January 29, 2014

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

W E D N E S DAY, J A N UA R Y 2 9 , 2 01 4 STATE OF THE UNION

Obama’s ‘opportunity’ focus includes higher ed

By Jim Bach @thedbk Senior staff writer

his long-standing goal to increase the number of college graduates to about 60 percent by 2020 and setting the tone for a speech that touted his record on college affordability.

Marketing professor Hank Boyd said Obama’s message for graduates involves shoring up the job outlook.

“If you play by the rules and you go on to school and now you’re ready to get out into this job market, let’s have some opportunity,” Boyd said.

“If we can get more jobs out there … then everybody wins.”

A recurring theme in President Obama’s State of the Union address last night was “opportunity,” and he gave several nods to higher education in framing that message.

Obama opened his speech with a story about a teacher spending extra time “to lift America’s graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades,” alluding to

This record includes a rapid growth in Pell grants, a federal program aimed at helping low-income students enroll in higher education, with the number of Pell grant recipients increasing from 6.2 million in 2008-09 to 9.4 million in 2011-12, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Additionally, Obama increased the maximum Pell grant award to $5,550 from the $4,731 limit that stood before he entered office.

Also under his watch, the federal

government absorbed more than 90 percent of the market share for student loans as the private lender field shrank. “ We worke d w it h le nd e rs to reform student loans, and today, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before,” Obama said in his speech.

However, the continuing rise in college tuition largely has reduced the pricing power of the Pell grant, See OBAMA, Page 2

president obama, seen on the campus in July 2011, gave the State of the Union last night. file photo/the diamondback

Council: City-univ relationship top priority Members: Quality of life dictated by resident ties

By Ellie Silverman @esilverman11 Staff writer

college park businesses such as R.J. Bentley’s (bottom left) saw boosted sales for nonstudents in the city’s second restaurant week, while Bagel Place (top right) saw few changes to the norm. sung-min kim/the diamondback

A WEEK TO WARM UP While winter break slows business, second restaurant week helps increase sales

By Eleanor Mueller @thedbk Staff writer

the city’s second effort by local business owners and officials to increase resident interest in local dining. Along Route 1 and in other Last week, College Park Res- parts of the city, 17 restaurants, taurant Week fi lled more than just including Slices Pizza Co. and Fishnet, participated by offering stomachs.

This restaurant week marked various reduced-price specials.

The city held its inaugural restaurant week in August.

“This is a good thing for the businesses,” said District 1 Councilman Fazlul Kabir. “We are trying to revitalize the commercial districts to bring more customers and traffic to these stores and businesses.”

R.J. Bentley’s manager Patrick Ahern said this month’s restaurant week boosted sales, thanks to an increase in advertisements and a larger turnout from residents and students. Bentley’s offered three

Furthering a relationship between this university and the city remains a top goal this year for city officials and university liaisons.

Increased ties between residents and students could help improve the quality of life for both parties, said Prince George’s County Police District 1 Cmdr. Daniel Weishaar, who gave opening remarks at last night’s City Council meeting.

“We’ve got top quality officers assigned here to District 1, and we have a great relationship with the community here,” Weishaar said. “We will strive to make that relationship stronger and make College Park a safe place.”

Weishaar previously served as See COUNCIL, Page 3

See week, Page 3

Cole to host hackathon in university first

Montgomery minority graduation rates targeted in plan

36-hour April Bitcamp expects high attendance

County schools partner with university system

By Joe Antoshak @Mantoshak Senior staff writer

By Talia Richman @talirichman Staff writer In Montgomery County, the high school graduation rates for black and Hispanic students increased in 2013 by 1.6 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively, according to The Washington Post.

The Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success program, now in the middle of its first year, was created to ensure that the graduation rates for these minority students continue to rise — and that once these

brit kirwan (center), chancellor of the University System of Maryland, speaks at an event in 2011. System universities are joining with Montgomery County schools to increase graduation rates. file photo/the diamondback students graduate high school, they ditional support to students typically underrepresented in colleges get a degree.

“The premise is to provide ad- and make sure they successfully

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complete high school and have a seamless transition to college,” said Gboyinde Onijala, a spokeswoman for Montgomery County Public Schools. “First at Montgomery College, then at one of The Universities at Shady Grove.”

Through ACES, black, Hispanic, low-income and fi rst-generation students between eighth and ninth grade are identified by school officials and assigned academic coaches from Montgomery College in 11th grade, Onijala said. From there, they are guided through an associate’s degree and eventually, a bachelor’s degree.

In a little more than two months, about 1,000 people will flock to Cole Field House, but the occasion won’t have anything to do with basketball.

From April 4 to 6, this university’s first-ever Major League Hackingsanctioned hackathon will take place in the form of a 36-hour marathon competition called Bitcamp.

Event director Shariq Hashme said he expects anywhere from 750 to 1,250 participants from more than 100 universities, with several hundreds

See ACES, Page 3

See BITCAMP, Page 3

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THE DIAMONDBACK | news | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Officials, students evaluate gender-neutral pilot program Gender-neutral, mixed-gender housing pilot programs set to expand for fall 2014 after successful semester

By Sarah Dean @thedbk Staff writer College students tend to try new things, but last semester, so did the university. A genderneutral housing pilot program began, and for sophomore government and politics major Cory Maks, it sounded like the perfect opportunity.“I’m more comfortable living with a female, so for me, it worked out,” Maks said.

The housing program, which allows students to room together regardless of gender in traditional double rooms, just completed its inaugural semester, and the program’s 14 participants and Department of Resident Life officials are calling it a success. A

OBAMA From PAGE 1 with it covering less than one-third the cost of college, according to the Institute for College Access and Success. In the 1980s, the maximum Pell grants covered about half the cost of tuition at public fouryear colleges.

Also, changes to the program in 2012 lowered the maximum number of semesters Pell grant applicants could apply for the program from 18 to 12 and lowered the income level at which families can claim the maximum grant award from $32,000 to $23,000, highlighting the ever-present barriers to college affordability.

“Too many young people entering the workforce today will see the American dream as an empty promise — unless we also do more to make sure our

Like the

parallel mixed-gender housing pilot program, in which male and female double rooms are interspersed throughout a floor instead of being separated into wings, also celebrated the first-semester milestone — one that Erin Iverson,Resident Life’s assignments and public inquirymanager,saidwillleadtoan expansion in the fall 2014.

Maks said his female roommate’s gender hasn’t impacted their relationship. Living with her is just like living with any other roommate, he said.

“None of our disagreements over which Windex to use would have anything to do with because I’m a male and she is female,” Maks said.

Iverson said both programs were introduced to give more

diversity to the university’s on-campus housing options, particularly for students in the LGBT community. The initial conversations about crafting such programs stemmed from an open forum in which LGBT students were asked to share their thoughts about inclusivity in campus dorms, she said.

