather than actually changing hearts and minds, we need legislators to listen to their values and say that everyone should be treated equally.”

Seventeen states have passed measures to address this type of discrimination, and more than 140 local jurisdictions have done the same. In this state, Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Baltimore City and the city of Hyattsville have passed laws in this vein.

This university has also made strides in addressing the issue, said Nicholas Sakurai, associate director of the university’s LGBT Equity Center, making it all the more important that one state law helps to connect all these scattered constituencies.

“There’s a patchwork of laws,” Sakurai said. “It’s not really consistent, and so you may have some rights when you’re on campus because we have an inclusive nondiscrimination policy, but as soon as you step foot off campus, Prince George’s County doesn’t have a law.”

The best course of action at this point, Sakurai said, is merely elevating the public dialogue and bringing attention to this issue.

“My sense is there have been other legislative priorities,” Sakurai said, “But I think that we can push it forward this session, certainly by talking about it more, getting the word out, making sure that people are aware that these are issues.”

voted the measure down in committee last year, has been replaced by Sen. Stephen Hershey (R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s), who voted against a similar antidiscrimination bill in the 2011 session when he was a delegate and it went to a floor vote.

“Unless there are changes made to the bill, and there probably will be, it will probably be another 5 to 6 vote,” said Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery), chair of the committee. “But I think we’re looking for ways to pick up the last vote.”

However, he said it is too early to tell what amendments could be introduced or what methods will be used to shake up the committee vote.

While gender identity antidiscrimination bills haven’t had luck in this state’s government to this point, Keith Thirion, advocacy director at LGBT rights group Equality Maryland, isn’t discouraged.

“People have been building support, and momentum has been building consistently for a long time,” Thirion said, “This year, we see that we are at a tipping point when it comes to public support and a breadth of people speaking out.”

The bill has 25 co-sponsors and would only need 24 to pass the Senate. In 2011, it was passed in the House with an 86-52 vote but was recommitted to a Senate committee and never brought to the floor. In trying to pass the committee hurdle, Thirion said this wouldn’t be about targeting jbachdbk@gmail.com

about 9 a.m. to 3 or 5 p.m. to spend time with the university students and do activities, crafts, sports and field trips, Schmidt said.

The university students would “bring their strengths to the table,” Schmidt said, as they did anything from theatrical games to bracelet-making to kickball and soccer. T hey also worked with a mosaic artist to make mosaic-mirror projects with the kids, Schmidt said.

“The thing that seems to always strike our students the most about their time in Valparaiso is how open and enthusiastic the students in Valparaiso are,” Schmidt said.

“They’re very receptive and interested in the activities that we run there with them.”

The trip has been open to all university students with a certain GPA for the past eight years, Schmidt said. Although there is no language requirement for the trip, students said there was a language barrier for some when interacting with native speakers.

Schultz said the trip gave her the opportunity to practice her own Spanish-speaking skills in

LGBT From PAGE 1 Six prominent figures on both sides of the issue, ranging from religious leaders to activists, recount their experiences, and three — including university alumna Karess Taylor-Hug hes — were present at last night’s event to speak alongside Richen after the screening.

Taylor-Hu g he s, who graduated in December 2010, played a key role as part of

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senior Matt jolles, a business student, and a Chilean student play with a globe during a study abroad trip to Chile. sung-min kim/the diamondback a country that interested her, in comparison to her previous abroad experiences in Italy and China.

“I learned so much about Chile and the culture and the country,” she said. “A part of the reason I chose the program was because I didn’t know about Chile. I also learned about myself.”

After the university students arrived at the school, Schultz said the kids were eager to meet and befriend them; some even keep in touch through Facebook now that the trip is over.

“They immediately got attached to us and asked whether

LGBT rights goup Equality Maryland in the 2012 passage of the state’s same sex marriage legalization bill, also known as Question 6 for itsspot as a referendum item on voter ballots, in 2012, as showcased in the film. She said the strength and support she built at this university helped her power through the struggle for votes.

“It means everything to me to have it here,” TaylorHughes said. “I would not be the person that I am today without this university, and I mean that from the bottom

we cou ld be friends w ith them,” Schultz said.

Seb Roa, a senior communication and government and politics major, said the trip was “basically magical.”

Although the group was small, Roa said, it was tightly knit and they did everything together. Being able to learn, sightsee and attend summer camp all in one visit was just what he was looking for, he said.

“We had a little bit of everything,” Roa said.

The trip was a “once-in-alifetime experience,” he said, and just being in the cities and around the natives, kids and

of my heart. It was this school who built me.”

The film was brought to this university partly due to the efforts of Christina Hanhardt, associate professor in American studies and LGBT studies, who attended Brown University with Richen as an undergraduate student.

“It worked out really beautifully to bring her and the film and a couple of the people in the film to come talk about it and show it and have conversation,” Lindemann said.

Junior animal science major Lex Matthews heard about the

the culture helped him learn about the country.

“You could tell that [the kids] were comfortable in that environment and were down to follow our lead,” Roa said.

For Schmidt, observing the relationships form between the two groups of students was a wonderful experience. “ T h e re’s a n o p e n n e s s between the students at Valparaiso and the students at the University of Maryland that develops every year,” Schmidt said. “That’s always surprising, and refreshing and beautiful.” eserpicodbk@gmail.com

event through an advertisement and thought the conversation was an intriguing one.

“I heard about it on Facebook and it sounded interesting,” Matthews said. “I don’t have many expectations; I read a short synopsis online, but that was it.”

T hose who missed the event can see The New Black ton i g ht at M IC A’s B row n Center in Baltimore, Feb. 12 at West End Cinemas in Washington and June 16 on PBS’ Independent Lens. newsumdbk@gmail.com

Senate proposals will create business master’s programs

By Jon Banister @thedbk Staff writer T he Un iversity Senate passed proposals yesterday establishing master’s degrees in accounting, information systems, marketing analytics and supply chain management.

These programs exist as areas of concentration in the business school’s master’s degree program, but the proposals will create four independent degree programs to give graduates diplomas that more accurately represent the focus of their coursework.

Each concentration has a

unique curriculum, and there are no shared requirements that every business graduate student has to take. This was a deciding factor in making these concentrations into separate degree programs.

Josh Ratner, an undergraduate representative on the Senate Executive Committee, said the change will give graduates an advantage in the job market.

“The purpose of the proposals was to make it more clear what you’re studying,” Ratner said. “There was no change in curriculum; it’s just allowing people to get more specific degrees when they graduate, so if they’re looking

for a job in a specific field, it’s easier for them to get hired.”

The new programs will also allow departments to adjust their tuition independently, which they previously were unable to do with the concentrations tied together under the general business master’s degree.

