January 29, 2013

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Professors unhappy with Canvas shift DIT hires students to help in transition to new learning system

By Madeleine List Staff writer Despite university officials’ claims that Canvas, the new online learning platform, would be more efficient for

classes, many professors have found themselves confused and frustrated by the new technology.

The Division of Information Technology made the switch over the summer and carried out pilot programs with “positive feedback,” said Chris Higgins, DIT director of learning technologies and environments. Although officials have touted Canvas’ ability to integrate social media by enabling professors to connect

with students through Facebook, Twitter and other sites, professors said these features are confusing and unnecessary.

“To be honest, I thought it was awful,” said Robert Schwab, an economics professor who participated in the 2011 pilot tests. “It is clunky and not at all intuitive. It is strong in areas that I don’t think are important.”

But the social media-like aspects can be useful, such as the “Recent Activity”

homepage that mimics Facebook and Twitter news feeds, said art history professor Quint Gregory, who helped with Canvas’ 2011 pilot program.

To ease the transition from Blackboard, which the university used for six years, to Canvas, DIT has ramped up support by providing professors with 10 trained undergraduate students. Because

ROBERT SCHWAB

Economics professor

See CANVAS, Page 3

Legislative scholarship program may change

telling her story After suffering six years of assault, senior uses her experience to educate and help others

By Jim Bach Senior staff writer

By Annika McGinnis Staff writer

Students may no longer be able to receive scholarships from their legislators if a proposal to curb the program makes its way through the General Assembly this year.

Because the state’s legislative scholarship program — which grants lawmakers money to provide scholarships to their constituents — has limited criteria, many have feared the program’s susceptibility to abuses by legislators. Sen. Jim Brochin (D-Baltimore County) proposed a bill that would shift scholarship responsibilities from the General Assembly to the state’s Higher Education Commission to prevent politics from influencing who receives award money.

“It needs to be something that’s uniform and not subject to the political whim of a legislator,” Brochin said. “There’s nothing stopping a legislator from giving it out to their cousins or brothers or sisters or campaign worker, and it’s happened before.”

State senators are given $138,000 each year to distribute to constituents, while delegates can dole out the equivalent of four four-year full-time scholarships per term.

Lawmakers differ from district to district on how much they distribute and to whom they award the money.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The last name of an individual in this story was withheld to protect her privacy. ne night when senior Bailey Lamson was 8, she ran into her mother’s and stepfather’s bedroom to escape a nightmare — unaware that she was jumping into another one, worse than anything imaginable.

That night, Lamson’s stepfather began sexually assaulting her, something he would continue for the next six years.

“I was like, ‘Oh, maybe he thinks I’m my mom,’” said the 20-year-old criminology and criminal justice and sociology major. “But it just didn’t stop.”

Lamson endured the abuse in silence until she was 14, finally going to the police in fear her stepfather would begin raping her soon-to-be 8-year-old half-sister. Six years later, Lamson tells her story as a part of the university’s Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program, hoping to inspire other victims to seek help and raise awareness about sexual assault. Her openness and determination in overcoming her past, Lamson’s friends said, have become examples for others suffering similar hardships.

“She’s a really strong person,” said Claire Bernstein, a fellow SARPP peer educator.“She’s so passionate about other people that she can share something so personal with people she doesn’t know.”

Though Lamson remembers her purpose in telling her story — preventing future abuses and empowering those who are suffering — it’s still sometimes a hard one to tell.

In the beginning, she said, the abuse was occasional. But once she turned 12, it was every day.

“If I had a day off from school, it just meant hours instead

O

See lamson, Page 3

“to be honest, i thought [canvas] was awful. it is clunky and not at all intuitive.

It is strong in areas that i don’t think are important.”

bailey lamson, a member of the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program, was sexually assaulted by her stepfather for six years before going to the police. She now tells her story to encourage victims to seek help. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

See program, Page 2

City’s cooperative housing growing Project that started in 2010 has expanded to six College Park homes

By Annika McGinnis Staff writer While some might consider eating off another’s plate bad manners, students actually encourage the practice at meals in this university’s CHUM houses.

Sunday evening, about 25 students met in an off-campus house for a potluck, one of many traditions shared by students in Co-op Housing University of Maryland. They now occupy six College Park houses, and the demand is only growing — the community had to

INDEX

turn people away for the first time this year, said Susan Nembhard, a junior criminology and criminal justice major.

They received 36 applications for only 14 spots, she said.

Sitting under the glow of rainbow Christmas lights Sunday, the group shared a pan of lasagna in the house’s small living room. They call the house “The Pod,” in honor of a former resident who loved to play CDs of whale sounds, said sophomore neurobiology major Rebekka Paisner. As Paisner took a bite of her lasagna, her friend stabbed another piece on her plate and brought it to his mouth.

“We all try to work together — and, hence why someone is eating my food right now, we all share everything,”

Paisner said with a laugh.

The cooperative started in 2010 from an idea in former student Rachael Maddox’s senior thesis, which detailed the problems with large housing corporations and proposed setting up a cooperative system. For students, it’s an affordable alternative to traditional housing, where residents share weekly chores and the cost of rent, utilities and groceries. Decisions are made by consensus at community meetings, and each house delegates two residents a day to cook dinner.

Despite the community’s recent growth, the group is still 10 to 15 years away from their ultimate goal of owning

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See CHUM, Page 2

a cooperative housing community that started in 2010 has since grown to six College Park homes. Students in the homes share the cost of rent and utilities and make decisions at community meetings. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

students are willing to shell out the extra cash.

“There’s no longer any incentive for [landlords] to sell,” Higgins said.

Still, CHUM houses are more affordable than most other offcampus options — each person pays about half the price of a University View apartment, Nembhard said. Paisner said she pays $300 a month, including utilities. And members cite the friendly, open atmosphere as a huge draw to live in CHUM. “It’s infinity times better than

a dorm,” said sophomore electrical engineering major Austin, who identifies only by last name.