“With our options for providing safe and comfortable housing options for students that identify in the LGBT community, we were sort of underserving that group,” Iverson said. “We started asking ourselves, ‘What could we do, not only to serve the needs of LGBT students, but also increase the options for all of our students?’”

Resident Life Director Deb

economy honors the dignity of work, and hard work pays off for every single American,” Obama said.

Obama also made sure to mention an issue that has been perpetually stalling in Congress: the “broken immigration system.”

“When people come here to fulfill their dreams — to study, invent, contribute to our culture — they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everybody,” Obama said. “So let’s get immigration reform done this year.”

An integral part of Obama’s immigration agenda includes a path to citizenship, known as the DREAM Act, for undocumented students who came to the country at a young age, if they meet certain requirements. While this state passed a bill in 2011 — upheld by referendum in the 2012 election — that would extend in-state tuition

rates to these students, action at the federal level has been slow.

In 2010, the measure passed in the House, then controlled by the Democrats, but the Senate couldn’t secure a supermajority to override a filibuster, killing the Obama-endorsed immigration bill.

Obama also pushed for an increase in minimum wage.

Working off last year’s pledge to increase the national wage floor from $7.25 an hour to $9, he upped the ante this year by supporting a joint bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and by signing an executive order earlier in the day for higher federal service contractor wages. He called on Congress to “give America a raise,” in his speech.

“The message he’s trying to send is to say, ‘Look, Congress, you need to start acting.

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Grandner then set up a committee for a proposal for genderinclusive housing, which was led

by Amy Martin, the associate director of Resident Life.

“This was a fantastic group of professionals who diligently worked to develop a plan that would bring the widest variety of options to our students,” said LGBT Equity Center Director Luke Jensen. “I am very pleased with the multiyear plan that was proposed.”

The gender-neutral program is more difficult to expand, said Iverson, as the double rooms with a required private bathroom are rare real estate in the existing dorms. Students interested in living in a gender-inclusive dorm room must contact Iverson directly and work with her to find a place. This process is because of the limited amount of doubles with private bathrooms. When Prince Frederick Hall opens in the fall, however, it will include gender-neutral housing options.

As for the mixed-gender housing program, Iverson said the committee hopes to see at

least one mixed-gender floor in every high-rise dorm on North Campus by next fall.

This option is available on one floor of each building in the Cambridge Community, as well as on the third floors of Carroll and Caroline Halls. About 362 students live on mixed-gender floors, including returning students who chose it through room selection and freshmen who indicated their interest on their housing agreements.

“The nice thing about expanding into every building on North Campus is that makes sure that for our students who might be in a living-learning program, they’re able to be in their living-learning program while still having access to the mixed-gender option,” Iverson said.

It is also now possible for returning students to live in mixed-gender apartments and suites in the dorms on and off the campus. South Campus Commons and Courtyards have offered the option of mixedgender apartments for several years, but Resident Life realized

that access to this option was limited for freshmen and sophomores, Iverson said.

Freshman communication major Kayla Tarrant lives on a mixed-gender floor in Cumberland Hall and said she would recommend it to other students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

“Gender-neutral housing is not all about sexuality,” she said.

Iverson said she is pleased with the success of the program thus far, with 97 percent of students reporting they would recommend mixed-gender and gender-inclusive housing to others. About two-thirds of students involved also told officials they now have a better sense of belonging on the campus with these options, she said.

“They should publicize it more as an option because people who are transgender would be more inclined to do something like this,” Maks said. “But for us, it worked out just because I wanted to room with Morgan.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

PRESIDENTIAL PROMISES: 2014 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS “AMERICA DOES NOT STAND STILL — AND NEITHER WILL I. SO WHEREVER AND WHENEVER I CAN TAKE STEPS WITHOUT LEGISLATION TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE AMERICAN FAMILIES, THAT’S WHAT I’M GOING TO DO.” Minimum Wage — Obama urged Congress to raise minimum wage to $10.10.

Higher Education — The president pledged to continue the momentum of previous efforts to increase low-income student access and college affordability.

Unemployment — Plans include pushing for growth in the domestic clean energy industry and working to close tax loopholes that lead companies to outsource jobs.

Immigration — Obama called for congressional support to strengthen border security while reforming the path to legal citizenship.

happen,’” Boyd said.

This year will also mark the end of America’s combat mission in Afghanistan, a war that began in 2001 under former President George W. Bush in response to the 9/11 attacks.

What began as an effort to oust the Taliban regime, which provided a safe haven for the alQaida extremists who planned

the attacks, morphed into a full-on counterinsurgency campaign under Obama, with a subsequent expansion of drone operations in the tribal regions of Pakistan where the Taliban and other extremists took refuge after the initial invasion.

The winding-down of the combat mission will be the second overseas American mil-

itary commitment that Obama will see come to an end, after the 2011 drawdown of combat troops in Iraq.

“Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year, and America’s longest war will finally be over,” Obama said. jbachdbk@gmail.com

WEDNESDAy, january 29, 2014 | news | the diamondback

3

Terrapins on ice

bitcamp From PAGE 1

james levin/the diamondback

Despite the below-freezing temperatures, some students took advantage of the weather to ice skate on the frozen fountain on McKeldin Mall yesterday. Jordan Tessler, a senior geography major who runs TerpWeather, said temperatures peaked in the afternoon at about 19 degrees, which was 23 degrees below the average high at College Park Airport.

ACES From PAGE 1 The program is a threeway collaboration between Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College and the nine universities — including this university — affiliated with the Universities at Shady Grove.

“Each one of the partners plays a significant role in each stage of the process,” said Brit Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

Because this is the ACES program’s inaug ural year and there are no graduates yet, the participating students are interacting mostly with Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College. Program officials are providing students with personal electronic portfolios and an individualized four-year college preparation schedule, with summer programs that include college visits, speakers, workshops and classes aimed at college readiness.

“The first year was really focused on developing rela-

tionships between the staff, the students and the parents,” said Karen Callender, ACES director at Montgomery College.

“We’ve been working with students on things like preparing for placement exams and helping them understand the college application process, such as how to write a college essay and a scholarship essay — everything that is relevant for preparing and applying to college.”

W hat sets the ACES program apart from other precollege programs, Kirwan said, is that the college preparation begins earlier in a student’s high school career.

“The identification of a cohort while they’re still in high school makes me feel that this program will have much greater success than any of the other things that are being tried today,” Kirwan said.

There are 990 ACES students in 10 participating high schools, Callender said. But officials intend to expand it into a statewide program including 4,000 students in the next few years, Kirwan said.

“I’ve been talking to the

presidents of our institutions, community college presidents, superintendents in other counties and everybody feels very excited about this program and wants to join in on it,” he said. “We have a chance to become a national model in developing a very meaningful program that can provide opportunities for tens of thousands of low-income students across Maryland.”

Of about 550 seniors in ACES, Callender said, the p ro g ra m a n t i c i p a t e s 6 0 percent will attend Montgomery College and 40 percent will go on to a Universities at Shady Grove institution.

