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TRYING TO REBOUND After momentum-killing loss, Terps aim to bounce back tonight

NO SPARKS Already part of a tired genre, Dear John lacks innovation DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

SPORTS | PAGE 8

Thursday, February 4, 2010

THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Our 100TH Year, No. 82

Under budget pressure, univ. cuts vacant positions Colleges forced to compensate for the loss of faculty spots, key staff members

BY DERBY COX AND CARRIE WELLS Senior staff writers

One of the university’s major tools for cutting the budget is to eliminate vacant faculty and staff positions, according to recently released budget information.

This tactic avoids painful and messy layoffs, but administrators know it’s not a panacea.

Although eliminating vacant positions is the preferred method, removing positions doesn’t help the university’s

staffing shortage and can hurt the university’s ability to cover unforeseen expenses. Staffers are being asked to take on completely new tasks, faculty can’t get help with basic paper work, and as for new initiatives, they’ll just have to wait, administrators said.

“That’s tremendously emotional, if someone loses their job.

[This method] is not as painful, but it causes a lot of its own issues,” Wiseman said. “I mean, we’re managing, but we could be

managing so much better.”

Many of the university’s 13 colleges have cut vacant positions — which open when faculty and staff retire or move on — to help close the $28.8 million gap in academic affairs funding. For example, the information studies college cut $50,000 from its budget using the technique, and the behavioral and social sciences college trimmed three empty staff positions, saving $165,000, according to John Townshend, dean of BSOS.

The university is already severely understaffed, administrators said.

Compared to the university’s peer institutions — University of Michigan; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of California, Los Angeles; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of California, Berkeley — the university has about half as many staff

see VACANCIES, page 2

Still fighting

SGA President Steve Glickman addresses the group at last night’s meeting. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Rep. Donna Edwards, students discuss the importance of health care reform

BY AMANDA PINO Staff writer

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) spoke about health care reform and other issues to the College Democrats last night. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIA-

Rep. Donna Edwards walked onto a stage on the campus last night, poised to talk about health care reform.

“Well, I’ve read it,” she said about the 2,074-page bill.

In a speech to about 50 students in the art-sociology building last night, Edwards (D-Md.), who represents College Park, addressed health care reform, student loans, university tuition and funding for the space program at the College Democrats’ first general body meeting of the semester.

The crowd — mostly made up of Democrats interested in learning more

about Edwards’ platform — listened to the congresswoman and posed questions to her via index cards. Although Edwards didn’t touch on everyone’s topics of choice, she didn’t shy away from in-depth conversation on difficult issues, either.

But health care was the question on most audience members’ minds. Students submitted so many questions on the topic one of the College Democrats’ officers stopped the hasty scribbling to make an announcement.

“If you’re asking about health care, stop now — we’ve got too many already!”

see EDWARDS, page 2

Metro issues derail SGA’s SmarTrip card plan SGA president’s premier goal won’t happen this semester

MONDBACK

BY ANNA ISAACS Staff writer

Students won’t be seeing their ID cards double as SmarTrip cards any time soon.

Although the program has been a pet project of Student Government Association President Steve Glickman since taking office, recent Metro budget and safety issues, paired with General Manager John Catoe’s resignation, have put SGA negotiations on hold until at least April.

“I think [Metro officials] have other priorities at this point — in terms of safety, in terms of operational capacity — that it’s not at the top of their list, and that’s one challenge we’re facing,” SGA spokesman Joel Cohen said, noting the organization’s original goal

see SMARTRIP, page 3

MORE ONLINE

www.diamondbackonline.com

SEE OUR WEB SITE FOR FULL MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE OF THE DONNA EDWARDS EVENT

Univ. will compensate city for revenue loss

New facilities should help growing public health school

Plant sale will cost the city $260K in property taxes

$15M renovation finished on-budget

BY DERBY COX Senior staff writer

BY BEN PRESENT Staff writer

The public health school finished major renovations to its building this semester that will accommodate the rapidly growing department and recycle underused space.

The changes, which started last March and finished in January, included converting racquetball courts into labs and 140 graduate assistant offices. A new dean’s suite was added, replacing the old basketball gym. The improvement also makes room in the building for the family sciences program, which used to hold classes in Marie Mount Hall.

All the renovations to the building were completed last spring,

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

over the summer and throughout last semester, a process Capital Projects Director Carlo Collela said was no easy task, especially with students on the campus for much of its duration.

“There was a fairly aggressive schedule set for us by [Provost Nariman Farvardin], and I’m proud to say we met it,” Collela said, noting the project did not exceed its $15 million price tag.

The partial renovation was an “adaptive reuse of a building that was being underutilized,” Collela said, adding that students had difficulty navigating the building before the changes.

Many students and faculty members had complained that before it was difficult just to get from one side of the building to

Snow/30s

by housing the growing program under one roof.

And with an increasing number of students in the program, changes were much-needed, Gold said. Between 2002 and

The university has made an offer to compensate the city for the hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax revenue it will lose if the university’s move to buy the Washington Post Company’s College Park plant goes through.

If approved, the university would use the nowclosed plant to house facilities displaced by its planned $900 million East Campus development — a project that would bring graduate student housing, stores and a music hall to Route 1. But city officials want to make sure they don’t lose revenue from the plant, which Mayor Andy Fellows said was the largest single payer of property taxes last year.

Because the university is a state institution, it would not be responsible for paying property tax on the plot if the $12 million sale is finalized.

University administrators said city support is essential to gain approval by the state’s Board of Public Works and has therefore offered to pay College

see RENOVATION, page 3

see REVENUE, page 3

The new Friedgen Family Student Lounge is one of many new facilities in the public health school. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

the other without either going outside or taking an elevator.