“There’s a sense of respect here and mutual understanding that’s not in the dorms. And I feel like everyone here is here for a purpose, and that purpose is to contribute to the community.”

Each wall is a different color in the Crow’s Nest house, which students named after finding the last tenant’s collection of stuffed Halloween crows in the basement. A “chore wheel” on the wall assigns each resident to

weekly tasks, such as cleaning the kitchen floors. Each resident has a homemade, brightly decorated mailbox, and a whiteboard delegates the week’s cooking duties.

The room is a bit in disarray, with boxes everywhere, as house members organize their belongings.

“We’re spring-cleaning,” Nembhard said.

Although Nembhard moved in just a few months ago, she said her house already feels like a family — the six members of her house woke up together at 10:30 a.m. to cook brunch.

CHUM is a “safe place” where all can be accepted, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race or interests, Paisner said.

Members also know how to have fun — along with the weekly Sunday potlucks, they have an annual “CHUMsgiving” dinner and have played a communitywide game of Assassins.

“Everyone is so bright, but at the same time they don’t lose sight that life isn’t linear, about going to college, get a job,” Paisner said. “Like some people think getting drunk is the opposite of going to school, but when we get drunk, we talk about school, things we learned.”

Once, the Crow’s Nest housemates tried to get into a strip club. Another night, they walked around an abandoned tuberculo-

with the 100-year program, said Emily Miller, policy and government affairs coordinator of the Chicago-based Better Government Association.

“Once you get a perk as a lawmaker, it’s hard to give it up,” Miller said.

But it may just require a change of mood in Annapolis to get the bill to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s desk, said Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-Carroll and Howard).

“Someday there will be enough members of our body who will say to themselves, ‘You know, it really

doesn’t look good,’” Kittleman said. “You would hope that people would start being tired of legislators spending their money — their tax dollars — in a matter that may not be in the best interests of their constituents.”

Because the state’s effort to change the program doesn’t eliminate scholarships — it instead shifts the responsibility to higher education officials — it will ensure they are more fairly distributed by keeping out legislators who may have a political stake in awarding grant money.

“The money’s the same, but politicians’ hands don’t touch it,” Brochin said. “I think that that’s a job better done by people in the higher education field.”

There are still many, such as Del. Doyle Niemann (D-Prince George’s), who are unwilling to part with their constituents’ scholarships. The potential for abuse gave impetus to this push to keep politics out of scholarship awards, but Niemann said he hasn’t seen or experienced the kind of problems legislators often cite in opposition.

Chum students sat down for a meal together in one of the cooperative living community’s six houses. The community aims to offer students a more affordable housing option through sharing the cost of rent, utilities, money for groceries and chores. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

Chum From PAGE 1 their own houses, Nembhard said.

CHUM tries to be a lowincome housing provider, said Richard Higgins, a junior biology and computer science major, but it has become difficult since the College Park City Council suspended rent stabilization in July.

Rents increased without the caps that kept the prices for single and double family homes low, but the demand for houses is so high that

program From PAGE 1 Although lawmakers have been working for decades to alter the program, reform efforts have been to no avail, as they have not garnered the support necessary to make their way through the legislature.

Illinois had a similar program that saw several failed attempts to eliminate it. Opponents of the program had to clear numerous hurdles before doing away

sis hospital in Ellicott City. They also go dumpster diving at Trader Joe’s in the middle of the night to search for prepackaged food the store has thrown away.

“We had this really good pie the other day — it was all-natural, berry pie,” Paisner said.

In a city where Nembhard said most residents are “antistudent,” CHUM members try hard to be good neighbors, said Mia Zavalij, a senior anthropology major.

The College Park City Council put rent stabilization on hold so it could try to address the friction between students and long-term residents, said Patrick Wojahn, District 1 councilman.

Cooperative houses, especially if the students own them, could help mitigate those tensions stemming from partying, vandalism and code violations, Wojahn said.

“I went to school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I think it really was a benefit to the community because the housing cooperatives built up a culture and brought the larger community in,” Wojahn said.

“When students are co-owners of property, they have more of a stake in the community.”

CHUM members love their organization, but several said they were frustrated with how few similar living opportunities

“This is sort of one of those unthinking efforts to have ‘good government’ without really looking at the reality of what’s done,” Niemann said.

Kittleman said scholarships can have an unfair influence in the political process, with sitting lawmakers holding onto votes as long as the scholarship dollars continue to flow to their constituents.

“It’s a legislative perk that gives an incumbent a tremendous advantage,” Kittleman said.

there are and how difficult it is to actually buy a house.

“At some schools in Michigan, 90 percent of housing is cooperatively owned,” said Billy Schultz, a senior business and government and politics major.

“Here … only a tenth of 1 percent can sit down to dinner every night [with their housemates].”

The school should delegate more of its funds to helping cooperatives start up, Schultz said, as rent rises and the university continues to support large-scale apartment complexes like the University View and The Varsity.

Ideally, if students could own their own houses, there would be no middleman landlords, who senior civil engineering major Jonathan Cohen said “leech” off students for their money.

In the Crow’s Nest on Sunday afternoon, housemates take a break from cleaning to lie in a heap on the floor, listen to music and joke with one another. On the wall, “CHUMLOVE” is painted next to an artistic purple octopus.

“Yeah, we’re a college hippie experiment,” Cohen said. “But there are co-ops all over the world, so we’re part of the movement to empower people and end exploitation … we build democracy into the way you own a house — collectively.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

CORRECTION

newsumdbk@gmail.com

Due to an editing error, Friday’s article “Facilities receiving more state funds than expected,” incorrectly stated several figures.