“That’s one of the things we’re excited about: having this proposal so we can set the tuition rates so that it matches what’s being asked of the market,” said Ken White, associate dean of the business school’s graduate programs.

Because the programs are now under separate degrees, students will also be able to pursue mul-

SHAVIT

tiple areas of study and receive dual master’s degrees from the business school.

“They seemed to just be addressing some efficiencies and clearing up practices that already seem to be in place,” Senate Chairman Vincent Novara said. “It really just seemed like the right way for these programs to go.”

Nate Curtis, a marketing analytics graduate student, likes the change but said the name of his degree isn’t the most significant thing to him.

“I think it makes perfect sense to change the name of the degree to a master’s in marketing analytics,” Curtis said. “But obviously, I think the important thing to employers and the important thing to any prospective student is that they’re getting the skill set and the professional and academic growth they seek from the program,

and that is not going to change regardless of what they call it.”

As an international student from China, Ping “Frank” Wu said this change is very important for students like him.

“A large proportion of the M.S. graduate students come in from other countries, like India and China, and they will leave the U.S. and find jobs in the corresponding countries,” said Wu, a graduate student senate representative in the business school. “The formal degree from the U.S. is very different from just a concentration, so that will significantly help them find a job.”

This change was already made last fall for the master’s degree in fi nance to test the proposal, which White said was a successful strategy.

“We chose one program to go through, then the other four would piggyback on, so it worked out, fortunately,” White said.

Two other programs, curricula and courses proposals were also passed at Wednesday’s Senate meeting.

The first was a proposal to establish a new upperdivision certificate in leadership studies. The certificate expands on the minor in leadership studies by giving students a formal award that is recognized by the Maryland Higher Education Commission for completing 21 credits in leadership studies.

Additionally, the Senate passed a proposal to establish a new bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education. This new program combines the two existing degree programs to give students dual certification and make them more attractive job candidates.

VIOLENCE

Neil Prescott underscore the need for a communicating threats statute,” Alsobrooks said outside the Upper Marlboro district courthouse in Aug ust 2012 a f ter Song’s sentencing. “I want to ensure that we have the tools to treat these threats with the seriousness they warrant.”

I f M u s e ’s b i l l p a s s e s , a cha rge of k now i ng ly th reaten i ng to com m it mass violence would carry a maximum 10-year prison sentence, a $10,000 fine or both. T he bill wou ld also allow prosecutors to seek a criminal charge directly related to a threat instead of forcing them to make legal m a neuvers to f i nd lesser crimes with which to charge offenders.

“It’s not a crime in Maryland to threaten to perform an act of mass violence,” Muse said at the Senate committee meeting yesterday. “It is not a crime to make a threat of violence that will cause the general public to be placed in fear or react because of that fear.”

The harsher proposed sentences raised a concern for some legislators as to whether all instances warranted 10 years behind bars.

Sen. Christopher Shank (R-Washington) supported a similar bill proposed in the

2013 legislative session, but he recalled an incident in his district in Hagerstown in which a female high school student threatened to shoot her principal after she was suspended.

“Obviously, I’m not condoning it, and she shouldn’t have done it, and she needs to pay for it,” Shank said. But, he asked, “Do you think she needs to go to jail for 10 years for it?”

Alsobrooks said such punishments may not always be necessary, but at least the bill would give prosecutors the tools to bring offenders properly under state supervision and act as a deterrent.

“I think the prosecutors have discretion,” Alsobrooks said.

She then brought up the case of Song.

“It was not the case that anybody was interested in having him go to jail for 10 years, but it at least gives us jurisdiction over that individual should we find that some sort of intervention is necessary and that he should be supervised to make sure that nothing more serious occurs,” she said.

Last year, a similar bill passed unanimously in the House of Delegates, but it never made it to a vote on the Senate floor before the legislative session ended.

From PAGE 1

From PAGE 1

that there isn’t such a book is because we’ve lost our narrative. T his is deeply sad and troubling. We were a narrative before we were a nation. A nd iron ically, the stronger Israel became physica l ly — the more economic power, political power, military power it had — the narrative which is so essential for us evaporated.”

Though the book is nonfiction, Shavit said it’s far from dry reading. He said he used real people’s stories to make the book more approachable and enjoyable.

“I’m a political person, and I have very strong opinions, but that was not the mission,” he said. “The mission was to enable us to open our hearts and eyes to look at what was really happening.”

T he o d ora K l ay m a n , a university alumna, said she fi nds the book to be a worthwhile read.

“I l i ke t he fact t h at it comes from a personal point of view,” Klayman said. “It’s very easy reading, which I think is a good idea because this book is much more accessible for the general public.”

Shavit also discussed the challenges of living in Israel today. He noted the impact of Zionism on his homeland — the liberation movement was not only valuable politically, socially and economically, but it also physically saved many Jews, he said.

“Zionism failed to create a

Song and arrested him near Cumberland Hall.

I n A u g u s t 2 01 2 , S o n g pleaded g uilty to charges of disturbing school operations and telephone misuse — relatively small charges, given the state’s tough stance on gun violence. But a bill presented yesterday by state Sen. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s) to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee seeks to place increased criminal liability on individuals who threaten violence as Song did.

In Song’s case, the charges carried with them curfews, community service and mandated health monitoring. His case was one of two threats of mass violence in 2012 that put the state on alert. Criminal charges against Neil Prescott, a Crofton man who threatened to blow up his Lanham coworkers, were dismissed last summer.

Song’s charges initially prompted Prince George’s Cou nty State’s Attor ney Angela Alsobrooks to rally for a state law that would ensure sentenci ng i n such cases carries more weight.

“This case and the case of

ARI SHAVIT (left), a columnist and reporter for the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz, discusses his book about the complexity of Israel’s history. rachel george/the diamondback utopia, but what Zionism did succeed in creating is the most amazing, robust, free society one can imagine,” Shavit said.

“We are creative and we are innovative and we are sexual and we are sexy. At the end of the day, there is something incredible about our being. What you have in this Jewish-Israeli saga is the story of the people who came from death and are in many ways threatened by death but have chosen life.”

Even with that resilience, Shavit said he worries about the nation’s future.

“You have many problems in this country,” he said. “But there isn’t one American in this room that has doubt whether America will be here in 100 years. No Israeli can be sure that Israel will be here in 100 years.”

Shavit fielded questions after he spoke, as he said he believes deep, intelligent discussion is really what Israel needs.

HAZING From PAGE 1 Raskin’s proposed bill follows Bloombe rg News’ December reports of hazing within Salisbury University’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter that included paddle beatings, forced drinking and forcing pledges to stand in trash cans full of ice water. The university has since suspended the fraternity.

Kirwan said he is happy to work with the General Assembly to increase the punishment for violators.