New stairways have eliminated that problem.

Robert Gold, dean of the public health school, said the changes will improve inter-college collaboration and make research easier

INDEX

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

FEATURES . . . . . .5 CLASSIFIED . . . . .6

DIVERSIONS . . . . .6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . .8

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2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

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ONLINE TODAY

GETTIN’ SPANKED A British university registrar traded falsified college degrees to women in exchange for spanking sessions.

Karl Woodgett, 37, started off fabricating degrees to relatives of his Cameroonian wife while he worked at the University of Surrey.

Woodgett soon combined this business with his own sexual fetishes by luring the women to hotel rooms, where he would spank and cane them — he told them they were subjects in a “pain management study.”

To find out more, check out The Diamondback news blog, Campus Drive, at blogs.umdbk.com/campusdrive.

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EDWARDS from page 1 Although students were skeptical about what the health care bill could achieve in the face of restrictions on abortion and the lack of a public option — Edwards has been a strong proponent of a public health insurance option, in which a government plan competes with private insurance plans — the congresswoman assured students that there was a lot to like in the legislation.

“Let’s talk about health care a bit,” she said. “Because I know that’s on your mind. You are about to turn 22, and you are coming off of your [parents’] health care plan, right?”

She pointed out that, in the proposed plan, young adults could remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26 and costs would be dramatically reduced through the health insurance exchange and subsidies.

Edwards added that the practice of not offering insurance for people with preexisting conditions would be curtailed and she was able to include a provision preventing insurance companies from drastically increasing their rates as a result of the bill.

Edwards struck a personal note on the issue of health care reform, as well. She emphasized her experience as a single mother, at one point with-

VACANCIES from page 1 members per student, university President Dan Mote said.

For example, the Office of Student Financial Aid is about one -fourth the size of the same office at University of California, Berkeley, Provost Nariman Farvardin said.

BSOS has lost key staffers responsible for helping faculty fill out paperwork for research grants, Townshend said. Faculty members must do the time-consuming paperwork themselves, giving them less time to spend on writing proposals. This delay, Townshend said, has resulted in less research money for

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) addressed the College Democrats last night.

CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

out health care, as a part of her history that will always keep her grounded.

“Those are things that don’t leave me, and I get to be reminded of that circumstance whenever I talk to other people going through that,” she said.

Edwards focused on student concerns throughout the night.

She said she supports President Barack Obama’s initiatives to end student lending practices that result in higher interest rates. Students also worried about the rise of college tuition in the state — projected to increase 3 percent — especially for low-income families.

Edwards emphasized creating more jobs and employment opportunities for people at every income level.

“What enabled Maryland to hold the line on tuition levels and invest in schools was a stronger economy,” she said.

“And some people worked part time to pay tuition, but now they don’t have that part-time job anymore, or their parents don’t have a job.”

Edwards strayed from White House stances when it came to cuts in funding to certain NASA programs. The congresswoman said she stands apart from the administration on that issue and

is a big supporter of research and science, especially the space program. She said many practical things have come out of space research, such as airbag and MRI technology.

“Most of government is about a safe bet; a lot of private industry is about a safe bet,” she said.

Students said they were looking forward to hearing about the issues that would impact their daily lives.

“With the election, everyone was very excited about Obama, and they don’t realize some of the local politicians will have more effect on their life than

the college. And with an increased emphasis on raising research dollars, Townshend said, the college is at a loss.

“If you’re doing one thing, you can’t be doing another,” he said. “I could never give you a dollar amount for how much it’s cost us.”

Traditionally, when there are vacant positions, the university funnels money that would support those positions into a pool reserved for one-time costs. But if vacant positions are eliminated, the university loses that money altogether. Mote said the onetime money can help pay for everything from phone bills to opening new class sections and is critical to supporting

the university’s academic units. Farvardin added the one-time funds have also been used to provide financial aid to students.

“The major con from the [academic] unit’s point of view is that if there’s a position there without somebody essentially using the resources on it, the unit can use those resources for hiring student assistants, buying supplies and the like,” Mote said. “The operating budgets for our units are ver y small, ver y tight. ... So, it’s a real loss.”

University colleges and departments have felt the squeeze during the first weeks of the semester.

On the first day of classes,

professors in the education college ran into typical technological glitches, Dean Donna Wiseman said. But without enough staff to help the faculty members, classes were disrupted.

Norma Allewell, the dean of the chemical and life sciences college, said her faculty are strained from teaching extra classes, leaving less time for lucrative, reputationbuilding research. Plus, she said her college has grown dramatically, with a ratio of about 30 students in the college to one professor. That’s more than double the ratio for the rest of the university, according to Allewell.

“As student demand has grown, we need to keep pace,

maybe Obama will,” said College Democrats Secretary Daniel Borman, who organized the event. “So college students should come out and learn more about that political landscape.”

Students stayed late to thank Edwards and continue to ask her questions.

Freshman economics and government and politics major Justin Shugarman said he was glad to have the opportunity to hear from a local politician.

“Our rights don’t stop at the schoolhouse gates. The issues don’t stop there,” he said. pino@umdbk.com

but the budget cuts make that difficult,” she said.

And the problem isn’t limited to the colleges. Vice President for Administrative Affairs Ann Wylie said staff members in her department have been overworked as they try to cover for missing staffers, causing morale issues.

“This is not a situation that you can sustain,” Wylie said.

“If the position is a crucial position, sometimes you can deal with the loss of that position in the short term,” Farvardin added. “But longer term, this is going to cause a disruption.” cox@umdbk.com, cwells@umdbk.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

SMARTRIP from page 1 was to implement the initiative by the end of this semester, but that won’t be possible anymore.