Although ACES students are allowed to attend schools o u t s i d e o f M o n t go m e r y College and the Universities at Shady Grove, Callender said the location, price and added benefit of having an academic adviser who is familiar with the student make those schools attractive choices.

“I n a nutshel l, t here’s someone who cares about you, who cares if you have all your books, who cares if you get to class on time,” she said.

K i r wa n sa id he t h i n k s many of these students will be headed toward this university.

“College Park will be a very attractive campus for many of these students,” he said. “It offers the largest number of programs within the Universities at Shady Grove.”

While ACES is not a schola rsh ip prog ra m, the collaborating organizations are raising funds from private and corporate donors with the goal of every ACES student receiving some sort of fi nancial aid, Onijala said.

Ensuring that these lowincome students are shown a pathway to a college degree is the social equity issue of our time, Kirwan said.

“H ig her educat ion h a s become the gatekeeper for a good ca reer a nd a h ig h quality life,” he said. “We have a special responsibility to reach out to low-income kids because education is the road map out of poverty. We are risking the American dream if we continue to not serve low-income students better.” trichmandbk@gmail.com

council From PAGE 1 Prince George’s County Police District 1 Captain, District 1 Assistant Commander and Commander of District 6, which covers Beltsville. He replaced Robert Brewer, who was the District 1 Commander for the last two years.

“This is the fourth time I’ve been assigned here to District 1, so it’s like coming home,” he said. “I started my career here, and now I’m back here as commander.”

Junior journalism major Jatara McGee, who addressed the council as the reigning Miss College Park, said it’s also important to build connections with local children and families.

“I love being able to be an ambassador on campus as well as for the city,” McGee said.

“It’s a very unique and special experience to be able to represent the two simultaneously.”

A s M i s s Col l e ge Pa rk , McGee has participated in Col lege Pa rk P r i ncess, a program through the Miss Col lege Pa rk Schola rsh ip pageant for girls ages 5 to 12, McGee said. They’ve held tea parties, holiday events and other outings to provide a positive environment as the girls mature while enabling them to enjoy being kids, she said.

“These young ladies are taught that they are not only princesses when they hold their crowns but every day of their lives, and that is a lifechanging lesson,” McGee said.

T he $2,200 scholarship

of those participants hailing from this university.

He said that even without ex tensive ma rketi ng, 300 hackers representing about 50 universities have registered so far — numbers that have Hashme feeling re l a x e d i n t h e m o n t h s before the event.

“It’s pretty interesting, but right now I don’t feel a lot of stress,” said Hashme, a junior computer engineering and computer science major. “Everything seems to be on track.”

Bitcamp has not received any university funding, so Hashme and his event planning team had to fi nd sponsors to make the hackathon possible.

On top of offering travel reimbursements to the visiting hackers, the organizers realized they needed to provide food, security and an updated Internet infrastructure for the event, among other expenses, Hashme said.

S o f a r, e v e r y t h i n g ’s going according to plan, Hashme said.

Brent Bovenzi, Bitcamp facilities director, said cooperation from the university has been tremendous.

The university has voiced support for the event, he said, and allowed organizers to use the historic field house at no cost.

“That’s probably been the most pleasant surprise: the support from the university,” said Bovenzi, a junior electrical engineering and government and politics major.

T he idea for Bitca mp cropped up i n October, Bovenzi said, at the tail end of what he said was an unexpected freshman campaign for the Terrapin Hackers.

T he u n iversity hack i ng club was crowned 2013 MLH champions that month.

“A f ter w i n n i ng a few prizes a nd ta l ki ng w ith some of the people involved in MLH, there came this expectation that Maryland would eventually host a hackathon,” Bovenzi said.

Bitcamp will join the field of several other sizable student-run hackathons, such as MHacks at the University of Michigan and PennApps at the University of Pennsylvania, both of which housed at least 1,000 hackers in their most recent competitions.

This university’s hackathon is the latest development in a growing trend of

week

COLLEGE PARK city council members (above) say the city and university must continue to improve relationships with residents and students. Miss College Park winner Jatara McGee (right) talks about her volunteer experience with local children. james levin/the diamondback that comes with winning the pageant has allowed McGee to explore her interests without feeling the weight of a fi nancial burden.

“T h is schola rsh ip gave me the opportunity to be a Terp and all that comes with it, instead of being overwhelmed,” she said. “I truly understand the value of scholarship and am forever grateful to all of those who invested in the College Park Pageant and in turn invested in my dream.”

Following McGee’s presentation, city council members discussed how they could help develop more community and university partnerships.

District 3 Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich said she supports a partnership b etween t he two pa r t ies toward downtown redevelopment and revitalization.

“There is a lot of potential to transform and revitalize our downtown in a way that

is consistent with the Route 1 center plan, but also bring some higher-quality development and retail and restaurant options to our downtown as well as potentially housing for our staff and professionals,” Stullich said.

This concept plan specifically calls for redevelopment between College Avenue and Guilford Road, which District 1 Councilman Patrick Wojahn said has the potential to affect the area greatly.

“I’m really excited about the concept we are putting in place here,” Wojahn said. “It’s very likely that in five to 10 years College Park will be a very different city.”

During the Neighborhood Stabilization and Quality of Life Workgroup session, council members discussed several issues presented by the work group and possible strateg ies to mend them.

They mentioned progress on

initiatives such as encouraging community development, add i ng opportu n ities for staff and graduate housing, improving safety and security and discussing the possible expansion of oncampus tailgates.

“In the area of communitybuilding, changing culture takes time and effort,” said Carlo Colella, Facilities Management Assistant Vice President at this university. “We’re really pleased with the progress we’ve made together.” esilvermandbk@gmail.com

Bitcamp, this university’s first Major League Hacking-sanctioned hackathon, will be in Cole Field House. illustration courtesy of bitcamp larger hacking events, said MLH Commissioner Mike Swift.

“This is kind of the start of the mega-hackathon,” he said.

“In the past year, we’ve essentially doubled our number of participants.”

Though the event at this university will be classified as a Division I college hackathon — a top MLH ranking given to events Swift said he can assure are quality — the university’s student organizers have made efforts to separate it from the pack by specifically targeting new hackers.

“One big thing that we really want to emphasize with the hackathon is that we want a lot of people who are new and not really too well versed in all this stuff to come out and use it as a chance to learn,” Bovenzi said. “Been meaning to learn to code? Go to a hackathon.”

Hashme said Bitcamp also looks to fl ip the script on the judging process. While there likely will be 12 judges to evaluate the projects, he said the way they plan to give out prizes is still not set in stone.

“We may not even have first, second and third places,” Hashme said. “We might just have category prizes. And we had some ideas for mini competitions, like giving teams a few rolls of duct tape with 30 minutes to make whatever they want.”