“Hazing is such a terrible practice that’s really a threat to the welfare of our students,” Kirwan said. “I think we need to send a stronger signal that it’s just totally unacceptable.”

Currently, the university system does not have an umbrella hazing policy, leaving colleges and universities within the system to handle cases on their own.

Such hazing incidents aren’t isolated to Greek life. In August 2013, Towson University also responded to hazing allegations, suspending its nationally competitive cheerleading team for the academic year. The university declined to describe the nature of the hazing, but officials said they immediately investigated the allegations.

S e n . B i l l Fe rg u s o n ( D-B a ltimore City) publicly supports creating a measure in addition to the increased fine that would require universities to disclose

“He appreciates that there are other points of view, but he is very good at explaining why he feels the way he feels and what he thinks is necessary in order for Israel to survive,” Klayman said.

Sophomore Harrison Lee came to the event for his ISRL 448A: Seminar in Israel Studies; Israel Politics and Society class.

“Not knowing anything about Israeli politics for the most part, it’s interesting to see an insider’s perspective,” said Lee, a government and politics major.

“Overa l l, I was very i mpressed with him.”

P e r i , L e e’s p rofe s s o r, shared similar feelings.

“It’s an excellent book,” Peri said. “It’s personal, but h is person a l l i fe reflects the lives of the whole generation.” gtooheydbk@gmail.com

the details of their findings and the punishments administered to student groups after such hazing allegations.

At this university, the definition of hazing ranges from sleep deprivation and mandatory alcohol consumption to forced branding and theft. A policy violation constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by $500, up to six months in jail or both.

In 2010, the university suspended Zeta Phi Beta from university recognition after police received a report of then-members of the sorority assaulting a pledge on three separate occasions. According to police reports, the pledge was pushed into a wall and hit with an oak paddle during the hazing incidents.

The Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life suspended the chapter on Nov. 12, 2010, when they learned of the incidents, and the chapter has not returned to the campus.

In 2002, then-university freshman Daniel Reardon died as a result of hazing — one of 171 hazing deaths that occurred between 1838 and 2012, according to the 2013 KPMG study “Hazing: An Old Risk with Renewed Attention.”

Despite these isolated incidents, Kirwan said university system officials have done a good job overall to d iscou rage ha zi ng si nce he became chancellor.

“The campus has taken a very hard line on a number of Greek organizations,” he said. “College Park has a strong policy, and it adminis-

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DELTA TAU DELTA FRATERNITY MEMBERS lie on a basement floor in a pool of vomit. The fraternity’s hazing rituals, during which pledges had to put butchered pigs’ feet in their mouths, led to the chapter’s suspension in 2008. A Senate bill could increase the criminal fine for hazing. digitally altered file photo courtesy of terp weekly edition ters it effectively.”

Greek organizations at this university encourage alternatives to hazing and emphasize the value of bonding that doesn’t go to hazing’s extremes, Interfraternity Council officials said.

“We focus on preventing hazing, rather than punishing,” said Christopher Frye, IFC external affairs vice president. “If you’re punishing offenders, it’s already happened. We’d rather stop it before it gets to that point.”

Frye said the IFC suggests alternatives such as going to the university’s challenge course or playing sports as a pledge class.

“Lots of people talk about hazing as a way to build unity, bond together and teach respect,” said Matt Supple, Department of Fra-

ternity and Sorority Life director. “None of those things justify hazing, and there are certainly other ways to accomplish those same types of outcomes.”

T he department also hosts a 24-hour anonymous hotline for victims and witnesses to report hazing incidents.

Hazing reports are sent to the Office of Student Conduct, and under the office’s expanded jurisdiction, the university can reprimand off-campus offenders academically or disciplinarily.

With a “zero-tolerance policy” for hazing and a commitment to investigate every allegation, Supple said, the university supports Raskin’s proposal for tougher penalties. But it can be difficult to prosecute offenders, he said.

“The challenge is that not many cases are actually sent to court. I don’t know how many $500 fines have actually been imposed,” Supple said. “I think it just sends more of a message that it’s a severe crime.”

The proposed fi ne increase, Frye said, could highlight the crime’s importance. But it’s not a solution or deterrent, he said, leaving more to be desired on the individual university level.

“It makes sense for the General Assembly, if they think punishments aren’t working, to do something about it,” Frye said. “But it’s also up to the individual universities to supply alternatives also — not just punish students.” dcostellodbk@gmail.com, trichmandbk@gmail.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mike King

Editor in Chief

DAN APPENFELLER Managing Editor

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Opinion Editor

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CONTACT US 3150 South Campus Dining Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | opinionumdbk@gmail.com PHONE (301) 314-8200

STAFF EDITORIAL

Steam leaks indicative of larger problem “The cost to bail the university out of its renovation backlog climbs by tens of millions of dollars every year with no end in sight.”

That sentence is from a March 2008 article in this newspaper, but it might as well have been written today. That article was in reference to the ballooning costs of Facilities Management renovation projects on the campus, from $500 million in 2005 to $620 million in 2008.

Just more than a year ago, The Diamondback reported that the backlog’s cost had grown to $750 million.

Even with increased state funding — $25.7 million here for capital projects and upgrades, $450,000 there to replace some heating and cooling pipes — the backlog gets steadily worse while accidents continue to happen. South Campus Commons apartments have lost hot water multiple times this academic year, for one.

It has become apparent that what has for years been labeled as the university’s “invisible crisis” is now more than just visible — it’s blowing steam right at our faces.

Malfunctioning pipes under Tawes Plaza and Preinkert Drive are releas-

OUR VIEW

The steam leaks around the campus are harmless, but they’re a constant reminder of ballooning facilities costs. ing huge clouds of steam into the air through manholes and will continue doing so until the spring, power plant officials told The Diamondback. That’s one result of old and rusty pipes.

If you’ve walked on those heavily trafficked parts of the campus, you’ve likely not only seen the steam but also walked right through it. With a loud boiling sound and a slightly unsettling scent, these steam leaks are disgusting.

There’s no way to know if more funding for Facilities Management would have prevented these leaks, but if the fiscal situation weren’t so dire for the department, we have to think such leaks would have a much higher place on the list of priorities.

Still, Tawes Plaza and Preinkert Drive are among the oldest parts of the campus. The department has said it will fix the leaks when the weather

warms up and other pipes have been proactively replaced in recent months.

Hanging off the fence around any steam leak is a now-familiar blue-onwhite sign: “For Information Contact College Park Energy 301-405-0684.”

That number connected the editorial board to the university’s Central Heating Plant, and we had a brief, friendly conversation about the Tawes Plaza manhole, though the employee who fielded our call did not have any additional information about the steam leaks.