For some critics, however, this is welcome news.

SGA Vice President of Finance Andrew Steinberg said time and resources would be better spent focusing on issues such as the rising price of a college education in the state.

“I do think that more effort should be focused on more pressing issues rather than combining two plastic cards into one,” Steinberg said. “As a user of the Metro, you can purchase a SmarTrip for $5.

[It’s] pretty reliable, pretty usable, and the current system that’s in place by Metro is adequate, and we should not be tr ying to implement new enhancements at the university when there are other pressing issues that should take precedence.”

But Glickman remains confident in the program’s merits.

“This is much more important than a card because there’s an educational component that goes with this,” Glickman said. “We’re looking to put [Washington, D.C.] into orientation programs, UNIV100 programs, as part of the campus tour ... and explaining ever ything D.C. has to offer, and showing the university’s here to assist in that.”

The Metro system has had a tumultuous past eight months, beginning with a June accident that killed nine near the Fort Totten Metro Station and making headlines most recently with the deaths of two track workers at the Rockville Metro Station last month.

“The Metro is going through a large transition in terms of its leadership, and for the university to partner with them right now probably is not the best decision,” said Student Financial Aid Director Sarah Bauder, who has been working with Glickman on the SmarTrip initiative.

Glickman said before current general manager John

“There are three other institutions that tried [SmarTrip], and it didn’t work; in fact, it was such a failure, all three of them pulled out.”

SARAH BAUDER STUDENT FINANCIAL AID DIRECTOR, WORKED ON SMARTRIP INITIATIVE

Catoe’s resignation, Metro, the Mar yland Transit Administration and the university agreed to pay a first-year price tag of $17,000 for the program and were working on a fiveyear deal.

Until new Metro management is in place, officials won’t be making any program changes.

But Glickman said he is confident the revamped ID cards will be available come fall semester.

“Once Metro gets their act in order, it’s a program that should be going through and should be able to affect the incoming class of 2014,” he said.

But implementing the SmarTrip program wouldn’t be without risk, Bauder said.

She explained that the SGA’s proposal, while for ward-thinking, would create more problems than it solves, including making a student ID much more expensive to replace if lost.

“There are three other institutions that tried [SmarTrip], and it didn’t work; in fact, it was such a failure, all three of them pulled out,” she said.

“The risk to the student is what we want to alleviate.”

Glickman, who initially proposed the program last year and was met with a veto from former SGA President Jonathan Sachs, said the naysayers are being shortsighted.

“For those who don’t believe that this is a beneficial program to students, I’m looking out for the long-term benefit of this university,” he said. aisaacs@umdbk.com

3

RENOVATION from page 1 today, the public health school has seen substantial growth — from 900 to 1,700 students.

“You can’t accommodate that kind of growth without doing something like this,” Gold said.

The move also allowed family sciences to upgrade the facilities for its Center for Healthy Families program, which provides therapy to about 500 families and couples each year.

“The recipients of this service have easy access to the building,” Assistant Dean Mary Kivlighan said. “But it also protects their privacy.”

The new facilities for the center now look more like an office and provide state-ofthe-art research opportunities for family sciences students working there, Kivlighan said.

But not all family sciences majors are excited about the changes.

Senior family sciences major Dani Callet said the move from Marie Mount Hall was more of an inconvenience because the new

REVENUE from page 1 Park yearly compensation to make up for the loss of tax revenue.

Although details of the university’s offer to the city are unclear, Vice President for Administrative Affairs Ann Wylie indicated at Tuesday night’s city council meeting that the university would be willing to pay a fixed annual rate. Although Wylie did not offer many specifics, the compensation would amount to less than the $260,000 the Washington Post Company paid in property taxes last year but more than a landowner would pay for a typical $12 million property, she said.

Because the Washington Post Company paid taxes that included the estimated value of their printing press,

Robert Gold, dean of the public health school, showcases some of the technology brought to the school’s new facilities this semester. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

location is on North Campus and far from most other academic buildings.

“If I have to come from the mall to get there — that’s at least a 20-minute walk,” Callet said.

Callet, who is a member of the Family and Consumer Science Honors Society, also complained that the public

health school building doesn’t have a place for her organization to meet. Marie Mount Hall, on the other hand, had a student lounge the group used for meetings.

Despite the North Campus location, most other public health students and faculty members are happy about the building’s

the city stands to lose tax revenue no matter who buys the property because its value has decreased with the loss of the presses, Wylie said in an inter view before the meeting.

At Tuesday’s meeting, members of city government said they generally supported the East Campus project but were leer y of the university’s most recent move.

“The biggest issue is that we come up with a fair value to basically be made whole [in terms of tax revenue],” Fellows said. “I think the city has expressed a lot of support over the years for East Campus for many of the reasons that were expressed tonight.”

At the meeting, city officials questioned how the university would determine a final number for its yearly compensation. Fellows questioned whether the rate could be based on a different

method of valuing the property, and District 3 Councilman Mark Cook suggested the payment should fluctuate with the property’s value as tax revenue would.

“I think that would be more fair because other wise we’re being locked in,” Cook said.

Wylie said she didn’t know if that would be possible.

She said the stores and private housing that would be built on East Campus could increase city tax revenue by as much as $4 million. Other developers would be attracted to the area after East Campus is completed, she added.

“This will trigger a ver y big change in the area of College Park, and I would hate to see this end because we can’t come to an agreement on something so small as this [payment],” Wylie said, addressing the city council Tuesday night. “So I think I’m just asking you to think

improvements and take the longer walk in stride.