Facilities Management anticipates receiving $25.7 million from the state next year. The fiscal year 2013 capital budget projected the university would only see about $17.8 million.

The state expects to contribute a total of $65 million by fiscal year 2018.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 | NEWs | THE DIAMONDBACK

CANVAS From PAGE 1 Canvas is about half the cost of Blackboard, saving the university $350,000, DIT was able to reinvest the money into stationing the students around the campus to assist professors with the new software.

Additionally, DIT hired eight students from the Undergraduate Technology Apprenticeship Program and three graduate students specifically to provide Canvas support.

These students are responsible for answering questions, usually through email, and working one-

lamson From PAGE 1 of minutes,” she said. “I know sometimes [my mom] was in the room … but I don’t think she ever knew.”

Originally, Lamson didn’t think anything was wrong with her stepfather’s actions; he had been with her mom for as long as she could remember. He was her dad, Lamson said, and she did what she was told.

But when Lamson was 14, things began to change. One day, she invited her first boyfriend, Tom, over to play Dance Dance Revolution and her stepfather became infuriated — he ordered the boy home and Lamson to her room. “[He was] saying, ‘You’re only mine; you can’t like him that way; you’re only allowed to be with me,’” Lamson said. “That’s when I realized, ‘I don’t want to be with you; I want to be with him.’”

With her stepfather, “it was never a ‘we want to do this for each other’ kind of situation … it was always some sort of reward,” Lamson said.

Around the same time, Lamson’s school book club picked up the novel Speak, which is about a teenage girl who is raped. The

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on-one with faculty members to assist with Canvas.

“Students were hired more for their people skills than their technical prowess,” Deborah Mateik, a member of DIT’s academic support instructional design team, wrote in an email.

Most problems aren’t with the software itself, but rather stem from faculty members’ high expectations for the new system, said Marianne Varkiani, an undergraduate technology apprentice who has been working with DIT since last summer.

“They want it to be absolutely perfect and meet all their needs,” she said. “There’s no educational

platform that can do everything you want it to.”

The apprentices help provide faculty with a student perspective on Canvas, which is geared toward young people, Mateik said.

John Pease, sociology department associate chair, relies on his teaching assistants to help him with his Canvas needs.

“The younger generation grew up with this stuff,” he said. “I don’t even have a cell phone.”

Although Canvas’ modern format can be beneficial for students, it is not useful to the class if professors don’t know how to use it correctly, said Denae Johnson, sociology doctoral candidate and

one of Pease’s teaching assistants.

Professors need to be trained to use the technology properly, but many of them don’t have that kind of time, she said.

Even though it may be difficult at first, learning Canvas is not out of professors’ grasps, said Alex Mateik, an agriculture and natural resources college technology apprentice. He answers an average of three to four emails a day, usually from faculty asking how to message their students or make their files available on Canvas. “[Canvas] is very studentfriendly, but not faculty-friendly,” he said. “Most professors don’t

story strengthened Lamson, and she decided to divulge her situation for the first time — incidentally, to a friend who was also experiencing abuse.

“We were in book club and we looked at each other across the room and we just knew,” Lamson said. “After that, we talked every day. … We were both the first person that we told.”

Afterward, Lamson began talking to other friends and her school guidance counselor about her situation. Later that year, as her half-sister Jayne’s eighth birthday loomed closer — the age Lamson had been when the abuse began — she told her stepfather “no,” for both the first and last time.

“He was just like, ‘You don’t get to say no, Bailey,’ and I knew I couldn’t deal with it anymore,” Lamson said. “Then there was no more rationalization. I couldn’t say it was OK, or it would get better or it would stop, because I knew that it wouldn’t.”

The next day, Lamson went to the police. Her stepfather was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison, where he remains today. But the transition was hard on her family: her mother had to file for bankruptcy and her sister — who Lamson

calls her “hero” — was suddenly without her biological father.

“She’s never asked questions since then, and she’s never wanted anything to do with him, which is amazing,” Lamson said. “I know everyone says it’s weird to look up to someone who’s younger than you, but I know she’s so strong and she’s going to do so many good things.”

Jayne, now 13, said she was grateful to Lamson for preventing something similar from happening to her.

“It makes me feel really special that she cares about me that much,” Jayne said.

Though a prison sentence kept both sisters safe, Lamson was not done battling her demons — for a long time, she struggled with depression and terrifying flashbacks. But over the years, Lamson said she’s slowly moved past the abuse. She’s grown into a driven, optimistic young woman with big dreams for the future.

The secret to overcoming her past, she said, was opening up about her story.

“Every time I tell someone, I get a little bit closer [to accepting it],” Lamson said. “I used to not be able to tell my story without crying or my voice shaking or tearing up, but now it’s just kind of like, ‘This is

what it is; this is what happened.’”

After attending the University of Colorado for one semester, Lamson transferred to this university to pursue a degree in criminology and criminal justice. Last fall, she joined SARPP and began to tell her story in more formal settings, for instance, to student groups and at sexual abuse awareness events.

Only 5 percent of sexual assaults on college campuses are reported, according to the American Association of University Women, and of those, most are kept secret, so Lamson tells her story for those who can’t or won’t, she said. The most rewarding moments are when fellow victims reveal hearing Lamson’s story made them decide to tell someone about their own abuse.

“When I’ve given a presentation with her, even if she doesn’t share her full story but shares she’s a survivor of sexual abuse, I know people listen to her,” said Bernstein, a senior family science major said. “And [they] really begin to believe that it’s real. I think that’s the biggest impact she has when she shares her story — it makes it a really real issue.”

And even if a presentation doesn’t go well, Lamson’s “never willing to give up,” Bernstein added.

want to use all of the features. After I show them all the features, they think it’s cool. In the future, faculty will start to explore their options and change their style.”