Thankfully, the steam leaks are harmless, chemical-free evaporations of groundwater, according to Facilities Management. But how many people walking past these plumes above holes that seem to descend into the underworld know that?

It would cost next to nothing for Facilities Management — or even a rogue sociology professor — to affix a second sign to the fence that says, “Don’t panic. The steam you are inhaling is nothing serious.” While the physical problems would still be there, passersby might have a smidge more peace of mind.

For all their unpleasantness and ugliness, the steam leaks are a mere

STEAM LEAKS out of a manhole located in the plaza outside of Tawes Hall.

lena salzbank/the diamondback

inconvenience for most people on this campus (and perhaps an embarrassment for Maryland Images tour guides). Even English lecturer Justin Lohr recognizes there are “far more important issues to address immediately.” We agree.

We’ve written before about the importance of refurbishing or demolishing much of the ancient North Hill area of the campus. New infrastructure from (under) the ground up is a good opportunity to begin that process.

We recognize that construction proj-

ects should be piecemeal as applicable.

On multiple occasions, the university has publicized the severity of the socalled invisible crisis. Maybe the students staring at a steam leak en route to class, being constantly reminded of that crisis, will go on to enact policy to help address the unsustainable debt to maintain this university’s facilities.

Maybe when the backlog reaches $1 billion, the massive funds needed to ensure the inconvenient problems don’t grow to critical ones will finally appear.

Mike King, Editor in Chief OLIVIA NEWPORT, Assistant Managing Editor Chris Allen, Design Editor FOLA AKINNIBI, Online Editor JENNY HOTTLE, News Editor Maria Romas, Opinion Editor RobERT Gifford, Diversions Editor DANIEL GALLEN, Sports Editor CHRISTIAN JENKINS, Photo Editor Michelle chavez, Multimedia Editor

DAN APPENFELLER, Managing Editor BRIAN COMPERE, Assistant Managing Editor MATT SCHNABEL, Deputy Managing Editor QUINN KELLEY, General Assignment Editor LAURA BLASEY, News Editor ADAM OFFITZER, Opinion Editor Mary Clare Fischer, Diversions Editor AARON KASINITZ, Assistant Sports Editor JAMES LEVIN, Photo Editor JOYCE KOH, Multimedia Editor

EDITORIAL CARTOON

EDITORIAL BOARD

JOEY LOCKWOOD/the diamondback

AIR YOUR VIEWS

OPINION EDITOR WANTED

Address your letters or guest columns to Maria Romas and Adam Offitzer at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

Include your full name, year, major and phone number.

Please limit guest columns to between 500 and 600 words. Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright of the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

Must be enrolled at the university. Ideal candidates have an understanding of university, state and national issues, a familiarity with journalistic writing, strong managerial skills and the ability to meet deadlines. Opinion editors typically work 30 to 35 hours per week. The position is paid. For more information on the position or how to apply, please contact opinion editors Maria Romas and Adam Offitzer at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

Running for more than a cause An inspiring experience at a charity half marathon MARIA ROMAS Last year, I ran the Nike Women’s Half Marathon with two of my good friends. It was my second half marathon, and one of my major goals was finishing in less time than my first try.

Well, if I’m being completely honest, I was also looking forward to the Tiffany & Co. necklace waiting to be handed to me at the end by an ROTC member.

But what made the run really special was my friend Leigh.

Leigh’s mother is a leukemia survivor, and the night before our run, Leigh, my other friend and I got together and made running shirts, puffypainting why we were running the race. The race fell on the same week of Leigh’s mom’s remission from chemotherapy, and we all wanted to show our support for her. The slogan of last year’s event was “We Run DC” and people were encouraged to fill in their own motivations. We ran D.C. last year for those who couldn’t — those being treated with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

Meeting Leigh’s mother, along with so many other cancer survivors, at the end of that race really impacted me.

This year, I decided to raise money

for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by joining the Team in Training. So not only will I be running for those who can’t, but I’ve committed to raising at least $1,800 — money that will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which strives to find a cure for cancer.

I love the fact that my efforts, both fundraising and running, can help get cancer patients the care they need.

Even if my impact is minuscule, it’s still something.

My dad was lucky enough to have caught his thyroid cancer early enough that the doctors were able to extract it. Before his surgery, he had to cut back on iodine, slowing down his metabolism and causing him to be lethargic, even forgetting words at times — something completely jarring for my family and I to witness, as he is generally so articulate. Thankfully, the doctors decided to take out his whole thyroid, rather than half the thyroid, as they had initially decided, because both ends were ultimately cancerous. Afterward, he had to go through radiation therapy, while my sisters and I had to leave the house (as a precautionary measure) and stay with our cousins.

I am eternally grateful that my dad’s experience with cancer was dealt with quickly and efficiently and that the disease didn’t have a chance to spread.

But still, even with these so-called routine processes and straightforward procedures, my whole family was immensely affected. Despite reassurances from my parents that everything would be OK, we were constantly scared something bad was going to happen. Cancer is such a terrifying force, and its unpredictability is perhaps its scariest trait.

I know a number of other people who have struggled to survive different forms of cancer. Every time I hear of a new instance, my heart goes out to whomever is affected.

From some of my friends’ younger siblings to their parents, almost everyone I know has in some way been the victim of cancer’s far reach. And this needs to stop.

This April, I’m running the Nike Women’s Half Marathon for cancer survivors. They are some of the strongest people I know, and the best way I can think to honor them is to help fight for a cure. Please join me in my efforts. Donate here: pages.teamintraining.org/nca/nikewhlf14/MariaRomas. Help me surpass my goal and honor those who have died from and survived cancer alike.

Maria Romas is a senior English major. She can be reached at mromasdbk@gmail.com.

MIKE KING, editor in chief, is a senior journalism major. He has worked as a copy editor, assistant managing editor, deputy managing editor and managing editor.

Dan Appenfeller, managing editor, is a senior journalism major.

He has worked as a copy editor and assistant managing editor.

MATT SCHNABEL, deputy managing editor, is a sophomore journalism major.

He has worked as a copy editor, assistant managing editor and diversions writer.

Maria Romas, opinion editor, is a senior English major.

She has worked as a reporter, assistant opinion editor and columnist.

ADAM OFFITZER, opinion editor, is a senior journalism major.

He has worked as a diversions staff writer and columnist.

Auto repair skills don’t define “manhood” SEAN FORSYTHE

First of all, I identify as male, which alone makes me man. But on top of that, even in terms of traditional masculinity, I think I’m pretty manly.

I have a beard, I drink whiskey and I like getting my hands dirty from time to time. But what I can’t do is troubleshoot my engine light. I don’t even change my own oil. My dad does that. So am I really a man? Well, yes.

