021810

GOODFELLAS

STRONG FINISH

Terps hold Wolfpack to 21 points in second half of 67-58 win SPORTS | PAGE 8

Diversions talks with Martin Scorsese and Co. about Shutter Island DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

Thursday, February 18, 2010

THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Our 100TH Year, No. 87

“I”-series offerings to expand next semester State labor Full details of new general education proposal will be revealed in coming weeks

BY LAUREN REDDING Staff writer

The university will offer double the number of “I”-series courses next semester, as officials move forward with finalizing an overhaul of the general education program.

Of the 57 “I”-series courses that will be offered this fall, 35 are brand new, said Ira Berlin, a history professor and chair of the committee charged with replacing the university’s CORE curriculum. Twentyfour original classes were offered this semester.

The “I”-series courses — so named because they aim to emphasize issues, imagination, intellect, investigation, inspiration, innovation and implementation — focus on tackling “big” issues facing

today’s students. Officials hope the courses engage students more than traditional CORE offerings, which they say students often find stale and pointless.

The classes are the cornerstone of the new general education plan, the full details of which will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Revamping general education was a major goal of the university’s strategic plan, which is supposed to guide the university through the next decade.

Early feedback from the first set of courses was encouraging enough for the university to approve a second batch. Close to 100 new courses were submitted for review, but only 35 were chosen, Berlin said.

“We have one semester under our belt, and I’m optimistic this program will grow over time,” Berlin

History professor Ira Berlin discusses the new general education plan with SGA members at a meeting last night. STEVEN OVERLY/THE DIAMONDBACK

said. “I haven’t heard anybody say, ‘This is a bad idea,’ yet, so I think we’re on the right track.”

Berlin is also aware the “I”-series is just one part of a much larger plan.

“This tells us we had one good idea,” he said. “It doesn’t tell us much more than that. One good

see COURSES, page 3

SNOWED OVER

official backs grad. students Letter to state officials says university system ignored pro-union views

BY MELISSA QUIJADA Staff writer

Graduate students’ fight for unionization rights in the state was given a boost last month when a state labor official wrote a letter to several state government leaders expressing concern with the initial report.

Jay Hutchins, an official with the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation was a member of the workgroup that issued a November report that stated allowing graduate students and adjunct faculty members at state public universities to unionize would be too expensive and could harm the relationships between graduate students and their mentors.

In his letter to legislative and executive state officials, Hutchins wrote that he was unsure if the workgroup’s final recommendations reflected opinions expressed by all members of the committee. Hutchins wrote that university system institution representatives were a majority of the workgroup and appeared “unreceptive” to the idea of unionization for graduate assistants and adjunct faculty, despite pro-union views held by other members. The 18-person committee was made up of graduate students, adjunct faculty members, labor representatives, university officials and system administrators.

see UNIONIZATION, page 3

Snow damage to trees, buildings could further strain clean-up budget

BY BEN PRESENT Staff writer

Damages to buildings and landscaping on the campus from last week’s snowstorms will have noticeable effects deep into the semester and maybe even through the summer, officials said, compounding a dilemma that already has the university far exceeding its budget.

The most immediate issues facing Facilities Management staff are snow falling from

roofs, gutters falling off buildings and between 100 and 150 damaged or fallen trees, Landscape Operations Manager Karen Petroff said.

As the snow melts, Operations and Maintenance Director Jack Baker said, his staff will discover even more damage to roads and sidewalks from the heavy snow and salt use. Melting snow in the coming days could form “ice dams” on roofs, making leaks inevitable in many buildings.

“We anticipate — and we really won’t

know until some of it melts — how much damage we have,” Baker said.

For now, Baker said, Facilities Management’s initial concern is the ongoing effort to keep the campus safe. In places with known problems, facilities workers have been removing snow from roofs, Baker said.

Workers are already repairing a leak in LeFrak Hall’s roof.

Facilities Management staff members are

see DAMAGES, page 3

City hopes new faces for businesses can improve Rt. 1’s image Planners aim to replace plastic, neon signs; “We want to keep it classy,” official says

BY AMANDA PINO Staff writer

College Park wants a facelift.

The planning department for the city is offering business owners up to $2,500 in matching funds to ditch lowquality plastic and neon signage for classier store fronts, hoping new exterior signs could make the city a more desirable place to walk, shop and dine. However, with just a $10,000 budget for the incentive, the money is first-come, first-serve.

Though money for signs may be a baby step toward a more beautiful College Park, officials hope a little will go a long way in giving local com-

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

merce a boost.