“I think it’s a great upgrade,” physical and cultural studies graduate student Jennifer Collins said. “It’s going to be much more attractive to incoming freshmen.” present@umdbk.com

of the long-term here.”

In addition to tax revenue, city council members were also concerned about increased traffic that could come with the move of university facilities — including mail ser vice and maintenance shops — to the site.

“The Washington Post traffic was when ever ybody was asleep,” District 2 Councilman Jack Perr y said. “We didn’t see those trucks.”

Although there would be traffic associated with the move, the majority of it would be early in the morning and before rush hour in the afternoon, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Frank Brewer said.

Wylie said the university would like the city’s support for the project before the Board of Public Works’ Feb. 10 meeting to discuss the deal. cox@umdbk.com

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4

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

KEVIN ROBILLARD

THE DIAMONDBACK

Opinion

EDITOR IN CHIEF

YOUR INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK PHONE: (301) 314-8200 | FAX: (301) 314-8358 3150 SOUTH CAMPUS DINING HALL | COLLEGE PARK, MD., 20742 NEWS@UMDBK .COM | OPINION@UMDBK .COM

KYLE GOON

JESSICA BAUER

MANAGING EDITOR

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

ROB GINDES

JUSTIN SNOW

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Staff editorial

A route through history T

he proposed Purple Line project has turned into a bad movie that just Administrative Affairs Ann Wylie brushed off the historic significance of Morrill won’t end. For years administrators and transit officials have debated Hall and other buildings on the campus, remarking “Why does it matter?” to the where exactly the proposed light rail system, which would connect possible historic designation Morrill Hall could soon hold, comparing the buildMetro lines from Bethesda to New Carrollton, should slice through the ing, which was constructed in 1898, to Cole Field House, which opened in 1955.

To answer her question, it matters for multiple reasons. We are the flagship campus. With each proposal, complications have multiplied, the latest of which university of the state. While many things make this university unique, our hiscame earlier this week.

Morrill Hall, the second oldest building on the campus and the only structure tory is a part of it. To ignore the significance or the history of the campus and buildings is a disservice to students and alumni alike. Part of of the original Maryland Agricultural College to have surthe pride one takes in an old university is its ability to persevived the Great Fire of 1912, could soon become a countyvere over time, including both the institution and its structure. designated historic landmark after a vote by the city council.

Universities such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford and Yale If the 112-year-old building was to receive such a designation, then the administration’s proposal to run the light rail The university’s historic are not famous solely for all they have accomplished but also of the historic significance of their campuses. The train down Preinkert Drive, directly outside the South Camstatus should be accounted because centuries-old buildings that stand on their campuses are pus Dining Hall, would cut tracks right by a protected hisfor when determining the rooted in the lives of the people who helped make them what toric landmark. they are today. That should be a goal of this university as well.

But even if Morrill Hall isn’t bestowed with this governPurple Line’s route.

It is possible to be a leading university in the 21st century ment recognition, the building’s historic location in the forwithout the destruction of all that remains of our past. mer center of the campus is not one that should be disturbed.

Campus Drive is still the best alternative. While the possibility that research Memorial Chapel and the green lawns that surround it are also close by. This area of the campus is one that retains the collegiate atmosphere of the univer- could be hindered must be addressed and solved, the administration should sity’s past. That atmosphere would be destroyed by any type of train, whether it cease the continued efforts to scar the most historic and beautiful part of the campus. Hopefully Morrill Hall’s recognition as a historic site will finally make be a light rail or a freight line.

However, this seems of little concern to administrators. Vice President for the Preinkert Drive alignment a thing of the past.

Advice: Being an ageless wonder

Our View

Editorial cartoon: Jenna Brager

O

MATT

VERGHESE hounds alike — that a well-designed tablet at the right price would not only change the way the public accesses the Internet and various forms of media but transform or even save industries, such as print media.

After revolutionizing portable music players with the iPod in 2001 and breaking new ground with the iPhone in 2007, does Apple have another gamechanger on its hands with the iPad? Despite a name that harkens to women’s personal care, at first glance the iPad seems like a quality product.

Weighing in at 1.5 pounds, the iPad has a stunning 9.7” touchscreen and boasts a battery life of 10 hours. Operating the iPad will be eerily similar for iPhone

and iPod touch owners but will come with the added benefit of access to the thousands of applications in the App Store. Breaking with tradition, Apple has also priced the tablet within reach of most consumers starting at $499.Watching Stephen Colbert surprisingly pull an iPad out to present the Song of the Year at the Grammys allowed one to envision the cult-driven hordes that will descend on Apple retailers to get their hands on one.

But it is hard not to feel disappointed. A decade of hushed rumors and high expectations resulted in dashed hopes as Apple delivered a product that frankly looks like a supersized iPod touch and offers nothing substantially new. Apple’s strategy is seemingly dastardly: It is purposefully restricting the choices and freedom of consumers. Apple will control all content — music, books, movies or TV shows — all software sold through the App Store and has precluded any form of expansion.

Apple seeks to create a brand new market between laptops and smartphones, and it is unlikely the iPad in its current form will accomplish that.

Users are afforded fewer capabilities than their phones or their computers and will have no incentive to purchase a tertiary device to accomplish tasks already dependably done.

The problem with the iPad, however, may be deeper than Apple’s inexplicable ability to tempt consumers with flashy pieces of technology. The problem is the assumption that advances in technology will simply solve societal and economical ills. The failure of Apple to deliver the “Jesus tablet” only reinforces that fallacy.

The iPad may indeed one day change the way we educate children, watch TV or read newspapers, but that day hasn’t come yet. The tablet dream lives on.