The student technology apprentices have already been placed in the agriculture and natural resources college, the public health school, the public policy school, the business school, the languages, literatures and cultures school, the architecture, planning and preservation school and the psychology department.

DIT hopes to expand its student presence in the journalism college, education college and additional locations in the behavioral and

social sciences college.

Additionally, two new ELMS mobile apps have been released: Canvas for iOS and SpeedGrader for iPads. An app for Android should be released soon, Mateik said.

With continued support from DIT, faculty and students will become accustomed to the new system and begin to see its many benefits, Higgins said.

“It’s a different paradigm, he said. “We understand that change can be difficult. Overall, [people] will see the positives and see that it is as beneficial as Blackboard, if not more.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

“I do like to believe this happened to me because I am strong enough to handle it.”

BAILEY LAMSON

SARPP peer educator Lamson’s biological father, Harold Lamson, said he’s “as proud as [he] can be” of his daughter. He was first wary about the idea of Lamson sharing her experiences, but he has opened up to it based on what he’s seen his daughter do.

Lamson and other SARPP members want to change society’s “rape culture,” where objectifying and sexualizing women is accepted and even encouraged, Lamson said.

“We’re so in the college lifestyle thinking we have to go out on a Friday and a Saturday night and a man has to bring home a woman to be a real man,” she said.

“People might think they didn’t even rape someone. Or you can see someone walking upstairs in a party, like not realizing that person is blacked out. They’re not going to remember it; they’re not going to give consent.”

In the future, Lamson hopes to work in a nonprofit or women’s shelter, telling her story and working directly with victims of similar crimes. But she’s not wasting any time before gradu-

ation — Lamson is writing a book about her experiences and worked four jobs and an internship last semester.

“If she knows there’s something that she wants, she’s going to do what she can to get it,” said Lamson’s friend Taylor Douglas, a biology and Spanish major.

Although her life has been changed permanently, Lamson accepts her past has made her who she is today. After she graduates in May, she hopes she can help other victims find that same peace.

“I don’t wish that it never happened, because I do think it has positively changed me,” Lamson said. “One thing my mom used to say was ‘God let this happen to you because he knew you were strong enough to handle it.’ And I don’t believe in God, but I do like to believe this happened to me because I am strong enough to handle it. …

So I wouldn’t change it.

“I know that all of the pain was totally worth it, in how much I’ve been able to impact other people.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

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Opinion

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

EDITORIAL BOARD

YASMEEN ABUTALEB Editor in Chief

Mike King

Managing Editor

Owning up to a crisis T

Managing Editor

maria romas Opinion Editor

nadav karasov Opinion Editor

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

STAFF EDITORIAL

he issue of improving environmental sustainability on the campus has been on this university’s radar for years now, and officials have been making relatively consistent strides in the right direction. But a rise in university-related air travel may keep the university from making any real progress.

According to the Office of Sustainability’s most recent annual report, net greenhouse gas emissions increased more than 17 percent from 2010 to 2011.

Emissions from commercial air travel grew 20 percent from 2010 to 2011, totaling about 44,070 metric tons of carbon dioxide. And despite its convenience, air travel is one of the most egregious “carbon sins.” The average European emits 10 tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, one round-trip flight from New York to San Fransisco emits a warming effect equivalent of 2 to 3 tons of carbon dioxide per person.

In order to meet the next benchmark toward becoming carbon-neutral by 2050, university officials need to decrease greenhouse emissions by 25 percent by 2015.

While 2010 brought a 21.6 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the university’s 2005 baseline, officials will have to grapple with this new air travel to reach sustainability goals.

The Office of Sustainability’s Progress Report 2012 shows positive trends in

Tyler Weyant

areas such as recycling, composting and public transportation, but it is still unclear whether those gains will do enough to offset the environmental damages that accompany the university’s growing campus and global footprint.

Officials stress the increasing size of the campus contributes to increased energy consumption. Yet air travel

OUR VIEW

While the university has had mixed results when it comes to environmental sustainability, students can be instigators of change. seems to be the biggest hurdle in reducing carbon emissions, and the university continues to support programs and initiatives that simply require it.

Constructing new facilities also contributes to a greater carbon footprint — something unavoidable with university President Wallace Loh’s vision of an expanded, more globalized campus. The Sustainability Council has partnered with Facilities Management to create a work group called the Sustainable Buildings and Energy Sources Workgroup to figure out how to offset the increased emissions and address sustainability in new buildings. Univer-

sity officials have made some moves in the right direction, but they can’t do it alone.

This editorial board has endorsed Loh’s plans to both cultivate new developments like East Campus that will hopefully improve College Park, as well as expand international relations and programs. These factors are highly necessary if we want our university to progress gracefully into the future, but we understand these initiatives aren’t necessarily the most helpful on the sustainability front.

The solution: We all need to be actively working to conserve energy. It can be as simple as turning off the lights and unplugging any machines you’re not using in your dorm or apartment.

Recycle. Don’t use your car as much.

Separate your food correctly in the dining halls and Stamp Student Union.

These are all simple measures that don’t take more than 20 seconds — measures that, once extended to the thousands of students on this campus, can make a dent in making up for the increase in carbon emissions to improve this university.

The university still has its own part to play, and we expect it to work tirelessly to find the best solutions for its suspect sustainability record.

All the same, do your part: Work to help save energy so this university can continue to thrive.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

An unaverted threat Why the state must refreeze tuition to combat cuts in federal aid LAUREN NURSE If you’ve turned on a TV or glossed over a newspaper in the last few months, you’ve most likely heard of the fiscal cliff. This political buzzword for the dramatic spending cuts and tax increases citizens faced if Congress and President Obama failed to compromise on a national budgetary solution defines our current political era.

Americans anxiously watched in the weeks before the new year as House Speaker John Boehner and Obama sped toward the cliff, more resembling Thelma and Louise than political leaders.