Economic Development Coordinator Christopher Warren said the initiative had several benefits for both businesses and the city.

“We acknowledged the fact that some of the businesses are hurting, so some of us thought this would help them financially and help them attract customers,” Warren said. “Some people wanted to encourage entrepreneurs, new businesses, for opening up a store here. And for others, [the money] was a carrot to get businesses to upgrade their signs.”

see SIGNS, page 2 Sunny/40s

College Park officials hope replacing signs like this one with nicer varieties can beautify the city’s commercial areas.

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

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

DOTS, ResLife, Dining fees to jump 1 to 3 percent

BY LEYLA KORKUT Staff writer

Budget proposals met overwhelming approval at the RHA meeting Tuesday night due to departments’ efforts to keep student fees low.

The Residence Hall Association voted in favor of three budget proposals by the departments of Resident Life and Residential Facilities, Dining Services and Transportation Services. Though certain concerns about budget cuts were renewed, they were ultimately overruled in light of each department’s attempts to keep student costs in mind. The three departments proposed student fee increases ranging from 1 to 3 percent, jumps that are typical from year to year.

“They’re only doing it so they don’t increase student fees, which I’m fully in support of,” RHA student groups liaison Ellie Farr said.

Other senators less in favor of the proposals eventually conceded that budget cuts were inevitable due to state-mandated increases in tuition and a volatile economy.

“There’s nothing we can really do about the budgets,” junior history and secondary education major and South Campus Commons senator Laura Murphy said. “The departments have done what they can to minimize costs.”

see BUDGETS, page 3

MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

INDEX

RHA: Dept. budgets keep fee hikes low

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

www.diamondbackonline.com

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010

www.diamondbackonline.com

ONLINE TODAY

TALES OF IGNORANCE University of California, San Diego, officials publicly spoke out against a fraternity and students who threw a “ghetto-themed” party supposedly in “honor” of Black History Month. In what was known as the “Compton Cookout,” guests were urged to wear gold chains, gold teeth and rapper-style clothing.

The women? They were urged to dress as “ghetto chicks.”

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

reach,” Warren said. “And with the state of the economy, from page 1 maybe people don’t have money for marketing or adMost students, however, vertisement. But given that, thought potholes and uneven I’m happy with our progress.”

And though she thinks the sidewalks posed a bigger aesthetic problem than unattrac- program is a good gesture by tive signage and were skeptical the city, she said approving the a few new signs could have a plan for the new sign has been big impact on business or an arduous process weeks in the making. beautification efforts.

Restrictions outlined in the “I get where they’re coming from, and it could be a good program’s guidelines make idea,” junior mechanical engi- some sign types ineligible, neering major Ben Brooke such as signs that are temposaid. “I expect it would be more rary, flashing or blinking, or about the quality of the service made of brightly-colored plasa business offers, rather than tic or vinyl.

“If you look at any sort of the sign outside, that would atdesign guidelines for a downtract more business.”

Although Warren said a town, they sort of have a list handful of business owners of criteria about what are the have looked into the program best practices for signage,” since its October inception, Warren said. “We want to only two — Jungle Grille in keep it classy.”

Warren used cities such as Campus Village Center and Bagel Place in downtown Col- Alexandria, Va., and Frederick lege Park — are in the process as an example of towns that have a historical and quaint of finalizing their applications.

“One of the reasons why is look that makes them more atthat it’s a new program and tractive destinations than their people aren’t familiar with it, mass-marketed counterparts.

“R.J. Bentley’s has a nice so we have to do more out-

SIGNS

The city is looking to beautify Route 1 by providing money to local businesses to improve their signs. MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

sign, sort of three-dimensional. [It] looks or is wood cut,” he said. “Compare that to a 7Eleven sign or a Burger King sign — just one piece of cheap plastic on a pole — and you can see the difference.”

Warren said the incentive was only one piece of a bigger plan to revitalize the city.

“I don’t really know if the signs are what makes it look that way,” junior biology major Anisha Parikh said. “It would help to replace some of them,

but I can’t really put my finger on what makes Route 1 so ugly.”

Junior mathematics major Peter Durham was more optimistic.

“Route 1 looks a lot better than the parts of [Route] 193 or East-West Highway around here,” he said. “And I think it’s a good idea about the signs. A lot of college towns look more unique... I think this would help College Park be more like that.” apino@umdbk.com

Students and staff navigate icy conditions Facilities staff and workers see the most injuries

BY NELLY DESMARATTES Staff writer

Icy parking lots, sidewalks and stairs have created a hazardous environment for students attempting to navigate the campus in the wake of record-shattering snowfall, but some university officials said the population most at risk for ice-induced injuries may be facilities workers.