T h is sem icompetitive but primarily educational environment is typical of something Swift defined as “hacker culture.” The competition is just a tool used to help spread a passion for hacking, he said. “ H a c k i n g ’s n o t a b o u t winning and losing,” Swift said. “If you go to a hackathon and lose, you’re not a bad hacker, just like if you go to a hackathon and win, you’re not necessarily a great hacker.

“You don’t change your life by competing in a sport — you can change your life by participating on a team and working toward something. That’s the value of a hackathon.” jantoshakdbk@gmail.com

were not aware of the event or because it was held the week before the spring semester began.

“I didn’t know about restaurant week,” freshman journalism major Craig Weisenfeld said. “That’s definitely the kind of thing social media could help with in spreading the word. I don’t eat on Route 1 often, but good deals would make me more inclined to.”

Simeon Alexander, a Bagel Place employee, said the lack of student participation was one reason why restaurants such as Bagel Place didn’t experience much of an increase in business. The eatery offered several specials for the event, such as six free bagels with the purchase of a dozen bagels.

“I think exactly two people came in to take advantage of the discounts,” said Alexander. “We probably would’ve done better business if we’d waited to do restaurant week during the school year. That makes perfect sense to me.”

Niranjan Lakhanpal, a freshman mechanical engineering major, said he would have participated if the event had been held during the semester.

“I definitely would have participated then,” Lakhanpal said. “They’d probably make more money too, so it would be a win-win.”

From PAGE 1 different specials for $6.50: a pound of buffalo wings and fries, a sub sandwich or a Ph i l ly cheesestea k sandwich.

“The city did a great job putting it together,” Ahern said.

Other Route 1 bars, Cornerstone Grill and Loft and Terrapin’s Turf, also offered specials. Cornerstone had $5.99 select appetizers and $6.99 select entrees, and Terrapin’s Turf also had a list of select appetizers and entrees for $5 and $10, respectively.

Although Hanami Japanese Restaurant, located on Route 1 near The Varsity, cites this year as one of its most profitable, owner Irene Song said she did not see many students in attendance during restaurant week. For about $20, patrons at the Japanese restaurant received a soup, salad, appetizer, entree and drink.

“We were very busy,” Song said. “A lot of people came in.

There were more newcomers this year than last year — I was glad there were no students.

There were plenty of customers. We were too busy.”

Some students said they didn’t attend because they newsumdbk@gmail.com

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mike King

Editor in Chief

DAN APPENFELLER Managing Editor

SOTU: Tackling inequality

L

Deputy Managing Editor

maria romas Opinion Editor

ADAM OFFITZER Opinion Editor

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

STAFF EDITORIAL

ast month, President Obama gave a sweeping, powerful speech on income inequality, calling it the “defining issue of our time.” But the speech, given at the Center for American Progress late on a Wednesday morning, received little media attention. As usual, the complexities of structural inequality prevented the issue from gaining relevance in the national conversation.

Last night, however, the president used his biggest annual stage to address income inequality and economic opportunity. Finally, the growing gap between America’s rich and poor is picking up steam as a national issue. Hopefully this growing interest in arguably our nation’s biggest failure will lead to congressional action and executive orders.

It’s an atrocity that in the world’s wealthiest country, 23 percent of American children are living in poverty.

According to a 2013 UNICEF study of 35 developed countries, this rate was the second highest. American inequality is not an unfortunate coincidence. It’s the direct result of government policies favoring the wealthy with minimal support to the poor. It’s the result of years of poorly funded schools, an inefficient health care system, unfair higher education costs and a whirlwind of complicating factors.

Last night, Obama explained that while the overall health of the economy is improving, little has changed for the nation’s poor. “Corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better,” he said. “But average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled. The

MATT SCHNABEL

cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by — let alone get ahead. And too many still aren’t working at all.”

OUR VIEW

This year, Congress must follow through on President Obama’s call for increased economic opportunity.

Throughout his presidency, Obama has pushed for policies that combat income inequality. According to a report released Friday by the Brookings Institution, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act “may do more to change the income distribution than any other recently enacted law” through tax credits and Medicaid expansion. Race to the Top invested more than $4 billion in education reform, spurring reform efforts in schools across the country. And while it’s not a popular political talking point for the president, last year’s tax increases on the most affluent Americans will help redistribute our national wealth.

All of these incremental changes will help reduce national income inequality in the long term. But the president has yet to place a specific focus on the issue, instead approaching it from different angles without a cohesive message or plan. Hopefully now, in the final three years of his second term, Obama will shift toward a complete focus on income inequality and employment, helping to fulfill the American promise

of equal opportunity for all.

Obama’s proposals last night — reforming our education system, increasing the minimum wage and investing in infrastructure and manufacturing — would be a great start.

While the goal of universal pre-K likely is impossible in today’s political climate, the concept should be promoted, and support will continue to build.

In many European countries, it’s standard for young children to be guaranteed a preschool education of some kind.

Many studies show that early learning increases economic mobility. It’s a huge investment, but it’s worthwhile.

Obama’s other request, to “give America a raise,” makes sense. Already, the majority of Americans support increasing the national minimum wage — an ABC News/Washington Post poll in December found 66 percent in favor.

Minimum wage, $7.25, hasn’t changed since 2009, and workers, including many college students, earning that wage remain below the poverty line. This isn’t fair. The president’s executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contract workers to $10.10 is a great start.

Finally, investing in infrastructure and manufacturing is crucial to job creation.

“Stimulus” has become a dirty word, but economists agree that spending money on these projects leads to economic growth and increased opportunities.

After all, as Obama said: “Opportunity is who we are. And the defining project of our generation is to restore that promise.” As the economy continues to recover, let’s hope our government follows through, making sure that the quality of life improves for all Americans, not just a wealthy few.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Time to update the American dream ERIK SHELL

and opting for something different.

“But what about my property?” ask the critics. “If you have no land, then you have nothing!” For whatever reason, the West still holds to this notion of land ownership as supreme, as if this were ancient Greece, or even early America, and possession of property were required to vote and generally qualify as a citizen. Those days are gone at last, but there is still an unjustified desire to rip away a small piece of earth, plant your flag and call it yours.

Similarly outdated are the picturesque suburbs safely tucked away between the farmers and those liberal city-folk. These places see just enough politics to make their residents feel involved, yet not enough that the issues of others intrude on their lives. It is political pseudo-apathy, and the generation of WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency and Internet restriction laws has shown again and again that complacency is the enemy and is therefore not in our playbook.

The list can go on for days. Despite its failures, the Occupy Wall Street movement showcased an unhappy generation. We are watching a massive number of baby boomers retire, leaving behind a country continually more restrictive and financially difficult to manage.

And yet the American dream would expect those of our generation to buy a car every few years, keep a riding lawn mower cleaned up and sit in shoebox homes until our own retirement (should we be blessed with such an improbability).

I do not think this generation is going to accept that. It will not get quieter; it will not forget the war and poor economy, and despite the massive debt, it is educating itself on a vast scale. This generation demands a new dream, and it is not going to wait for it to be handed out to us.