Matt Verghese is a graduate student in public policy. He can be reached at verghese@umdbk.com.

UNDERDOG(S) OF THE WEEK

Water polo: Strong support for strong girls

A

nyone who knows me well knows that as the years have gone by, my visits to the Eppley Recreation Center have become few and far between. During a very rare trip to that awful building the other day, I happened to pass by the pool, and I couldn’t help but notice some crazy goings-on.

The Terrapin women’s water polo team was busy practicing, and as I stood there staring down at the pool — not realizing how creepy I must have looked — I began to garner a tremendous respect for what they do. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to make these brave ladies my Underdog(s) of the Week.

Now, my lower body athletic prowess is roughly equal to FDR’s, but even those of you who do have muscles in your legs have to give it up for these women. I’m no water polo connoisseur,

but from what I gather the game is somewhat of a cross between hockey and basketball, only the whole game is played in six-plus feet of water. Have you ever tried treading water for more than 30 minutes? It sucks. Add to that having to swim the length of a 30-meter pool, positioning yourself for passes, throwing and catching a ball with only one hand and then still having the strength and coordination to sling that little bitch past a goalie who is just as crazy-athletic as you.

Honestly, steroids should be mandatory in this sport because I see no other way for it to be possible.

Now, my adoration is nice and all, but the reason I place these women in the elite ranks of the underdogs is no one gives them the credit they deserve.

These girls could easily have chosen soccer or basketball or even just stuck to swimming, but they pushed them-

MIKE

DIMARCO selves to play a sport that most people don’t even realize exists — I think that’s damn cool. On top of that, these girls are preserving what is actually the oldest Olympic team sport, so in my book they are doing a service to the world.

We’re a big university, so it’s only natural for students here to flock toward the “big two” sports (maybe three if you count lacrosse, which I don’t). But even the general populous has begun to realize the Terrapins are talented in a lot more fields. We all know the soccer team can play, our girls’ basketball is perennially

FRISCHLING

Q:

I’m a senior this year, and for a whole host of reasons, I ended up having to take ENGL101: Academic Writing this semester. I’m 23, and I know a lot of the girls in my class are freshmen, which means they could be as young as 18. A lot of them are really cute, but I don’t know what the limit is. Bottom line: How young is too young?

A:

iPad: iDon’t know about all that n Jan. 27, millions of Americans eagerly awaited a speech to be given by one of the most influential and important men in the world. Talking heads prognosticated while the world was transfixed on how the United States could change the course of history itself. No, I speak not of President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union but of Steve Jobs’ address in San Francisco.

To thunderous applause, Apple’s chief executive made one of the company’s most anticipated introductions: a tablet computer called the “iPad.” Tablet computers — keyboard-less mobile computers — are not a new concept, and various forms have existed since the 1990s. But despite predictions from Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in 2001 that tablets would one day be the most popular form of PC sold in America, the product never truly penetrated the market. It had been the hope of many — tech executives and gadget

ESTI

respected — hell, even the field hockey team gets some love from the student body. Isn’t it time we branch out and open our arms to the outright athletic acumen our water polo superwomen possess? And why stop there?

Shout out to the diving team, and in the spirit of the Australian Open, let’s give props to the tennis players. Gymnasts, pole vaulters, shot putters, whatever.

You guys all deserve to have your stories told for having the tenacity most of us lazy bastards simply don’t possess.

So College Park, when North Carolina’s basketball team comes to town on Sunday, I’ll see you all at Comcast Center, but do me and the water polo girls a solid and keep them on your radar, too.

Mike DiMarco is a senior English major.

He can be reached at dimarco@umdbk.com.

I’m just going to skip right past the part where I make fun of you for being in ENGL101 —it’s too easy. But at the same time, it’s so hard because I really want to.

In any case, let’s not fool ourselves with the ol’ “age-is-just-anumber” bullshit. People who say that are 15-year-olds with daddy issues who like to date their professors or are statutory rapists with conscience issues. If age is just a number, then weight is just a number and height is just a number.

And if age, weight and height are all just numbers, then hook me up with that fat, 60-year-old midget who replaced my transmission a few weeks ago. He seemed like a nice enough fellow. Also, he took me for two grand, so I’m assuming he’s loaded.

This is obviously not viable logic. And if we’ve learned anything from that weirdo teacher who eloped and became impregnated by a 12-year-old in some heretofore unheard-of red state, then we know sometimes age does matter. With that being said, age difference matters exponentially less the older you get. Well, maybe not “exponentially” — I’m an English major so I’m not really sure what that means.

What I mean to say is, when you’re a high school senior, it’s sort of weird to date a girl in eighth grade. By “sort of weird,” I mean her dad might pop you in the kneecap something fierce. When you’re in college, it’s acceptable for a 23-year-old to date a freshman.

When you’re 35, it’s cool to date a girl 8 years younger than you, and so on and so forth. Eighty-year-olds can stoop as low as 12, according to societal norms. Just kidding.

So congratulations, you’re in the clear. I think the only concern I would keep in mind is weirdo smart kids who skip multiple grades and end up in college when they’re 15.

Those might not be the cuties you’re referring to, though. Kids of that ilk usually wear sports goggles to class lest they trip on the way up the stairs and have shirts that say “virgin is not a dirty word.”

As long as you don’t lie about your age, you are transgressing no moral issues that I’m aware of, which are most of them. If you’re still feeling concerned and you think these chicks are too young, try hitting up the downtown bars.

Then you can be sure all the girls are at least 21.

Esti Frischling is a senior English major. She can be reached at esti@umdbk.com.