I am. But this kind of unnecessary reinforcement of outdated machismo, calling people out based on their presumed lack of masculinity, does not have a place in this day and age.

For many, cars are tools to be used on a daily basis. For others, they are points of pride, testaments to the hard work and care their owners put into them. And that’s OK. What’s not OK is treating car maintenance as the end-all-be-all of what defines someone’s masculinity. Especially as an advertisement. Why would I want to buy from a retailer that thinks of me as a lesser man, a man whose engine light drives me to tears?

Cars are one of the most abundant machines on the planet. Machines that people of all genders use. Machines that do not define the validity of those genders. They are also machines that are often costly and complicated to care for. While I think it’s smart to be able to change a tire or jump-start a car, it’s OK if you can’t or don’t want to know. Sometimes drivers just want to leave it to people who are trained to complete those tasks. So, men: Take your car to AutoZone, take your car to a mechanic, ride your bike, ride the Metro or walk.

You’ll get to keep your man card no matter what you choose.

OK, this one’s for the fellas out there: Don’t you hate it when you hear another guy talking about how he took his car to a mechanic to get his oil changed? I hope they took away his man card when he paid.

Am I right? Dudes?

When it comes to cars, men have historically been the ones in charge.

They bought the cars; they drove the cars; they maintained the cars; they showed off the cars to other men who were busy showing off their own cars.

And if you, as a man, broke from this norm, you were seen as unworthy of your “man card.” The role of women in this situation was one of expected complacency — relegated to simply riding along in the cars with men.

But in modern times, with increased use of public transportation, more independence for women, greater social awareness and decreased time and ability to maintain vehicles personally, why are cars still a prominent example of sharply defined gender roles? Why are men still expected to display their prowess with machines?

This whole train of thought was kicked off by a particularly annoying and infuriating radio ad for auto parts store AutoZone (the world’s last bastion of masculinity), which implied that while some men are driven to tears by their “check engine” lights, the man who goes to AutoZone is not. All I could think while driving my car — which has had a glowing “check engine” light Sean Forsythe is a junior theatre for the better part of three years — m a j o r. H e c a n b e re a c h e d a t sforsythedbk@gmail.com. was, “Am I not a man?”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 | The Diamondback

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HOROSCOPE | STELLA WILDER

orn today, you are rarely one to say “no” to an opportunity that arises, even if it means jumping into a situation for which you are completely unprepared. You are something of a daredevil in this respect; you will charge ahead without giving things the thought they really deserve.

As a result, you will invariably wind up in hot water again and again in your lifetime. What you will learn as a result, of course, is how to get yourself out of trouble almost as quickly as you find yourself in it, and you will have ample opportunity to demonstrate this developing skill on many, many occasions.

You are likely to be remembered by many for something that you are not necessarily proud of, yet you cannot deny that you made your mark in that way and have relatively few regrets as a result. Still, there will always be things you wish you could take back -- things you either do or say.

Also born on this date are: Bob Marley, singer and musician; Babe Ruth, baseball player; Ronald Reagan, actor and U.S. president; Axl Rose, singer; Rick Astley, singer; Natalie Cole, singer; Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress; Fabian, singer; Mike Farrell, actor; Tom Brokaw, news anchor; Rip Torn, actor; Patrick Macnee, actor; Mary Leakey, paleoanthropologist; Mamie Van Doren, actress; Robert Townsend, actor and comedian; Aaron Burr, U.S. vice president; Eva Braun, wife of Adolf Hitler; Kathy Najimy, actress; Francois Truffaut, filmmaker.

To see what is in store for

you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You may have to bear a burden you had hoped would not be yours -- but you can rise to the occasion and acquit yourself in style.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -How you talk about yourself and your endeavors will tell your rivals much about what you are really about. Do you want that?

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You’re likely to get some advice that strikes you as odd -- until you realize that you’ve been misinterpreting a certain situation.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ll receive assistance today precisely when you need it most, and you’ll want to return the favor at the earliest possible opportunity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You can help someone you know from letting things slip through the cracks. Yes, it means bearing more responsibility than usual.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You mustn’t ignore the signs that are right in front of you. Once you

take them in, several questions will be answered.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- What you do unintentionally is likely to be more important in the long run than anything you have planned.

Let momentum build.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Your understanding of a key situation will make the difference between taking a step forward or a step back.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You are eager to see where things are headed, yet you know there are certain dangers to address if you let a situation go unabated.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- How you express yourself makes all the difference. There’s nothing wrong with letting others know you know what you’re talking about!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You’ll benefit in a roundabout way from something that a neighbor or casual friend does as a matter of routine.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Focus on the task at hand and don’t let yourself be distracted by something that you think will be much more fun.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

DIVERSIONS

COOL TO BE UNCOOL Senior staff writer Dean Essner looks back on Almost Famous and what Philip Seymour Hoffman’s iconic role can tell us about the beloved actor. Visit diamondbackonline.com for more.

ON THE SITE

THE THINGS WE HAVE LOST

From fast-food deals that ended to teen dramas we’ve outgrown, we look back at some of the things we have loved — and had to give up LASTING IMPACT | TACO BELL’S HAPPIER HOUR

LASTING IMPCAT | DEGRASSI

STAMP’S TACO BELL, with its Happier Hour, was once a beacon for the cash-strapped. Now it’s just another fast food joint. james levin/thediamondback

DRAKE’s career began on Degrassi, a show notable for its earnest treatment of teen issues. photo courtesy of degrassi.wikia.com

By Zoë Di Giorgio @zozoembie Staff writer

By Brianna Patterson @DBKDiversions For The Diamondback

Then I learned the best-kept secret on the campus. The golden ticket to happiness. The solution to my hunger.

Originally, I avoided Taco Bell like the plague. The lowest quality meat available to man slathered in molten cheese with a side of Mountain Dew just seemed so pedestrian compared to the food court’s healthier, relatively upper-crust options.

Now I’m ashamed that I once thought myself superior to it.

It was love at first bite. One taste of a friend’s Loaded Potato Griller was enough for me to understand why people lined up in droves when 2 p.m. rolled around every day. Taco Bell’s Happier Hour was the best deal on the campus. In a world where the McDonald’s Dollar Menu is now the Dollar Menu & More and a McDouble costs more than a dollar, there was a need for yummy yet cheap food for those who didn’t plan their meals in advance. It was for those who forgot their lunch, for those who were simply hungry midafternoon. It was for all of us.

Taco Bell saw the needs of the people, and it answered.

Instead of starving all afternoon until my last class ended, I could buy a filling, tasty snack that would keep me going until I grabbed a Purple Line bus home for dinner. The price couldn’t

The food court giveth, and the food court taketh away.