In a world full of gadgets, devices and computers that become out of date before we leave the Apple Store, it’s hard to believe we need any more updates in our lives. Even turning on the computer provides daily reminders of all the Adobe and Spotify software updates we need.

But there is one national concept that is long overdue for an update: the American dream. For me, a mention of the “American dream” conjures up images of 1950s pastel houses, all in a row looking exactly the same, with their well-trimmed lawns and Ford cars in the driveways. Inside each home is some version of gender structures at work, dinner on the table and Leave It to Beaver-style music playing in the background (for examples, see either Edward Scissorhands or Big Fish).

This is what the American dream has been for a long time. You get married, move to the suburbs, lock down a mortgage and generally keep up with your neighbors until retirement at a comfortable 65 years old. But our generation has seen the results of this supposed dream. For those born in the early ’90s, the majority of our lives have taken place in a state of war.

Likewise, our high school years, when we started paying attention to the wider world, were marked by the housing bubble and subsequent financial collapse. Then, after all that, we began to rack up massive amounts of student debt in a job market that remains difficult at its best and impenetrable at its worst.

So where do our mortgages come in? Where are our white picket fences? Given the fiscal trauma and instability we’ve witnessed, and often felt the weight of, throughout Erik Shell is a junior classical languages our lives, we’d be better off bypass- and literatures and history major. He can ing this whole “dream” altogether be reached at eshelldbk@gmail.com.

Dining Services’ scam CHARLIE BULMAN

ANNA DOTTLE/the diamondback

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GUEST COLUMN

What’s behind the STEM gender divide

I

n the United States, many feminists seem to think that because there are more men than women in science, technology, engineering and math, it must mean the patriarchy and social barriers are keeping women from these fields. However, when looking at STEM fields and focusing solely on the number of women participating compared to men, one can miss the other possible explanations of the gender ratios. There could be alternative reasons men are joining STEM fields at a higher rate than women — reasons having nothing to do with patriarchy or social barriers.

Developmental psychologists at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Michigan wondered if patterns of math and verbal abilities for each sex, based on SAT scores, could explain why there are fewer women in STEM fields. Results from the study showed students possessing good math skills and only moderate verbal skills were more likely to pursue a career in STEM than students who were good at math and also had high verbal skills because

of the first group’s narrower range of available job choices.

Of the high school seniors surveyed who had high math and moderate verbal skills, 70 percent were male and 30 percent were female. When an individual has only moderate verbal abilities but is better at math, it should come as no surprise that the individual is more likely to pick a math-related degree.

Therefore, within this category, more men than women are going to choose STEM degrees.

Of the high school seniors surveyed with high math and high verbal skills, 37 percent were male and 63 percent were female. When an individual is good at math and also has high verbal abilities, he or she is open to a much broader range of degrees and career possibilities. As a result, a much larger portion of women can pursue a wider range of non-STEM degrees.

Researchers surveyed these same high school students several years later about their career choices. They discovered that the participants who

possessed jobs in STEM fields were, again, much more likely to have moderate rather than high verbal abilities.

Because of the greater number of men who excel at math but only have moderate verbal skills as compared to women in the same category, there are many more men in the STEM fields.

None of this should come as a surprise — it has been known for a while now that men tend to score lower than women on tests of reading, writing and verbal abilities. I’m not saying there’s no such thing as social barriers women face in STEM fields; I just don’t think these barriers are responsible for the large gender gap in STEM that exists today. The research shows that the gap is largely because of the number of men who are good at math but have not-sogreat verbal abilities, while women’s stronger verbal skills allow them to access a wider range of career options.

Pascal Bloch is a senior computer science major. He can be reached at pbloch@terpmail.umd.edu.

Consider the absurdity of a real-world equivalent: You and your friend head to Chipotle, and you want to use your gift card (which expires in a few hours) to pay for both meals. But the Chipotle manager says you can’t do that because that would make them work harder. Chipotle would cash in twice: once from pocketing the money you can’t spend when the card expires and again when your friend has to reach into his or her own wallet to pay for her meal. And that’s how Dining Services swindles students at the end of each semester.

Hipple presents the cap as an improvement over the old system, in which Dining Services shaved off students’ points if they had more than a certain number at different intervals throughout the semester.

But it’s a false dichotomy. Whether Dining Services fleeces us at the end of the semester or throughout, we’re still losing money.

This isn’t to say Dining Services employees don’t work hard enough or that they should be working harder. Management, however, has a responsibility to staff the dining halls adequately to make good on its obligations. If officials truly were concerned with last-minute splurges, there’s a simple solution: allow students to roll over points from previous semesters. With one stroke, Dining Services could eliminate the incentive for students to binge. But that would mean ceding the profits from points purchased that go unused, something they’re unlikely to do.

Students have options to counter Dining Services’ duplicity. They could select plans with fewer points to avoid losing money at the end of the semester or turn away from dining plans entirely. A reduction in more expensive plans could cut into the profits garnered from leftover points, forcing Dining Services to re-examine its policies. It’s not an unreasonable expectation that students should get what they pay for.

When winter break comes around, it’s easy to discard the memories of long finals, marathon study sessions and general caffeine-infused delirium. This finals amnesia, however, plays right into the hands of Dining Services, whose cynical 40-point daily cap tends to go unnoticed when students return after break.

Essentially, our swipes function as gift cards. Students buy a dining plan corresponding to a certain number of points, and those points can be used to make purchases within a specified period. Companies (and presumably Dining Services) love these schemes because they make a given amount of money regardless of whether the card is used.

Yet unlike most gift cards, with value that expires after years, the time students can use their points primarily is limited to the length of the semester. Considering the short window for making purchases, the 40-point limit on dining expenditures is especially cheap. Those with leftover points on their cards aren’t the only victims of the policy — the cap also prevents students from feeding friends who have run out of points already.

Quoted in a December Diamondback article, Dining Services spokesman Bart Hipple rationalized the cap as a protection against students overspending their excess points. Leaving aside some glaring omissions, Hipple doesn’t account for students departing early after finishing exams or turning to other vendors after running out of points — his main excuse is just that: an excuse. If Dining Services is willing to take our money at the beginning of the semester, it needs to be committed to organizing the food and Charlie Bulman is a sophomore resources to let us use the points we government and politics major. He can paid for. be reached at cbulmandbk@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 | The Diamondback

5

FEATURES CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Competition 6 Minor dispute 10 Fugue master 14 Degrade 15 Like a rain forest 16 The younger Guthrie 17 J. Paul -18 Sask. neighbor 19 Herr’s refusal 20 Drop -- -- line 21 Aerobics exercise (2 wds.)