Even after Facilities Management employees worked all day and night in 12-hour shifts to clear paths in the snow last week, Director of Building and Landscape Services Harry Teabout said several areas of the campus remain covered with snow that might turn to ice.

“We expect it to continue to be icy, especially in the early morning as the snow thaws and refreezes,” Teabout said. “We are still salting and are continuing to work on making the campus safe.”

Many students have reported that trudging through piles of snow is made more difficult by the patches of hard-to-see ice that coats streets, sidewalks and stairs. But University Health Center officials said they’ve seen more injuries from facilities workers than from students since school reopened Monday.

Facilities workers charged with the arduous task of clearing tons of ice and snow have been coming into the health center with back problems and sprained muscles.

“We haven’t seen much of an increase in the number of students coming in with scrapes and bruises; however, we have seen some injuries in some of the folks in facilities,” Assistant Director of Health Promotion Kelly Kesler said.

But just because students haven’t been stumbling into the health center doesn’t mean they’re not falling, students said.

“I really wished that they would salt the grounds on the parking lots more,” said senior criminology and criminal justice major Kevin Akinyemi. “I almost slipped walking from my car this morning.”

Teabout, who said the icy patches are hard to manage because of fluctuating temperatures, said students can call Facilities Management’s weather communication center with complaints about areas that have not been cleared or have frozen over again.

In some cases, off-campus roads and sidewalks, which are left up to the county to clear, are even worse, some students said.

Sophomore psychology major Steven Parker broke his arm after falling on a patch of ice outside CVS in College Park Shopping Center. Parker fell as he was attempting to take an injured friend to the hospital Friday. Although he sustained his injury outside of the university, Parker said, at the time, paths on the campus were not much better.

“I know we got a lot of snow, and so I waited until Friday to go out, thinking it would have been more cleared, but some of the pathways we were on were just under inches of ice,” said Parker, who blames hard-to-see black ice for his and his friend’s injuries.

Because the snow made it difficult for university health workers to reach the campus, the health center was closed Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week and only open for limited hours Tuesday and Friday.

Parker said student slippage was a big problem, but there were no on-campus health workers to patch them up.

“I definitely think they should have kept it open like they kept The Diner open,” he said. “It’s kind of an essential service for students on campus.”

Health center and Facilities Management workers said students should continue to be mindful of black ice as they move around the campus, although staff workers will also continue to salt the sidewalks and tend to the melting snow.

“Be as careful as possible,” Teabout said. “Walk on sidewalks when you can. I’m really concerned when people are walking in the streets, but I understand that some [sidewalks] might not have been cleared.” desmarattes@umdbk.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

COURSES from page 1

The RHA approved budgets for DOTS, Resident Life and Dining Services at Tuesday’s meeting. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

BUDGETS from page 1 Concerns still lingered among senators, however, over Resident Life’s potential elimination of dorm landlines and DOTS’ plans to decrease on-campus parking. Both efforts, senators said, would cut department revenue.

Though Resident Life is still sur veying on-campus students about their landline usage, the potential elimination of the phone lines could save the department $71,870 for the 2011 fiscal year.

Despite the issue being raised during the meeting, the debate was dropped because Resident Life has not yet decided on a course of action. “[The department] need[s] to continue doing the sur vey before they do anything about that,” Commons senator Yoni Levy said. “So, for now, we don’t see that as an issue.”

Levy questioned DOTS’ aspirations to reduce on-campus parking in an effort to cut back on carbon emissions.

Though the measure is environmentally friendly, senators pointed out it is not economically savvy.

“I’m not sure the sustainability plan to remove cars from campus was fully thought out,” said Levy, a senior Arabic studies major.

“Does DOTS have a concrete solution? I don’t think so. I think the good news is that it’s still open to discussion.”

DEBBIE KOBRIN SOUTH CAMPUS COMMONS SENATOR

“Even without the current financial crisis, removing oncampus parking would mean lost revenue that DOTS would need to recuperate somehow anyways.”

Commons senator Debbie Kobrin agreed the department’s sustainability and costefficiency goals may be inconsistent but defended DOTS’ sustainability motives.

“Does DOTS have a concrete solution? I don’t think so,” Kobrin said. “I think the good news is that it’s still open to discussion.”

The Committee for the Review of Student Fees, of which RHA President Josef Mensah is a member, will meet Feb. 22 to review the potential student fee increases in the budget proposal. korkut@umdbk.com

idea doesn’t make the next good idea a lead-pipe cinch.