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@umdbk.com.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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CROSSWORD 38 43 44 47 49

ACROSS 65 Festive quaff 1 Feinted 66 Magnate 6 Story with a point 67 Pertaining to 11 Antenna type hearing 14 Buddhist sacred 68 Telecom letters, city once 15 Best possible 69 Run up bills 16 Cambodia’s 70 Hesitant Lon — 17 Willow twig DOWN 18 Brain messenger 1 Celeb in the news 19 Quid — quo 2 Sounds of 20 Sealing a deal hesitation 22 Tenet 3 Jazz’s — Winding 24 Gas guzzlers 4 WNW opposite 28 Faked 5 Intrepid 29 Goings-on 6 Conclusion 30 Bracing 7 Yemen’s gulf 32 — Zeppelin 8 Freighter hazard 33 Vibrate 9 Rest rm.

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10 Puts in office 39 Peon of yore 11 Dismantle a tent 40 Vienna is its cap.

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43 Too aggressive 23 Grammy genre 45 Went under (2 wds.)

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orn today, you are known for your cleverness and your penchant for original thought and action, but even you may run dry at times and have to rely on other sources for motivation and ideas. Still, at your best you are unmatched when it comes to making things happen — and you are at your best more often than not, surely. You don’t always do things in a way that is dramatically different from others, but the differences are most often subtle but with a dramatic impact.

You don’t always like to call attention to yourself; rather, you prefer to let your actions speak for you.

When it comes to love, you are something of a sentimentalist.

You will fall in love easily, and there is always a danger of having your heart broken quickly. Why is this? Well, you are often putting all of your eggs into one romantic basket, and this isn’t always the wisest course.

B

Also born on this date are Rosa Parks, civil-rights activist; Ida Lupino, actress; Isabel Peron, dancer, Argentine president; Charles Lindbergh, aviator; Dan Quayle, U.S. vice president; Alice Cooper, singer and musician.

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.

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ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You’ll receive valuable information simply by talking with others about current circumstances. You may have missed a key development.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — An error made early in the day may actually be advantageous to you later on. You can learn much from the reactions of your competitors.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You may have to work hard to keep your passions under control. A certain person, in a certain situation, is sure to get you fired up.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — A loved one wants more from you than you have been giving of late — and you have a priceless opportunity to reaffirm your commitment.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may actually be too clever for your own good. Take the time to sit back and let others figure things out; you’ll gain valuable perspective.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Routine, while boring to you so much of time, may actually provide you with a welcome respite. You can slow things down just a bit.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Now is no time to throw away the rulebook. You’ll want to do things in accordance with the requirements set down by those who have gone before.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You want no part of a plan that has no clear-cut conclusion. You want results and a finite timeline that can be followed throughout.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Your restlessness may be frustrating on the one hand, but it can also prove quite valuable on the other — as you seek creative outlets.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You may find it difficult to say what needs to be said, but it will be up to you to say it before it’s too late.

Copyright 2010 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

TRAILER WATCH:

Diversions

THE GHOST WRITER While director Roman Polanski, the most respected convicted child rapist alive, awaits his legal fate, the marketing for his latest film is heating up. Starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan, The Ghost Writer’s newest trailer shows the movie’s promise as a tightly knit thriller. The film, which had its post-production briefly delayed due to Polanski’s September arrest, opens in limited release Feb. 17.

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

REVIEW | DEAR JOHN

Dear John sparks a cliché love story The latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation brings nothing new to the table

BY KAITLIN BULAVINETZ For The Diamondback

There is a fine line between style and repetition in the romantic fiction genre.

Dear John tells the love story of Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer’s Body) and John Tyree (Channing Tatum, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) over the course of five years where their primary form of communication is through written letters.

Those familiar with author Nicholas Spark’s other stories (such as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember) are used to his dramatic tools, but this time it seems as if there is nothing left in the shed.

In his latest movie adaptation, the sappy story relies on death, disease and separation to drag emotions out of the cliché script. However, these are the instruments of a romance novelist for a reason: They will affect the entire audience.

But you already know how you will react to Dear John — the same as you would react to any romantic fiction, with a cynical smirk or a stream of tears.

The couple meets when John leaps off a dock to retrieve Savannah’s purse. Naturally, the purse is sitting neatly at the bottom of the ocean surrounded by an adorable school of minnows, and he’s able to find it easily while swimming in the crystal blue water. After a quick exchange of names, John is promptly invited back to Savannah’s beach mansion for a cold beer. They bond over barbeque and the moon before proceeding to have two magical weeks filled with charity work and the Carolina shore, spending every second together.

The match is intended to surprise the audience, as they are a pair no one expects to fall hopelessly in love.

John, the tough military loner, and Savannah, the idealistic college student, represent an exhausted staple of romantic films.

Despite their obvious love for each other, they are not a perfect couple.

Their first argument erupts the day before Savannah leaves for college,

Channing Tatum (left) and Amanda Seyfried play a couple separated by war in director Lasse Hallström’s Dear John.

resulting in John beating up three guys in three seconds with three punches. It is quickly forgotten, of course, when Savannah stops by his house for their regular lasagna dinner before she leaves for school.

Although the characters are onedimensional, both Tatum and Seyfried play the roles well. Tatum’s macho man demeanor appeals to the female-targeted audience, and he delivers the sappy lover’s lines in a genuine way. Seyfried plays the Southern belle with charm and stereotypical female vulnerability.

Director Lasse Hallström (Hachiko: A Dog’s Story) does an especially beautiful job depicting the lush and lazy Wilmington, N.C. The town appears to be stuck in time, a modernized version of the typical, glamorized Old South.

One of the film’s greatest attributes is

Classified CALL

the sharp contrast between Savannah’s world of North Carolina, the place where she and John fell in love, and John’s gritty, dusty Army station.