24 Posh hotel lobbies 26 Mall booths 27 Vitamin monitors 28 Tizzies 30 Faux pas 33 Zoologist’s study 34 Shaggy beast 37 Grand Ole -38 Auctioneer’s word 39 Pith helmet 40 “Shogun” apparel 41 Carpenter’s supply 42 Manhandled 43 Rats on 44 Keystone Konstable 45 Flop down

48 Nullifies 52 Abrupt change (2 wds.)

55 Kind of instinct 56 Go -- -- smoke 57 Marinate 58 Corporate concern 60 Nave neighbor 61 Roof overhang 62 Seedless orange 63 Changed color 64 Linger 65 Migratory flocks

28 Travels by water 29 They have their orders 30 Slime 31 PD dispatch 32 After Thurs.

33 Thwart a villain 34 “Ouch!”

35 36 38 39 41

Goodall subject Nanny’s charge Suspenders Prerecord Ex-Speaker Gingrich 42 Fixing corn 43 Turned bronze

44 New Zealand parrot 45 Team 46 A little husky?

47 Union demand 48 Enter again 49 Tequila cactus

50 Fast sleds 51 Archaeology find 53 Castle defense 54 Heavy-duty soap brand 59 Daisy -- Yokum

DOWN 1 Igneous rock source 2 Red as -- -3 Golden Horde member 4 Iowa hrs.

5 Beatles tune (2 wds.)

6 Closes violently 7 Paper source 8 -- spumante 9 Acknowledging 10 Ukulele cousins 11 Zones 12 Make sense 13 Beeps 22 Ms. Thurman of films 23 “Bhagavad --” 25 Doubtful

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HOROSCOPE | STELLA WILDER

orn today, you have a knack for turning almost any activity or endeavor into one that brings you both pleasure and profit -- and that special combination of enjoyment and reward will be something you pursue throughout your lifetime, no matter what you do. You are a forceful, even willful individual; you’re not about to take “no” for an answer. Indeed, the more others tell you a thing cannot or should not be done, the more likely you will be to attempt it. You are fiercely independent, to the point where you will break with partners and friends over any issue that threatens your ability to chart your own course and do what you choose to do.

You are, deep down, a romantic individual, but you don’t always know how to put romance into your life. This problem may be a direct result of your aggressive individuality; some part of you may fear that a romantic connection will threaten your independence -- but this needn’t be the case!

Also born on this date are: Oprah Winfrey, talk show host and media mogul; Adam Lambert, singer; Tom Selleck, actor; Heather Graham, actress; Paul Ryan, politician; William McKinley, U.S. president; W.C. Fields, actor and comedian; Anton Chekhov, author and playwright; John Forsythe, actor; Victor Mature, actor; Katharine Ross, actress; Thomas Paine, political theorist and author; Greg Louganis, Olympic diving champion.

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.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Your exploration of certain unconsidered realities can answer many questions before you ask them.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -You’re not likely to find yourself in the position you most desire if you are unwilling to step up and put it on the line right now.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -You are not aware of the central realities that are governing a certain key situation, but you certainly can be by day’s end.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- “Never” is a long time. The moment you say “never,” you are likely to find yourself fighting the temptation to forget you ever did!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You can get a great deal of work done, and you need not tend to it all at once. Indeed, regular short breaks can provide inspiration.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You may want to take one, two or even three short walks in order to clear your head and contemplate what is really going on.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You can come to a few important

conclusions that guide you toward a decision you have long wanted to make.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -You must be sure to give yourself the opportunity to discover what you can on your own terms today.

Don’t be too rigidly hemmed in.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- The quality of your work today is not likely to come under fire, but the quantity may make some wonder what is keeping you so busy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You needn’t give up all of your reasons for doing this or that.

Some mystery can serve you well, provided you remain lighthearted about it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Like your Scorpio neighbors, you run the risk of taking yourself -- and what you do -- a bit too seriously.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- It’s a good day for you to get out and about. Try exploring new territory or circulating among a new group of people.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | wednesday, january 29, 2014

DIVERSIONS

kanye west is doling out a settlement totaling more than $250,000 to an 18-year-old man whom he allegedly attacked at a chiropractor’s office, according to Pitchfork. The man reportedly insulted West’s fiance, Kim Kardashian. The next time you need some cash, just pick a fight with Yeezy.

ALL THE CRAP YOU CARE ABOUT

ESSAY | IN DEFENSE OF THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

getting a chilly reception Why viewers shouldn’t write off the seasoned rockers of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and their upcoming performance at the Super Bowl halftime show

By Zoë DiGiorgio @zozoembie Staff writer

to hold the audience’s attention in the same way the younger Mars would.

Though they’re not burning up the charts, the Red Hot Chili Pe p p e rs a re n ’t exa c t ly a m a teurs. Spearheaded by lead singer Anthony K iedis and bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary, the Chili Peppers have become one of the best-selling bands of all time.

Their most recent album was released in 2011 before the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. The Red Hot Chili Peppers haven’t stopped in the meantime, though — the group is working on its 11th album now.

Though the band members are getting on in years — the first incarnation of Kiedis and Flea’s group came together in 1983 — they still are proving their mettle after all this time, filling up most of the stops on their I’m With You world tour, which started in 2011 and wrapped up in April.

More importantly, it’s time another rock group performed the halftime show. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be the first rock act to take the stage at halftime since the 2010 Super Bowl, when British rock icon The Who shared the stage. The 2011 Super Bowl followed with a strange combination of the Black Eyed Peas, Usher and Slash from Guns N’ Roses in a generally panned show. Despite some flashy lighting and pyro-

In 2004, the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake added the phrase “wardrobe malfunction” to the national lexicon. In 2013, Beyoncé’s performance was so intense that many joked it was the source of the power outage that halted the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers for about half an hour.

Even if you’re not rooting for either team, the Super Bowl has a few ways to entertain all audiences, including the notoriously funny, big-budget commercials and the often memorable halftime shows.

T hou g h p op c ro o n er B r u n o Mars has been slated as the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl XLVIII since Sept. 8, it surfaced during the NFC divisional playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks that Mars had invited funk-rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers to join him in the halftime show lineup.

B a c k l a s h fo l l owe d t h e a n nouncement; some were disappointed the group would be performing at such an important event, an honor usually reserved for the most popular or most timeless acts. Critics questioned whether the rockers would be able

Follow @DBKDiversions on Twitter for event postings, updates, commentary & more!

the red hot chili peppers were an unexpected addition to a halftime show that will prominently feature Bruno Mars. Some critics were upset with the move, wondering whether the older group would appeal to viewers. Yet the band still sold out most of its shows on their recent world tour. photo courtesy of deviantart.net technics, The Who suffered from sound problems throughout their set. While hardcore Who fans were pleased with the performance from the two remaining original members, the band was a whisper of its former self for many. This performance might have soured audiences on another rock group performing the halftime show.

Yet the Red Hot Chili Peppers are unlikely to disappoint. Though

t h ey m i g h t n o t h ave t h e s ta r power that pop icons such as Madonna or Beyoncé had, they appeal to several generations of rock fans. While Bruno Mars is a current staple of the Billboard Hot 100 — spending the past three weeks on the list — and appeals to younger audiences, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have accrued 10 No. 1 singles on the alternative charts in the band’s history, including “Dani California” and

“Can’t Stop.” Although K iedis and Flea are in their 50s, they are still known for their energetic, fun performances.