After weeks of exhausting political squabble, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was finally thrown together, and this nation dodged an immediate financial choker. Students considering the effects of this legislation may leave thinking this recent resolution directly affects their parents more than themselves.

Many college students may not be taxpayers themselves, and if some are, they certainly aren’t making more than $450,000 a year working at the Maryland Book Exchange. So what does this fiscal cliff conundrum mean to us students?

The three-quarters of students at this university currently receiving financial aid will find a mixed bag of consequences, according to Mark Kantrowitz, financial aid expert and founder of financial aid help site FinAid. The bill extends some relevant tax breaks, such as the tuition and fees deduction, which allows students to claim school expenses and deduct thousands come tax time.

Most major spending cuts, or “sequesters,” were postponed for

another two months. This means students can anticipate upcoming cuts in federal student aid up to as much as 8.2 percent, Kantrowitz said. The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs predicts a $76 million slash in federal work study funds, which will only further the financial burden incurred by college students.

With cuts in federal financial aid, and tuition continuing to rise, college hopefuls are left with two choices: Defer their higher education dreams, or take out enormous loans. About two-thirds of undergraduate students graduating in 2007-2008 borrowed money to pay for college, up from 45 percent in 1992-93. We cannot allow the crushing burden of student debt to become the norm. More graduates are beginning their adult lives swimming in debt, and without a state solution to cuts in federal financial aid, this will continue to cripple the next generation of American workers. The U.S. claims to be the land of opportunity, but we cannot boast about our education system if students must ruin themselves financially to succeed.

Solving our nation’s debt crisis is a top policy priority for the new Obama administration, and with a debt so deep, we must expect widespread cuts from the federal government. To combat this, the state must recommit to the tuition freeze Gov. Martin O’Malley put in place from 2006 to 2010. During this time, the university continued to climb in the rankings, proving it can still accomplish great things under a tighter budget. As the flagship of higher education in this state, our university should serve as a model of enriching efficient higher education as our nation prepares to enter a new era of fiscal responsibility.

Lauren Nurse is a freshman government and politics major. She can be reached at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sincerity lacking

JAKE STEINER/the diamondback

Take pride in your great university ANAND GUPTA On the drive back to College Park from a visit to Western Massachusetts during winter break, a friend and I made a pit stop in Philadelphia to meet some mutual acquaintances.

By a genuine coincidence, we met a fellow Terp, a freshman, to whom we offered a ride.

Over the next two-odd hours, he sportingly conversed with us as we navigated our way back home. From what I took from our conversation, he was outgoing and bright. At the same time, it was obvious he was not very excited or happy to be at this university.

He had applied to an Ivy League school, been rejected and opted to attend his “safety” school. (Certainly he is neither the first nor the last to experience this disappointment.) Here, with the massive student body typical of a public research university, it seemed as if he felt lost.

I figure there are many students who share his mixed feelings for this school.

For them, I want to make the case of why this university is a fantastic place to be for college.

First, the bane of a massive student

body is also the boon of great opportunity. Not only can you gravitate toward like-minded people, you also have the opportunity to expose yourself to an eclectic group of friends. This can be tremendously beneficial in adding depth to your experiences at school.

While I have associated with likeminded people, I have also had the opportunity to associate with a wide array of people I would have otherwise never interacted with — people of different nationalities, faiths, races, interests, academic inclinations, career goals, family incomes, etc. As a direct consequence of this diverse exposure, I can say with confidence I am developing a more wholesome worldview.

Second, you cannot imagine how lucky you are to live so close to Washington. Here’s a tip: Google “DC Linktank.” This site catalogs most public events hosted in the district.

At a modest 25-30 minute Metro ride, you have the best of both worlds: a secluded college town environment as well as proximity to one of the world’s most powerful capitals. The access to knowledge, powerful people, think tank sessions and essentially firsthand information on how the world works at your disposal is unparalleled.

For example, let me share a sample of events happening today: “Turkey in

Obama’s Second Term,” “Asia-Pacific Forecast 2013” and even something as seemingly random as “Uranium Mining in Virginia: Fact Versus Fiction.” You get to see how policy is suggested, debated and formulated at a scale that truly determines the course of our world. And even if you are not a politics or news buff, this kind of information and potential networking opportunity you can build at these events can change the trajectory of your life.

Third, this is a fine university with a stellar academic reputation. If you’re not convinced, visit the school’s website to see a snapshot view of its diverse and impressive offerings.

On a less serious note, with more than 26,000 fellow undergraduates, do the permutations and combinations of the possibilities of sexual experimentation. I recently met with students from a small liberal arts college, where each class is composed of fewer than 500 people. While I don’t intend to discount the benefits of a such a close-knit group, these students seemed utterly frustrated, at least sexually. You, on the other hand, have a different fate. Make hay while the sun shines, my friends.

Anand Gupta is a junior environmental science and policy major. He can be reached at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

OPINION COLUMNIST WANTED Spring 2013 paid columnists positions are open. Applicants must be enrolled at the university.

Opinion columnists usually write once every two weeks. Exceptional writing ability is required. Knowledge of campus affairs is preferred, but not required. If you are interested in applying for the position, please contact Maria Romas and Nadav Karasov at opinionumdbk@gmail.com for more information and to request an application.

Financial Band-Aids

Pain-filled delays

The leaders of our nation seem to be neither responsible nor forward-thinking. They don’t stop to consider how massive debt could threaten government programs, hurt the economy or burden future generations, including our own.

Ezra Fishman’s column in yesterday’s Diamondback, “Debt (ceiling) on fire,” tries to excuse the debt by describing the terrible consequences that would ensue if we failed to meet our debt obligations. While some of what he writes is true, he neglects to address the problem at hand: overwhelming debt.