John’s setting is raw, yet lacks any truly violent scenes (and is thus perfectly tailored to most women). This contrast also emphasizes the distance between the two and contributes to any sympathetic feelings the audience has for the pair.

Surprisingly, a sub-plot is where an emotional response is most worthy.

The relationship between John and his father, Mr. Tyree (Richard Jenkins, Burn After Reading) is more moving and real than the core love story. Once again, it seems a typical relationship conflict: A father and son grow apart as the child grows older and his interests change.

It is revealed, however, that an

unknown developmental disorder prevents Mr. Tyree from connecting with his son. In one scene, John comes home from war and is greeted at the gate by Savannah, who slips under the security ropes and leaps into his arms as other travelers smile at the PDAloving couple.

When John and Savannah arrive at John’s house, Mr. Tyree is sitting quietly in his plastic covered chair in the living room in his suit. When John and Savannah finally see him, Mr. Tyree cannot bring himself to hug his son because of his disorder. Jenkins does an amazing job at driving the restrained emotions across, using vulnerability to capture even the strongest cynic’s heart.

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The father-son relationship is never idealized. It has flaws that are out of the character’s control, yet they love and respect each other anyway.

Throughout the movie, there is a metaphor between people with flaws and “mule” coins (flawed tokens that are more valuable because of their imperfections). The theme has the potential to be powerful but falls short because the couple’s flaws are next-tononexistent. Sparks places his lovers on pedestals, high above his audience, which creates an impossible relationship for real people to aspire toward and a movie you can only gain cheap hope from.

MOVIE: Dear John | VERDICT:

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

Sports

More coverage on the blog Check out Terrapintrail.com for more information on

signing day and the Terps’ game at Florida State.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY | 2010

Football team announces 21-member recruiting class Franklin says coaching uncertainty didn’t hurt recruiting

BY JAKOB ENGELKE Staff writer

RALPH FRIEDGEN | HEAD COACH “It got better as it went along. When there was a delay whether we were gonna be here or not, I think that hurt us in the beginning. But I think once we got going it was just a matter of a lot of hard work by our staff.”

JAMES FRANKLIN | HEAD-COACH-IN-WAITING “I don't really look at the head-coach-in-waiting as an advantage, but it allows us to have an answer. I think that helped us a great deal, not only getting some guys but keeping some guys.”

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

14-6 (4-2 ACC)

Florida State Seminoles 16-5 (4-3 ACC)

WHEN: Tonight, 9 p.m. ET WHERE: Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Fla. T.V.: RAYCOM DATA: The Terps beat the Seminoles 77-68 in their ACC opener on Jan. 10. Eric Hayes, Landon Milbourne and Greivis Vasquez combined for 52 points.

engelke@umdbk.com

Terps not looking back at Clemson game ahead of Florida State rematch Team didn’t revisit Sunday’s struggles in days leading up to tonight’s game

BY ERIC DETWEILER Senior staff writer

TERPTRACKER 2009-10 TEAM STATS Average PPG Field Goal % 3-Point % Free Throw % Rebounds/G Assists/G Turnovers/G

miah Johnson, who Friedgen said reminds him of former Terps’ and current Baltimore Ravens’ cornerback Domonique Foxworth.

David Mackall, a strong side defensive end, is ranked as the No. 15 prospect at his position by Rivals.com.

This years’ recruiting class also features two quarterbacks, Devin Burns and Tyler Smith. After the departure of three-year starter Chris Turner, the Terps enter this season with many questions at the position, and Friedgen said the race for the starting job is wide open.

“We’re gonna have six quarterbacks here next year,” Friedgen said. “They’re not separated very much. ... It’s gonna get real interesting because I think they’re all talented.”

Although the class features no five-star recruits, four are pinned as four-stars by Rivals.com, and four received All-America honors during their senior year of high school.

“Our coaches are the people who go out and find the kids and evaluate the kids,” Friedgen said.

“It got better as it went along.

When there was a delay whether we were gonna be here or not, I think that hurt us in the beginning.

But I think once we got going it was just a matter of a lot of hard work by our staff.”

TERP NOTE: Friedgen also announced yesterday that Terrapin men’s lacrosse attackman Will Yeatman, who transferred from Notre Dame in part because of a pair of alcohol-related suspensions in 2008, would be playing with the team next fall. Yeatman won’t start working out with the football team until lacrosse season ends.

“He’s kind of like a recruit on campus,” Friedgen said.

TERPGAMEDAY

THE MATCHUP

Maryland Terrapins

Terrapin football head coach Ralph Friedgen announced the team’s 2010 recruiting class yesterday, a group that includes 21 commits and is rated No. 37 in the nation by Rivals.com.

Despite a 2-10 record last season, the Terps were able to land a respectable class, which includes 10 players from Maryland or Washington.

Analysts also ranked the class near the middle of the pack in the ACC, despite the Terps’ last-place finish last fall.

“I think [last season’s record] had some effect, but I’m very pleased with what we were able to get out of this recruiting class,” Friedgen said. “I think it shows that people do have confidence in us. If you look at our track record, that’s the worst season I’ve ever had as an assistant coach or a head coach.”

Friedgen gave credit to his current players, who were optimistic during the recruits’ official visits.

He said the players’ high hopes for the future were evident to recruits, leading them to view last season’s performance as an anomaly.

Toward the end of last season, Friedgen’s job appeared to be in jeopardy. After a series of meetings with Athletics Director Debbie Yow, the Athletics Department announced Friedgen would be retained.

Offensive coordinator James Franklin said he was able to overcome the difficulties last season’s uncertainities presented during recruiting because of his status as head-coach-in-waiting.