T h e Re d Ho t C h i l i Pe p p e rs aren’t Beyoncé, so don’t expect the same powerful outage-inducing spectacle as last year. Given the history of the band, though, you can still count on a high-energy, rockin’ good time. zdigiorgiodbk@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

CANES From PAGE 8 Allen back in the lineup, but the sophomore still was adjusting to his duties at the helm of the offense.

“At first when he got back, he kind of had that mentality: ‘I’m going to be a scorer and bring us back to where we need to be,’” Layman said. “But he’s calmed down, and he’s come a long way.”

Allen’s patience and decision-making will be tested tonight against the Hurricanes, who play a unique match-up zone defense. But coach Mark Turgeon and the Terps have mentioned that Allen has improved his performance since he’s been back.

In Saturday’s loss to thenNo. 20 Pittsburgh, Allen played 35 minutes and posted a season-high six assists to two turnovers. Though Allen shot 2-of-9 from the field and 0-of-5 on 3-pointers, Turgeon was pleased enough

with the sophomore’s play to keep him in the game for the entire second half.

“I thought his decisionmaking was better,” Turgeon said after Saturday’s loss.

“He’s getting closer to 100 percent, and we felt like he could exploit his matchup off the dribble pretty well and he did that.”

As Allen’s health improves, Turgeon feels more comfortable keeping him in the game for longer periods. Guard Nick Faust mentioned that Allen, who stands 6-foot-1, couldn’t generate much lift off his injured foot when he was first cleared to play, and he struggled to dunk.

But about a month since his season debut, the typically explosive guard is slamming the ball home with ease each practice. And the Terps hope the improvements to Allen’s health can translate to consistent performances on the floor.

“He’s really trying to be a solid point guard,” Layman said.

7

play hasn’t been smooth. In a sobering loss to shorthanded N.C. State on Jan. 20, Turgeon chose to sit both Peters and Allen for about six minutes to start the second half because neither was properly following his instructions.

“I didn’t have a point guard doing what I wanted,” Turgeon said last week. “Guys got to do what I ask, and that’s about as blunt as I can be with that.”

Tu rge o n , t h o u g h , wa s content with Allen after Saturday’s game, and the Terps GUARD SETH ALLEN is averaging 10 points likely will look to Allen freand 3.6 assists per game this season, quently again tonight. but he’s shooting 23.8 percent in his past The Terps stressed yesfour games. alik mcintosh/the diamondback terday that they’ll need to Allen’s performance is be patient and deliberate on crucial because the Terps’ offense to beat Miami and point guard issues have played break a two-game losing a significant role in the team’s streak. And Allen’s personal underachieving season. Turn- search for stability could overs plagued the Terps before be the key to steadying an Allen returned, as Dez Wells, erratic offense. a natural wing player, shared “That’s just on him being a the ballhandling duties with point guard,” Faust said, “And freshman Roddy Peters. having a feeling for the game.”

Even since Allen came back, the Terps’ point guard akasinitzdbk@gmail.com

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GALLEN From PAGE 8 are rather nebulous and difficult to quantify. Forward Jake Layman talked about the Terps’ need to mature after Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh, and Smotrycz mentioned the need to stay poised after the Terps’ collapse at N.C. State on Jan. 20.

There’s no column for maturity in the box score, and its implementation or development is vastly different from mastering an on-court strategy. Coach Mark Turgeon, though, said he can see hints of increased maturity in his team, but it has been inconsistent.

“I think you can by the way they act and the way they play, especially in crisis situations or pressure situations,” Turgeon said about the team’s maturity. “It comes and goes with us. We’re not there yet, obviously, but we’re getting there.

Certain guys have matured at a quicker rate than others, and some guys are in and out of it.”

The Terps realize they’ve been wildly unpredictable.

They seemed to have turned a corner with a stellar second half in a comeback victory over Notre Dame on Jan. 15, but any improvements appeared to be negated days later against N.C. State. Despite the loss to Pitt, the Terps rallied to cut a 13point second-half deficit down to four in the waning seconds.

They’re coming off a result with some positives, but there’s no telling which version of the Terps will show up against Miami tonight, even if the Terps know what they should be doing. “ We s h o u l d b e a b l e to play both sides of the ball,” Smotrycz said. “We’re definitely capable. We’ve just been playing really hard on defense, haven’t been playing very smart, haven’t been talking enough, remembering scouting reports and kind of remembering what we learned in film and carrying it over.”

The Terps know the Hurricanes will wait until late in the shot clock to take shots, and the Terps want to do the same.

Miami’s been involved in some low-scoring affairs this season, including a 48-46 win against Cal State Fullerton in November and a 49-44 loss at No. 2 Syracuse on Jan. 4.

Miami’s playing style presents a unique challenge to the Terps because of their athleticism and outside shooters. While they want to wait for the right shot, a number of Terps — such as Layman, Smotrycz and the guard trio of Dez Wells, N ick Faust

thomas

coach mark turgeon said the Terps’ patience and maturity is seen in their own responses to “crisis situations.” chester lam/the diamondback and Seth Allen — can light up opposing defenses from the outside and are confident they can hit any shot. Plus, the Terps offense has been at its best on the fast break this season.

“We want to be patient, but at the same time, we got to take the open shots because we got guys who can make them,” Smotrycz said. “It’s going to be kind of a test to feel out how the game’s going. Maybe if we haven’t gotten to the line in a while or got some layups in a while, pass up a three to drive it and make a play.”

Faust said the Terps need to jump out on Miami early and use their home-court advantage at Comcast Center to dictate the pace of the game.

They started fast against Pitt and led 11-4, but the Panthers stiffened and built a five-point halftime lead. The Terps were on the edge of losing control of the game in the second half, but their desperate comeback made the result respectable, and Turgeon said the Terps could take more from a loss than an ugly win.

The ACC season is nearing its halfway point, and the chances of the Terps making the NCAA tournament are slim. But Smotrycz said the Terps have had a string of improved practices, and the results should start showing on the court.

“We’ve definitely played really well and showed maturity at times,” Smotrycz said.

“Definitely had some major letdowns that kind of interrupted that and have led to some losses. It’s tough putting together a full 40, but if we can do that, tomorrow especially, I think it’ll be a big test for us in terms of maturity and patience.”

So far this season, the Terps have failed most of their tests.

But if they manage to grind out a win against Miami, it could show they’ve at least learned some lessons. dgallendbk@gmail.com

“THESE SLOW STARTS From PAGE 8

opportunities inside. Thomas had to settle for jump shots often, but they weren’t falling, as she started the game 1-of-8 from the field for two points.

Notre Dame extended its lead during that window, but two starters — guard Kayla McBride and forward Natalie Achonwa — got into foul trouble and were sidelined before the Terps started their comeback.