It is with great sadness that I reflect on the loss of an important on-campus institution: Stamp Student Union’s Taco Bell has ended Happier Hour. It was a deal too good to be true: a cheap, powerful, fulfilling addiction.

For us poor, hungry masses, the oozy, cheesy, faux meat wraps and cheap sugary sodas were manna from heaven.

Last semester was my first living off-campus, a fascinating experiment in responsibility and adaptability requiring much trial and error. Because of the distance to Courtyards and the difficulty of catching a bus, there were many days when I struggled to get in a decent lunch.

While some students may opt to neglect eating during crunch time, I found that it was the perfect time to eat. That rush of sugar provided more energy than any trip to Starbucks could. But without a way to get back to my apartment between classes and with very little money handy, I found myself actually yearning for the days when satisfaction was just a short trip away at the South Campus Dining Hall.

be beat, either, as one of the few options affordable to those surviving on a few emergency dollars and coins stashed in a book bag.

(Looking at you, Saladworks.) In a hectic day full of deadlines and meetings, I was able to take a halfhour break and enjoy the cheesy goodness of a griller or cool down at the end of the week with a refreshing Mountain Dew Freeze.

Happier Hour changed me.

I no longer turned up my nose at the faux-Mexican fast food.

In fact, I used to plan afternoon Happier Hour dates with friends.

When the Grilled Stuft Nacho came out before winter break, my brother and I made a whimsical late-night pit stop to my hometown Taco Bell, but nothing on the menu seemed as tantalizing (or worth the money) as a $1 Chipotle Ranch Chicken Loaded Griller during Happier Hour.

I will miss the idea of a yummy, cheap snack every time I walk by that purple sign in Stamp. I will feel that slight ache of yearning in my stomach from 2 to 5 p.m. every day. A carefree era in this university’s history has ended.

Sure, the grillers only cost less than $2. But the shadow of what was will forever haunt me as I search for a new backup snack. zdigiorgiodbk@gmail.com

It’s one of the most complicated high schools on TV. It’s seen as much drama as any daytime soap opera.

But homicides, suicides and teen pregnancies have not stopped at Degrassi Community School, the setting for the long-running Canadian drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. After more than a decade on air, school is still in session — Degrassi’s 13th season returned from hiatus Jan. 28 on TeenNick.

It’s the quintessential teen drama. I grew up with the show, watching it well before I entered middle or high school. For me and many other teens, the show served not only as entertainment but also as insight for the tumultuous years of adolescence to come.

There’s no problem Degrassi hasn’t addressed.

There’s an episode or plotline for any issue one could face. Are you being cyberbullied? There’s an episode for that. Naked pictures sent to the entire school?

There’s an episode for that.

Are you suffering from a mental illness and involved in a love triangle with your high school sweetheart and the school seductress? Degrassi has you covered.

As a teen drama, the show’s primary job is to account for all the possible problems to which teens can relate. That job has made for episodes that can be anything from lighthearted to angsty to serious issue-of-the-week episodes. Heavy events such as rape, abuse and death have made for iconic episodes.

Though the Degrassi yearbook’s “in memory of” section must take up quite a few pages by now, those characters were sacrificed not only to boost ratings but also to create valuable teaching moments for the teen audience. The show was always ahead of its time in dealing with societal issues while they were still taboo. Given that the show dates back to the ’80s, when its predecessor originally aired, episodes were often banned from U.S. airwaves because they dealt with issues, such as abortion, that were too controversial.

In 2004, Degrassi aired one of its most memorable

crises: a school shooting. A bullied teen brought a gun to school and killed himself after shooting and paralyzing the school’s star athlete, Jimmy Brooks. (Plot twist: the actor playing Brooks, Aubrey Graham, went on to become multiplatinum rap sensation Drake.)

But Degrassi today is a much different place. I grew up and out of the show, just as the characters did. Even as I tried to hold onto the show in my late high school days out of loyalty, the show seemed to have lost its edge and become wildly overexaggerated, defined by mediocre actors and plotlines that seemed to have been chosen by an illfated roulette wheel designed for shock factor and ratings.

But the show still has a crucial place in television.

It has grown with the times, taking on modern issues including gay and transgender rights and the dangers of texting and driving. Degrassi now has a lot more competition, but the show is a classic.

It would be no surprise if it brings 13 more seasons of teenage angst and life lessons. dbkdiversions@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 | SPORTS | The Diamondback

recruiting From PAGE 8 when he made the announcement,” Edsall said. “We didn’t know anything before that.

We thought that we were in good shape, and we had done everything we could possibly do, so that was great news for our staff and for our program when he announced to kind of cap the morning off.”

Prince, a 2014 Under Armour All-America Game participant and Parade All-American, has the potential to start this fall.

He was one of only five offensive line signees for Edsall as the Terps prepare to enter the Big Ten, a conference characterized by big bodies in the trenches and physical play.

Overall, the Terps added eight players on offense, eight on defense and one on special teams. Five of the defensive

players were part of the front seven, including four-star outside linebacker Jesse Aniebonam from Good Counsel.

On offense, the Terps supplemented their offensive lineman haul with Laurel quarterback Will Ulmer, New Jersey wide receiver Juwann Winfree and Ohio tight end Andrew Gray.

A s o f l a te l a s t n i g h t , Rivals.com ranked the Terps’ class at No. 54 and 247Sports ranked it No. 43 nationally.

The Rivals ranking gives the Terps the ninth-best class in the Big Ten, and the 247Sports ranking gives the Terps the seventh-best class in the conference.

“We really had it zeroed in on exactly how many we really wanted to get at each position and really got the guys that we wanted at those positions,” Edsall said. “And now what it’s been able to do, it’s been able to add depth, more competi-

7

tion to our roster.”

In the process, the Terps continued their goal of keeping local players at home. While the Terps landed only two of the top 20 prospects in this state, those two players were the top two in Prince and Aniebonam.

“When you have guys like that that are high-profile, top players in the state, I think that other kids who are high profile they look at it and say, ‘OK, these guys are doing it, why not me?’” recruiting coordinator John Dunn said. “It becomes a positive thing to go to your local school.”

In total, eight players decided to stay at home, including Nnamdi Egbuaba, a linebacker from St. Frances, and Josh Woods, a cornerback from McDonogh.

When Diggs committed to the Terps at Looney’s Pub almost two years ago, the precocious wide receiver set a

preview From PAGE 8 the Terps in 2013, and the team will rely heavily on them again this season. Despite already having pitched two seasons for the Terps, Kaitlyn Schmeiser said she prepared by working on the basics.

“We’ve worked so hard, especially in the fall, working on the fundamentals,” Schmeiser said. “Sort of going back to stuff we’ve been doing since we were little but really harping on our spins and making the ball really move.”