Continually raising the debt limit or proposing cuts to the rate of spending — rather than the amount — are measures likened to putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot victim.

Our country is the victim, and it needs surgery. It will be difficult and painful, but it has to get done.

Sixteen trillion dollars — that is our approximate debt obligation, and we are adding about $1 trillion a year. Democrats, Republicans and independents have piled on this debt and excess in times of war and peace alike.

Around the country, families are required to live on a fixed budget, so why can’t the government? I’m not saying we have to be completely free of debt, but our GDP is less than the debt. The issue isn’t about raising the debt limit; it’s about being a responsible nation.

It’s our generation that will pay for our parents’ and grandparents’ debt. We will be the ones with fewer government benefits and higher taxes. We have to stop the bleeding now, but a Band-Aid just won’t cut it.

Yesterday’s weather “emergency” over freezing rain may have been welcomed by some, but it made for a confusing commute for the students, faculty and staff who rely on Shuttle-UM to reach the campus.

The delay was clearly communicated at about 5:30 a.m. through the UMD Alerts system and Twitter, but I didn’t see a mention on the university’s official weather emergency page about the delayed opening until after 6:30 a.m., generating confusion about the official operational status of the university.

The Department of Transportation Services added even more confusion to the morning commute by announcing on NextBus shortly before 7 a.m. that the 104 shuttle from the College Park Metro Station would not start running until 9:44 a.m. This announcement was made after the 104’s first scheduled pickup from the College Park Metro station at 6:30 a.m. Only after arriving on the campus via the J4 Metrobus at around 8 a.m. did I learn that the 104 shuttle had started running limited service.

Since the College Park Metro station is tragically more than a mile from the campus entrance, many students, faculty and staff depend on the trustworthy 104 shuttle. On a day in which the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced no scheduled changes to Metrorail or Metrobus due to weather, it was disappointing to experience such difficulty planning the final leg of my commute to the campus.

I sincerely hope that both the university and DOTS do a better job of communicating their operational status during future delayed openings.

MATT DRAGONETTE FRESHMAN ACCOUNTING

LEE MENDELOWITZ DOCTORAL CANDIDATE APPLIED MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS AND SCIENTIFIC COMPUTATION

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.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features ACROSS 1 White-hat wearer 5 Mazatlan toast 10 Cracked 14 Sheik colleague 15 Common practice 16 Foot part 17 Old Dodge model 18 Avoid (3 wds.)

20 Couches 22 Union demands 23 Mythical little monster 25 Romantic evening 26 Shop class equivalent (2 wds.)

27 Jiffy 28 Wind catcher 32 Helm position 33 Pass, in Congress 35 Luncheon salad 36 Calgary Stampeder org.

37 Turkish honorific 38 Defective firework 39 Tip over 41 Parboil 43 Limerick locale 44 Baja Ms. 45 Codgers’ queries 46 Lousy 48 Start all over 50 Gentle touch 51 Auto import

54 Clout 55 Motel amenity (2 wds.)

57 After-tax amounts 61 Jai - 62 Dinner guest 63 Cropland measure 64 Plain on the moon 65 Vanquishes a dragon 66 Boor

CROSSWORD

29 Looks at the books 30 Toughens up 31 Full of cargo 34 Cheesy snack 40 Town in oaters

41 Plays the siren 42 Socks holders 43 Never-ending 47 Sourdough’s find 49 Mesozoic, for one 50 Island or rabbit

DOWN 1 Mgmt. biggie 2 Thoughtful murmur 3 Munich single 4 Airborne toy 5 Be enough 6 From Rangoon 7 Trails behind 8 “Yech!”

9 Not enhance 10 Most pale 11 Pleasures 12 Shampoo additive 13 TKO officials 19 Rested 21 Flamenco shout 23 Tee user 24 Brunch favorite 25 Colorful transfer 26 Mediocre writers 27 Epics

© 2013 United Features Syndicate

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

Today’s crossword sponsored by:

51 Yul’s film realm 52 Bruins’ campus 53 Grizzly 54 Bread for a gyro 56 Linden or Holbrook

58 Environmental prefix 59 Robert Morse role 60 Clique

B

HOROSCOPE STELLA WILDER

orn today, there is something rather exotic about you -- and it is not necessarily in your appearance. Others are fascinated by you and by the way you behave, but it’s really just the kinds of “vibes” you put off that has others coming into your orbit and milling about you. You know how to make any day special, and you can often do it without really trying. Of course, this has more to do with the perceptions of those around you than with any real “magic” you are able to perform -- though there are times when those who know you well would swear you can, indeed, do magic.

You are not the kind to fade into the background, but neither are you one to seek the spotlight actively or often. You cherish your privacy, but your kind of magnetism cannot be turned on and off at will -- so you’d better get used to having attention more often than not!

Also born on this date are: Heather Graham, actress; Greg Louganis, Olympic diver; Oprah Winfrey, talk-show host and producer; Ann Jillian, actress; Tom Selleck, actor; Katharine Ross, actress; John Forsythe, actor; Victor Mature, actor; W.C. Fields, actor and comedian; William McKinley, U.S. president.

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.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You can complete an important phase of your current development,

COLLEGE INTUITION RICHIE BATES ROGER DOES COLLEGE

but others may not fully appreciate just how much you’ve accomplished.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -There’s more to keeping score today than merely tallying the points; you must be willing to look beneath the surface!