“The game is about runs,” Thomas said. “They came out early and had their run, but we had to settle down and chip at it slowly. That started with getting stops and getting on the glass.”

The Terps slowed down Notre Dame’s fluid offense with a full-court press and then started to show some offensive consistency. Thomas had six points, one steal and one assist during the team’s 16-6 burst to end the first half.

“Obviously, I thought when we started pressing them, we were able to cause a lot of turnovers in our press, and then we were able to get stops to scores,” Terps coach Brenda Frese said.

“We ended the first half with six consecutive stops, so our defense was there. That’s what we’ve got to continue to count on in a 40-minute game.”

ARE HINDERING US IN TERMS OF OUR PERFORMANCE. ... OUR VETERAN LEADERSHIP HAS TO SHOW THE WAY FOR EVERYONE ON THE TEAM IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE HAVE TO START GAMES.” BRENDA FRESE

Terrapins women’s basketball coach The Terps carried that momentum in the second half, outscoring Notre Dame, 48-40. Thomas, in particular, ramped up her performance, grabbing seven rebounds and recording four assists in the final 20 minutes to cap her performance.

The Terps realize that if they played with the same energy from the second half at the opening tip, the result Monday night could have been very different. And it was clear that Thomas played a distinct role in the turnaround.

“These slow starts are hindering us in terms of our performance,” Frese said. “Our veteran leadership has to show the way for everyone on the team in terms of the way we have to start games.” ppierrelouisdbk@gmail.com

TWEET OF THE DAY

Davin Meggett @Meggett_Tron Former Terps football running back

“Rutgers!!!!?????”

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ON THE BLOG

When the Terps face off against Rutgers this November, they could reportedly see a familiar face. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

PAGE 8

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WAITING ON PATIENCE

FORWARD EVAN SMOTRYCZ (1), guard Dez Wells (32) and the Terps will try to improve their patience tonight against a gritty Miami team, while guard Seth Allen (4) continues to work his way back from a broken foot he suffered in October. chester lam/the diamondback

COLUMN: Terps hope patience, maturity come to team that can “kind of go crazy sometimes” tonight against Hurricanes DANIEL GALLEN When it takes the court tonight, the Terrapins men’s basketball team will face a Miami team that has carved out a spot as one of the most meticulous in the nation.

The Hurricanes rank last in the ACC in scoring offense with 61 points per game, but they rank fourth in scoring defense, allowing 59.3 points per game. They have a reputation for milking the shot clock down to its final seconds, searching for the perfect shot while also playing suffocating defense on the opposite end.

On the other hand, the Terps have been erratic for most of the season. Promising performances become undone by mistakes just days later, and

consistency has been difficult to come by 20 games into the season. Forward Evan Smotrycz succinctly summarized it yesterday.

“We kind of go crazy sometimes,” he said.

“We just got to focus on playing smarter.

Coach talks about that a lot.”

So tonight, possibly more than ever this season, some of the Terps’ favorite buzzwords from the past few weeks come into play: maturity, patience and poise. In a stretch during which they’ve lost four of five games and uttered those words countless times, the Terps will need to display those traits tonight, and this game will provide a glimpse of whether they are developing through their losses or simply stagnating.

But those concepts, especially maturity, See gallen, Page 7

STORY: Allen continues to increase minutes in comeback from broken foot, but effectiveness has waned in recent games

By Aaron Kasinitz @AaronKazreports Senior staff writer Since Seth Allen returned to the court after sitting out this season’s first 12 games with a broken left foot, the Terrapins men’s basketball guard has epitomized his team’s performance by pairing moments of effectiveness with stretches of uneven play.

Allen’s 3.6 assists per game lead the Terps, his 10 points per game ranks fifth and his reputation as a capable three-point shooter has changed the offense’s dynamic since he returned Dec. 29. On the other hand, he has shot worse than 50 percent from the field in each of his eight games this season and is shooting 23.8 percent from the field over the past four contests.

So when the Terps (11-9, 3-4 ACC) host Miami (10-9, 2-5) tonight in hopes of igniting a team-wide resurgence, they want their floor general to find the consistency to lead the way.

“I think it’s a matter of picking and choosing his spot,” forward Evan Smotrycz said. “He’s so good, he can go up and finish around 7-footers.

For him, it’s a matter of knowing when to.”

Forward Jake Layman said that when Allen first came back from his preseason injury, the point guard felt some pressure to be a prolific scorer. The Terps began the season 7-5, a disappointing mark for a team with NCAA tournament aspirations, and Allen’s return evoked some promise.

The Terps won the first three games with See canes, Page 7

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Thomas keys second half rally Star forward earns glowing reviews from Notre Dame on Monday

By Paul Pierre-Louis @PaulPierreLouis Staff writer

forward alyssa thomas (left) scored 19 of her 29 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished four assists in the second half of Monday’s 87-83 loss to No. 2 Notre Dame at Comcast Center. christian jenkins/the diamondback

Early in the second half of the Terrapins women’s basketball team’s 87-83 loss against Notre Dame at Comcast Center on Monday night, Alyssa Thomas got enough separation from Fighting Irish forward Ariel Braker to get an offensive rebound on the right side of the key.

The Terps forward swung her arms toward the basket, made contact with Braker’s chest and sunk a layup while drawing the foul to score the first two of her 19 second-half points to close the Terps’ deficit to 50-41. One minute later, Thomas powered through two defenders in the paint and made another layup while getting fouled for her seventh point of the period.

In roughly 90 seconds, the national player of the year candidate scored 10 straight points for the Terps, and Notre Dame’s seemingly insurmountable first-half lead shrunk to 54-49. Despite a rough start, Thomas

finished the contest with 29 points and 12 rebounds, as her 17th doubledouble of the season led a furious comeback from a 22-point deficit that fell just short.

“Thomas was unbelievable,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said.

“She was fantastic. I don’t think anybody’s had a performance like that against us in a long time.”

The Fighting Irish had won all but one of its games by double-digit margins entering the matchup and was on pace for another lopsided victory, as it led 41-19 late in the first half. But as Thomas started asserting herself, the Terps began storming back.

After guard Lexie Brown hit two shots to start the second half, Thomas scored four consecutive baskets in about a minute and a half.

“She seemed unstoppable,” McGraw said. “I think we were trying to not let her get the ball. I know that sounds funny. We really were trying to front her and face-guard her, and we didn’t do any of those things.”

BY THE NUMBERS

10 points

scored by Thomas in the first half against Notre Dame on Monday

19 points

scored by Thomas in the second half against Notre Dame on Monday

40 minutes played by Thomas against Notre Dame on Monday

Still, Notre Dame contained Thomas for most of the first half with manto-man defense. Braker and forward Markisha Wright shared the defensive assignment on Thomas, using their size to step in front of her and prevent her from getting the ball in the paint.

In response, the Harrisburg, Pa., native was jostling for open space for the majority of the opening period, struggling to find scoring See thomas, Page 7