They will also have freshman Hannah Dewey and redshirt freshman Brenna Nation to help the pitching staff. Other newcomers this season include Emily Libero, Sarah Lang, Kylie Datil and Sarah Calta, who will provide depth in the

INFIELDER LINDSEY SCHMEISER was named ACC Freshman of the Year and All-ACC First Team last season after she set a program record with 59 RBI. file photo/the diamondback infield and outfield.

“They’ve been very productive and worked really hard in the practices and in the fall season,” Watten said.

“They’ve made the adjustment pretty easily.”

Infielder Mandy Gardner, who started 29 games at first base and hit four home runs before suffering a seasonending shoulder injury last season, is expected to return

precedent for other top players to come to College Park or at least consider the Terps.

A year ago, wide receiver Taivon Jacobs, a four-star recruit who originally committed to Ohio State, chose the Terps on National Signing Day. Soon after, outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue, who was recruited by Florida State and South Carolina, and running back Jacquille Veii, who was being pursued by Nebraska and Iowa, followed suit.

And now, Prince becomes the latest local talent to stay home.

“I really believe if we can keep the nucleus of the guys from this area, keep them here at Maryland, that’s going to make us an even better football team and a better program,” Edsall said. “I think what’s happening now is [what] you’ve seen in the last couple years.” dgallendbk@gmail.com

against DePaul at the Florida International Tournament in Miami and will spend the first month of the season traveling to tournaments in Florida and California before returning home in early March. In midMarch, ACC play opens when the Terps host Georgia Tech.

After missing the NCAA tournament despite finishing in third place in the ACC a year ago, the Terps are looking to get back to where they have been in past seasons.

“We expect to do well,” Watten said. “We expect to have one of the best years we’ve ever had with this program.”

And McCann, who is one of four seniors on the roster, has an even bolder goal for the team.

“Our goal is to win the whole thing,” McCann said. “Win the regular season, the [ACC] tournament and go to super regionals after regionals.”

to the lineup this season.

Infielder Candice Beards, who finished last season on a 17-game hitting streak, moved to first base from designated hitter after Gardner’s injury, which means the Terps could have two powerful bats in the lineup when Gardner is healed.

T h e Te r ps b e g i n t h e i r attempt at getting back to the postseason tomorrow kstackpoledbk@gmail.com

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forward charles mitchell (right) struggled with foul trouble in the Terps’ 75-63 loss to North Carolina on Tuesday despite early effectiveness inside. alik mcintosh/the diamondback

fouls From PAGE 8

line, shooting 19-of-37 (51.4 percent), but still outscored the Terps, who shot 13-of-20 from the line.

“We got to figure out a way to shoot more free throws and quit fouling so much,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “It’s been a problem of ours.”

Turgeon had several theories explaining the disparity in free-throw attempts, and he didn’t place much blame on the referees. Rather, the third-year coach and his players pointed to North Carolina’s uptempo play and dynamic athleticism as reasons why the Tar Heels drew so many fouls.

At times, the Terps struggled to stay in front of North Carolina’s guards and committed blocking fouls while sliding a step too slow on the perimeter. Point guard Marcus Paige caused the most trouble for the Terps, repeatedly drawing fouls and shooting 9-of-11 on free throws.

“They are pretty athletic,” Turgeon said. “Carolina is pretty fast and it’s kind of hard to simulate that.”

Other times, the Tar Heels’ interior players would draw fouls by muscling their way into the paint. Forwards Kennedy Meeks, James Michael McAdoo and Brice Johnson combined to attempt 19 free akasinitzdbk@gmail.com

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throws on the night.

The trio of post players made just eight of those shots, but they still put the Terps’ big men, including Mitchell and center Shaquille Cleare, in foul trouble.

“They got some big bodies and guys who attack the rim,” forward Evan Smotrycz said. “So they are going to get fouled a lot.”

Those fouls played a major part in the outcome of the game. North Carolina committed 11 fewer team fouls than the Terps, and though McAdoo sat briefly with two fouls, Tar Heels coach Roy Williams never had to sit as many starters as Turgeon did.

North Carolina’s run to end the first half at the Dean E. Smith Center illustrated just how crippling that foul trouble was.

Behind Mitchell’s relentless rebounding the Terps clawed back into the game after allowing the hosts to score the game’s first 11 points, but North Carolina dominated during the five-and-a-half-minute stretch that the 260-pound sophomore spent on the bench.

That allowed North Carolina to increase its lead to 12 points by halftime, and the Terps never recovered.

“I felt like we could come back, and we did that,” Turgeon said. “We just didn’t finish the half well. We had foul trouble; we had unbelievable foul trouble all night.”

than 70 points, and they led for the majority of the game.

Brown was a major factor in the team’s resurgence this weekend, scoring a careerhigh 31 points and adding seven assists. The sharpshooter was 7-of-8 from beyond the arc, helping the Terps recover from their recent shooting woes. Pittsburgh allows opponents to shoot 33.2 percent from three-point range, so Brown’s shooting can exploit the Panthers’ weakness.

“We’re asking her to do more,” Frese said. “She’s stepping up, and she shoots the ball so well.

We need more threats from the perimeter, so she’s really playing with a lot of confidence.”

But first the Terps intend to play with more consistency.

Frese emphasized that focus when she noticed an uncharacteristic drop in practice quality.

“I do think that to be more successful in the second half that we got to manage to put together a great 40 minutes, which we finally did against Syracuse,” Brown said. “The losses we took, we had spurts of good moments and then spurts of just horrific basketball, so I think the main thing we need to do is put a full game together.”

go, and I think that’s what we’re focusing on now,” guard Brene Moseley said. “Not to miss out and don’t give up any plays. Make sure that we play 40 minutes of basketball and not just 30 minutes.”

ACC preseason polls projected the Terps would finish third, but after a 5-3 start in league play, they sit fourth in the conference standings.

Despite starting the ACC slate with four victories, including an impressive road win against then-No. 10 North Carolina in the conference opener, recent performances have put the Terps behind the league leaders’ pace.

“As our record shows, we didn’t really play as well as we would’ve hoped in the beginning of ACC play,” guard Lexie Brown said. “But I think that we’ve grown a lot as a team, sticking together, especially through the tough losses that we had.”

The Terps eventually made progress during their 89-64 win at Syracuse on Sunday in a game Frese called their most complete performance of the season. It was the first time in five games that they allowed less ppierrelouisdbk@gmail.com

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PAGE 8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Foul troubles hinder comeback Terps big men sit for extended periods in loss at North Carolina

By Aaron Kasinitz @AaronKazreports Senior staff writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After guard Dez Wells’ 3-pointer clanged off the rim midway through the first half of Tuesday’s 75-63 loss at North Carolina, forward Charles Mitchell corralled the errant shot and leapt for a layup.