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You’re getting close to finishing something you started quite some time ago. Many may think you’ve given up, but you have a surprise in store!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ll understand why there is more to be done than meets the eye today. Get the help of someone who has been your tutor in the past.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You’ll have to pay attention to a great many things at once today; be sure your proverbial peripheral vision is working at peak effectiveness.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- An aggressive, head-on approach is recommended today -- but there will be times in which a more sensitive negotiation is required.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- What was effective yesterday may not

work out the best for you today; think about what others are doing, and why, and a lesson will be learned.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Your notion of perfection is quite different from that of someone close to you -- but you can come to some kind of agreement by day’s end.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Even the simplest plan can go awry today if you are not ready to implement it in a way that makes sense to those working with you. Communicate!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You’re likely to get some news through the grapevine today that affects you and your immediate future directly. Go right to the source!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may enjoy the rare opportunity to redo something that you didn’t do right the first time. Don’t squander this second chance!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -You may expect someone to come to your defense today, but the truth is that you will have to deal with this certain situation on your own.

COPYRIGHT 2013 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

Today’s HOROSCOPE sponsored by:

Max Siskind

su | do | ku © Puzzles by Pappocom

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

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:

MEDIUM

Today’s SUDOKU PUZZLE sponsored by:

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Diversions

ALL THE CRAP YOU CARE ABOUT

EVERYONE (OTHER THAN THE ACADEMY) LOVES ARGO

Oscar season seemed likely to be a long prelude to Lincoln’s coronation, but Argo reasserted its prominence after the Oscars snubbed director Ben Affleck (of Gigli fame) with big wins at the Screen Actor’s and Producer’s Guild awards this week, adding just a hint of drama to the long slog to Lincoln’s inevitable win.

ESSAY | COACHELLA 2013 LINEUP

california crowds confused Coachella’s release of its lineup for this year’s festival surprised some fans with its electronic dance music and alleged lack of big names

By Matt Beinart For The Diamondback With festival powerhouse Coachella releasing its latest lineup last week, it became that time of year again — time for all incessant music fans to start foaming at the mouth with anticipation, anxiously awaiting

each lineup announcement.

While the everyday music enthusiast may not have the means to trek out to Indio, Calif., or Manchester, Tenn., (home to festival stalwart Bonnaroo) and spend a fortune acquiring a ticket, the constant obsession with the steady stream of lineup releases has been a testament to the

clout each of these music meccas seems to hold.

Curating the perfect lineup is a craft each of the big three festivals — Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza — has worked to hone over their impressive runs. However, the rather lukewarm reaction to Coachella’s latest lineup begs the question

the coachella valley music and arts festival, held annually in Indio, Calif., is one of the nation’s premiere music festivals, but organizers disappointed many fans when the lineup failed to include any of several rumored performers, raising questions about what responsibilities festivals have to fans when booking acts. photo courtesy of altsounds.com

of whether or not these festivals’ creators and administrations owe their loyal customers adherence to a certain template when compiling artists each year.

Coachella’s impressive string of past lineups has showcased a wide variety of the best acts in contemporary alternative music and hiphop. It also incorporates a handful of veteran acts that often come out of the woodwork — Pulp, My Bloody Valentine, Mazzy Star — to perform for crowds of more than 50,000.

When you build up such a reputation, it becomes difficult to resist the demands of the masses and feel an almost obligatory impulse to book acts that satisfy every fan.

T he rumors leading up to the release of the Coachella lineup for this year named acts such as Daft Punk, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie as possible performers. When all was said and done, none of these acts came through, leaving some fans feeling a little underwhelmed.

The lineup this year is certainly not lacking in talent. Saturday headliner Phoenix is set to release a new album later this year. Wily veteran Nick Cave will bring both the Bad Seeds and Grinderman to the festival, promising some slick post-punk vibes.

But that’s not the point. While Bonnaroo can rely on rootsy, jam bands in conjunction with proven veteran acts — a la My Morning Jacket and Phish — each year to

satisfy their fans, and Lollapalooza’s sheer volume of bands is enough to quell any hungry music consumer, Coachella needs to pull out surprises in order to keep its place in the pantheon of music extravaganzas. Lining up The Stone Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to open and close each of the festival’s two weekends is certainly not a boring move, but there isn’t the same level of panache fans of the festival have come to expect. The Stone Roses haven’t been relevant in nearly 20 years. An act like My Bloody Valentine could have truly captured the attention of music fans who are still chomping at the bit for new material from the veteran dream poppers.

It’s true that calling each year for the obligatory rock group to reunite and play the festival or needing the likes of Kanye West or Jay-Z to step in and hold down the crowd each Saturday night may be succumbing to some sort of formulaic monotony.

But Coachella has made a misstep this year with the opportunity to capitalize on the insatiable taste of the modern music fan.

The festival should still be a great way to check out acts from all walks of life while getting your annual California desert on. But it would have been otherworldly to see Daft Punk bring out that massive LED pyramid one last time. diversionsdbk@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

TWEET OF THE DAY Brenda Frese @BrendaFrese Terps women’s basketball coach

“Thanks for all the nice words yesterday. I am so humbled & blessed to be the coach here & to be able to work with so many amazing people!”

Sports

STARTING (ALMOST) ON TOP

The Terrapins men’s lacrosse team will begin its season ranked No. 2 in the nation. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

Page 8

ON THE BLOG

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

MEN’S BASKETBALL

‘Fat kid’ no more

Slimmed-down Mitchell showing rebounding prowess, offensive improvement inside

By Connor Letourneau Senior staff writer

Forward Charles Mitchell is averaging 6.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 16.5 minutes in his freshman year.

He had a team-high-tying 13 points and seven rebounds in a loss at Duke on Saturday. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

Charles Mitchell admits he used to be a fat kid. The Terrapins men’s basketball forward grew up adoring fried chicken and pepperoni pizza, feasting on the greasy foods whenever he got the opportunity.

But it didn’t take Mitchell long to realize there’s little room for grease in ACC basketball. Soon after arriving in College Park last summer, the freshman traded in the Domino’s for fresh-made salads. He dropped 18 pounds from his 6-foot-8, 260-pound frame and started making plays in practice his previously doughy physique rendered impossible.