“That’s the whole reason why we have a head-coach-in-waiting, to kind of counter that,” Franklin

said. “Whenever you get to the point, whether it’s coaching uncertainty, whether you’re getting a coach that’s older in years or maybe got a couple of years left on his contract, people are gonna use that against you. I don’t really look at the head-coach-in-waiting as an advantage, but it allows us to have an answer.

“I think that helped us a great deal, not only getting some guys but keeping some guys,” Franklin continued. “And I think it’s going to continue to help us in the future.”

Friedgen and the rest of the Terps’ coaching staff put an obvious effort into adding defensive talent, as the class includes 12 defensive players.

“One of the things that is signature about [the class] is I think we’ve upgraded our speed — we were looking for that — our athleticism and our pass rush,” Friedgen said. “You’ll see that there’s a lot of people that can put pressure on the quarterback.”

The Terps landed five defensive backs, four defensive lineman and three linebackers.

Defensive end/linebacker Javarie Johnson, who originally gave a verbal commitment to Miami, is already enrolled in classes. Johnson is the No. 1 ranked player coming out of Washington and could make an instant impact.

“That was big — there’s not doubt about that. That was huge,” defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo said. “He’s a great kid. On top of everything else that happened, he’s just a great individual. So that was a big sign.”

Other defensive players signed include defensive end Desmond Kearse, cousin of Tennessee Titans’ defensive end Jevon Kearse, and defensive back Jere-

TERPS

FSU

80.1 48.1 38.8 71.0 39.5 16.3 12.3

71.2 46.8 33.3 64.2 39.9 14.6 17.5

CONTAINING ALABI In the Terps’ first match-up with Florida State on Jan. 10, freshman forward Jordan Williams got Seminoles’ center Solomon Alabi in early foul trouble. Alabi sat out the majority of the first half, which let a smaller Terps’ lineup establish itself on the boards and take control of the contest.

In tonight’s rematch in Tallahassee, the Terps will have to once again attempt to take the 7-foot-1 star out of the game.

When Alabi did play in the two teams’ first meeting, he excelled. The native of Nigeria finished with 17 points and nine rebounds on 7-for-10 shooting in just 25 minutes.

The Terps have had success doubleteaming some of the ACC’s best big men in the low post. But in Sunday’s loss against Clemson, Tigers’ center Jerai Grant put up career-best numbers with the Terps focusing their attention on forward Trevor Booker.

The Terrapin men’s basketball team went back to practice Tuesday hoping to find a way to remain near the top of the crowded ACC pack.

Two days after turning the ball over 26 times in an ugly loss at Clemson, it was easier to look forward than to try to explain the defeat that dropped them out of the conference’s top spot.

Yesterday, coach Gary Williams described the disappointing box score that marked Sunday’s loss as an aberration in an impressive start to ACC play. The 21st-year coach didn’t bother to explain how his team got beat by the Tigers 20-8 on the offensive boards or any of the other shocking stats that helped derail the Terps’ recent surge.

On the eve of an important road game at Florida State tonight, Williams said focusing on the avalanche of negatives would not have done any good.

“What happened [rebounding] was the same way we ran our offense, the same way we attacked their press, the same way we shot the ball — nothing was good,” Williams said. “We haven’t even spent time on the Clemson game. We’ve just moved on from there.”

The Tigers dropped the Terps (14-6, 4-2 ACC) despite committing 21 turnovers and shooting just 32 percent. Williams said he can’t recall losing a game in which the opposing team posted such poor numbers.

So while the Terps will clearly need to bounce back in a big way

when they head to the Donald L. Tucker Center to meet the Seminoles (16-5, 4-3 ACC), it’s hard to find much use in their total system failure.

Besides Jordan Williams’ 13point, 13-rebound performance, it’s easy to see why Williams didn’t dwell on the game tape. Guards Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes combined to commit 14 turnovers.

Forward Landon Milbourne finished with just three points, his lowest output of the season. And the bench duo of guards Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker combined to shoot 1-for-9.

“Jordan Williams was incredible because he wasn’t getting any help in terms of his effort, but after that, you can put the rest of the guys all in a row,” Gary Williams said.

If the Terps are going to complete a season sweep of the Seminoles, they’ll need to right their discombobulated offense.

Florida State, led by 7-foot-1 center Solomon Alabi, leads the nation in field goal percentage defense. The Terps forced Alabi into early foul trouble and shot 47 percent to beat the Seminoles in their ACC opener at Comcast Center on Jan. 10.

But Gary Williams said his team will have to be even better to escape with a road win.

After matching up for 40 minutes and getting to see several more conference games on tape, many of the things the Terps didn’t do well against Clemson take on added importance.

More than three weeks later, the game should come down to timing and execution on the offensive end.

The Terps, pictured before their Jan. 26 game against Miami, struggled Sunday at Clemson, committing 26 turnovers. Coach Gary Williams said the team didn’t revisit the loss leading up to tonight’s game against Florida State. STEVEN OVERLY/THE DIAMONDBACK

“There’s not many surprise plays,” Williams said. “There’s not many plays you run where you catch them off guard because they haven’t seen them before.”

The Terps had Monday off as Williams traveled to Georgia to mourn the death of former Terps’ coach Bud Millikan. But as they went back to work, Williams indicated he didn’t even address the disastrous effort at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The coach acknowledged to the

media that his team could be undefeated in conference play if they made just a few plays down the stretch of a pair of tight road losses. But as a veteran of the rough-and-tumble conference, Williams didn’t bring up the past with his players.

“There was no message [about Clemson],” Williams said. “It was time to get ready for Florida State.” edetweiler@umdbk.com