He finished while absorbing contact and then converted the three-point play at the free-throw line.

Two possessions later, Wells missed another jumper and Mitchell was there to snag another rebound and make a

layup to cut the Tar Heels’ lead — which once stood at 17-3 — to 24-21. Mitchell’s interior play generated momentum after a dreadful start, and the Terps seemed to find a rhythm on the floor.

But with 6:01 left in the first half, Mitchell picked up his second foul and was sent to the bench, joining Wells and Jake Layman, who also had two fouls apiece. Without three starters on the floor, the Terps’ production slowed and North Carolina ended the half on an 11-2 run that proved vital to its victory.

Just as the Terps’ foul trouble stunted their spurt in the first half, it hampered their cohesion all game

long. The Terps finished with 29 fouls, and six different players finished the game with at least four personal fouls.

“Of course,” Mitchell said when asked if the constant foul troubles were bothersome. “You got to sub in and out. You’re trying to save people for the second half and not have them pick up their third foul.”

While the foul troubles forced the Terps to tinker with their rotation, it also provided the Tar Heels with chances for easy points. North Carolina did struggle at the free-throw FORWARD CHARLES MITCHELL (0) battles for a rebound at North Carolina on Tuesday. The sophomore finished See fouls, Page 7 with 13 rebounds but spent large stretches of time on the bench with foul trouble. alik mcintosh/the diamondback

FOOTBALL | NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

COMPLETING THE CLASS THE RECRUITS

Nate Adams

Brett Kulka

Long snapper **

Defensive lineman ***

Jesse Aniebonam

Larry Mazyck

Linebacker ****

Offensive lineman ****

Tyler Burke

Brendan Moore

Linebacker ***

Offensive lineman ***

Antwaine Carter

Damian Prince

Defensive back **

Offensive lineman *****

Sean Christie

David Shaw

Offensive lineman ***

Defensive lineman ***

Nnamdi Egbuaba

Will Ulmer

Linebacker ***

Quarterback ****

Daniel Ezeagwu

Juwann Winfree

Defensive back ***

Wide receiver ****

Andrew Gray

Josh Woods

Tight end ***

Cornerback ***

Derwin Gray Offensive lineman ****

Number of * denotes recruit rating

coach randy edsall had no idea that offensive line recruit Damian Prince would commit to the Terps yesterday morning at Bishop McNamara High School. marquise mckine/the diamondback

Bishop McNamara five-star offensive tackle Prince chooses Terps to cap 17-recruit class

By Daniel Gallen @danieljtgallen Senior staff writer Shortly after 10:30 a.m. yesterday, Damian Prince stood with his 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame looming behind a lectern at Bishop McNamara High School with his classmates seated in bleachers behind him.

The heralded recruit, who was ranked as a fivestar prospect by some outlets and was a consensus top-three offensive tackle, took his cue from ESPN’s Rece Davis and began to speak.

“Good morning everybody,” Prince said to a na-

tional audience on ESPNU. “I’m Damian Prince and I want to thank everybody for coming out, but I’m going to be playing my next four collegiate years at the University of Maryland.”

At 3 p.m., Terrapins football coach Randy Edsall, dressed in a dark suit with a sharp, red paisley tie, eased himself behind a table in Glazer Auditorium in Gossett Football Team House.

“How’re we doing?” Edsall asked the assembled media with a small smile. “Well, I’m doing good.”

Yesterday, the Terps corralled a 17-player recruiting class that boosts the offensive and defensive lines before they begin their first season in the Big

Ten. Prince was the final piece and crown jewel of the class, giving Edsall three straight seasons with a five-star recruit after wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Deon Long in the past two years.

Like everyone else, the Terps were watching ESPNU to hear Prince’s announcement. Edsall and offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, the primary recruiter for Prince, had tried calling the prospect on Tuesday night, but Prince, who was also considering Florida and South Carolina, didn’t return their calls.

“We found out just like all of you about Damian

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Ending an absence

Frese searches for improved practice

Terps aim to return to NCAA tournament after missing last year

Despite Sunday’s win, Terps looking to string together some consistency

By Kyle Stackpole @kylefstackpole Staff writer Since arriving in 2006, coach Laura Watten has continued to improve the Terrapins softball team, lifting it out of a prolonged postseason drought and to three straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2010 to 2012.

After falling to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament last season, however, the Terps failed to qualify for the NCAA regionals. This season, Watten believes her players will use that as motivation to return to the postseason.

“I think the returning players know what it felt like not to reach our goals last year, and I think they’re still wearing that on their sleeve,” Watten said. “They are pretty focused on accomplishing a lot this year.”

The Terps return the majority of players from a team that finished third in the ACC last season with a schoolrecord 13 conference wins.

See recruiting, Page 7

By Paul Pierre-Louis @PaulPierreLouis Staff writer

THE TERPS missed the NCAA tournament last season after making it the previous three years. file photo/the diamondback The team did lose four seniors, including outfielder Sara Acosta, who was viewed as the Terps’ vocal leader.

Her graduation left a void, but outfielder Amanda McCann doesn’t think that will be much of a problem.

“We have a bunch of people that are really stepping up,” McCann said. “A lot of the girls that were freshmen last year that are now sophomores have a lot more experience and are really being more vocal.”

After making 51 starts at shortstop and

third base, infielder Lindsey Schmeiser will continue to have a vital role on the team.

Last year’s ACC Freshman of the Year and an All-ACC First Team member, Schmeiser drove in a program-record 59 RBI for the Terps in her first season in College Park.

Her sister, pitcher Kaitlyn Schmeiser, will stabilize the staff in the circle. Kaitlyn Schmeiser and sophomore Madison Martin did the majority of pitching for See preview, Page 7

Brenda Frese usually doesn’t criticize the way the Terrapins women’s basketball team prepares for upcoming games. But during practice yesterday afternoon, the Terps coach temporarily stopped a five-on-five drill and called her team out on its frequent defensive lapses.

Sudden dips in performance, particularly on defense, have hurt the Terps during a stretch in which they have lost three of their past four games. In those defeats, the team has allowed an average of more than 81 points per game. “ We ’ v e h a d t e a m s g o red-hot against our defense,” Frese said.

When the Terps enter the second half of their ACC schedule against Pittsburgh tonight at Comcast Center, they’ll aim to prevent those mistakes and finish their conference slate strong.

The Terps’ stingy perimeter defense has been one of their strongest areas this season, as the they have kept opponents shooting 27.2 percent from three-point range, the lowest mark in the ACC. With their recent defensive struggles, however, they have given up more open looks from beyond the arc. In two of the Terps’ most recent defeats, opponents shot more than 40 percent from beyond the arc.

“We kind of let some plays See panthers, Page 7