The new-look Mitchell went to work Saturday during an 84-64 Terps loss at then-No. 1 Duke. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass.

The Marietta, Ga., native shot 5-of-8 from the field and netted two straight free throws early in the second half as the Cameron Crazies berated him with chants of, “Please don’t eat me!”

Yet Mitchell devoured the offensive boards all afternoon. He used his hulking size to create space down low, nabbing Terps misses for several easy putbacks in the first half. Mitchell had eight points in less than four minutes of play by halftime, and he was the key

reason the Terps had hauled in nearly 60 percent of their misfires.

“Charles gave us a big lift on the boards that helped,” coach Mark Turgeon said shortly after the Terps notched their fourth defeat in six games. “[Duke’s] defense gave us fits, but it also allowed us to drive the ball and do some things.”

Less than halfway through his first conference slate, Mitchell has already emerged as one of the ACC’s most efficient rebounders. He ranks in the top 20 league-wide with 6.2 rebounds per game despite averaging just 16.5 minutes.

“Offensively, he was really good,” Turgeon said. “But he was equally not as good on the defensive end.”

Sloppy play on defensive reads marred an otherwise noteworthy night for Mitchell. Though he finished tied for the team-high in points, Turgeon felt uncomfortable with his play on the other side of the ball and limited him to just 13 minutes on the day.

After the game, Mitchell expressed particular disappointment with his ball-screen defense. He said he failed to rotate at the end of screens, allowing Blue Devils guards wide-open shots around the perimeter. Those lapses helped Duke shoot 52.4 percent from the field and finish 11-of-22 from beyond the arc.

But as for his offensive outburst?

Mitchell shrugged off the suggestion that he showed marked improvement

Saturday. Sure, he may have showed off a few new low-post moves against Duke. But nothing was drastically different, he said. He still created opportunities off offensive rebounds, and he still didn’t wander farther than a few feet away from the basket.

“It’s just the rebounding and tipbacks,” he said. “It’s getting a little better as it’s progressed during the season.”

Mitchell, who is averaging 6.1 points per game on 55.7 percent shooting this season, has proven critical in hostile road environments in recent weeks.

When the Terps slogged their way through a turnover-prone first half at North Carolina earlier this month, Mitchell was one of Turgeon’s only players who seemed unfazed. He finished with nine points, 11 rebounds and just one giveaway against the Tar Heels.

“Charles is not scared of any environment,” Turgeon said. “He just goes in and plays.”

Not bad for a 19-year-old who concedes he wouldn’t have lasted more than eight minutes in a college game a year ago. And that’s not because defensive miscues would’ve necessitated bench time. No, he just wouldn’t have been able to run up and down the court.

“It’s like I’m a totally different player,” Mitchell said in November. “It’s crazy.” sportsdbk@gmail.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

After slow start to January, Rutan provides boost in consecutive wins Guard scores 10, 16 points in wins over North Carolina, Clemson

By Daniel Gallen Senior staff writer Katie Rutan’s appearance on the court in January stood out thanks to a clear mask protecting her broken nose. In the past week, though, the Terrapins women’s basketball guard has stood out more for her contributions in a pair of wins.

In a season in which she’s shuffled between the starting lineup and the bench because of injuries and changes, Rutan has finally emerged in conference play. She scored 10 points against No. 11 North Carolina on Thursday and 16 points at Clemson on Sunday, marking the first time in a month she had posted back-to-back doublefigure scoring totals.

“She came ready to play,” coach Brenda Frese said after Sunday’s 80-40 win over the Tigers. “[She] just had to get more experience and get comfortable and confident. I thought her teammates did a really good job finding her in the zone.”

Rutan shot 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to tie her season-high in points, adding four rebounds and two assists in her most efficient performance of the season. As a team, the No.

10 Terps notched one of their best all-around games of the season, too, putting five players in double figures and shooting a season-high 58.9 percent.

“We all have our roles and my role is to get double-teams off of Tianna [Hawkins], off of Alicia [DeVaughn], off of Alyssa [Thomas],” Rutan said Sunday.

“Today, I was really able to do that and clear it up for them.”

While Rutan was mostly seen as a top sharpshooting option off the bench after transferring to College Park from Xavier before sitting out last season, it has been her all-around play that’s caused Frese to take notice.

Playing against the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Jan. 3, Rutan took an elbow to the face, got called for a foul and suffered a broken nose. She returned and had two chances to tie the game late, but couldn’t connect as the Terps fell, 60-57.

In the subsequent rematch three weeks later — an 85-59 win for the Terps — Rutan scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished six assists

in a career-high 39 minutes.

While she shot just 1-of-4 from distance, Rutan was still a pest for the Tar Heels’ defense.

Twice in a span of just more than a minute halfway through the second half, Rutan slipped her Tar Heels defender to augment a rapidly expanding Terps lead. First, Rutan was all alone in the paint while Hawkins backed down her defender. Rutan got Hawkins’ attention for a pass and an easy layup. Moments later, Rutan cleaned up a Hawkins miss inside with an uncontested layup and put-back.

“Toughness, heart, gritty,”

F rese said afterward. “[She] broke her nose the first time against Carolina, and you’re going to come in and play that type of game tonight for us.

Whatever this team needs.”

R u ta n sa i d S u n d ay s h e expects to get out of the protective face mask “soon.” In the meantime, it didn’t change her playing style, and her contributions to the team remain.

“She’s selfless,” Frese said. “[She] takes the most charges, does the dirty work that doesn’t always show up on a stat sheet, but means so much to this team.” sportsdbk@gmail.com

Guard Katie Rutan hit 4-of-6 threes en route to scoring 16 points in a win at Clemson on Sunday.

She also scored 10 points in a win over North Carolina on Thursday. charlie deboyace/the diamondback