This does, however, mean we got to first base. And you can’t get to second base until you get to first base. I’m excited there’s been a good response to what will be the centerpiece of the General Education Plan.”

In an effort to gain feedback about the overhaul, Berlin met yesterday morning with the deans of the engineering, behavioral and social sciences and arts and humanities colleges. The three deans were largely supportive of the proposal but had some concerns about the program’s cost and implementation.

“Granted that these [concerns] can be addressed — and that's a major question — this is very promising,” Arts and

UNIONIZATION from page 1 Hutchins’ letter of contention is the second to assert that the November report overlooked opinions supporting unionization rights for graduate assistants.

In December, two graduate students alleged the report had an inherent antilabor bias, unfairly represented the workgroup members and was written almost entirely by Joe Vivona, the university system’s vice chancellor for administration and finance.

Vivona has said all members of the committee were given a chance to vet the report before it was issued.

But in his letter, Hutchins expressed outright support for allowing graduate students and adjunct faculty to unionize.

“It is my opinion that the discussions of this workgroup and the testimony heard from graduate assistants, adjunct faculty and institution leaders evidence a need for a greater degree of protection for these

The Art & Learning Center presents ~ as part of Black History Month ~

The

INFLUENCE Of ART In HIP-HOP LOCATION Stamp Atrium

TICKET PRICE FREE CONTACT artlearn@umd.edu MORE INFO www.thestamp. umd.edu/ artcenter

some questions but seemed supportive overall.

According to Berlin, the first set of courses has proved popular — most had relatively high enrollment rates. And he hopes the new courses, which deal with subjects ranging from the medieval crusades in a modern perspective to a history of the American dream to the significance of the element carbon, could be even more attractive to students.

The professors who are teaching this semester’s “I”series courses are working together in seminars to provide insight on how to improve the classes.

“They’re sharing their lessons and what they’ve learned so far, comparing notes and pedagogical techniques,” Berlin said.

“One thing we learned: Never schedule a course at 8 a.m.”

The full details of the plan will make their debut in the

next few weeks, after which it will need the approval of the University Senate and the Board of Regents.

“We’re very excited to hear about the plan,” said Senate Chair Elise Miller-Hooks, a civil engineering professor. “It’s a matter of whether or not we will endorse it [to university President Dan Mote].”

Berlin said while completing the overhaul is time-consuming, the plan is too important to rush.

“Almost everyone on the campus, in one way or another, is affected by general education,” Berlin said. “There are still miles to go. That’s why general education happens every 30 years. People get tired completing a new plan. But this is the time for it. We’ve got a lot of good ideas, and I’m hopeful it will get even better.”

employees,” he wrote.

Nearly two-thirds of the state’s graduate assistants work at this university and have long pushed for their own union here as a means to lobby for increased pay and better treatment. Four of the university’s five peer institutions have graduateassistant unions.

Adjuncts, who make up about 22 percent of the faculty at this university and teach about 11 percent of the courses are also not unionized.

Hutchins sent his letter to Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chairman Ulysses Currie (D–Prince George’s) and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Norman Conway (D–Wicomico and Worcester). Copies of the letter were also sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley and Secretar y of State John McDonough.

The letter sent by the two graduate students in December was also sent to Currie and Conway.

Anna Bedford, one of the two graduate-assistant representatives to ser ve on the committee, said both letters should show state officials

“I do know there’s problems with the university and graduate assistants that can only be resolved with unionization.”

mum stipends or other abuses,” she said.

Vivona said following the workgroup report, the university system created two teams charged with overseeing the implementation of policy changes suggested in the report, including allowing graduate students and adjunct faculty to take on a stronger role in shared governance.

The oversight committee, which is made up of both teams and of which Bedford is a member has already met once and plans to meet monthly.

But for many, this compromise is not enough.

“I do know there’s problems with the university and graduate assistants that can only be resolved with unionization,” said Todd Reynolds, an organizer of Mar yland Teachers and Researchers, an on-campus organization formed to lead the push for graduate assistants’ and adjunct faculty’s right to unionize.

“We want graduate assistants to have a democratic voice,” he said.

TODD REYNOLDS PRO-UNIONIZATION ORGANIZER

there is a real need for a state investigation into the conditions of “contingent workers” — adjunct faculty and graduate assistants.

Although the report claims standards of minimum stipends and maximum hours, Bedford claimed some university departments routinely ignore set standards, and many graduate assistants have largely forgone the formal grievance procedures.

“We do need a system that protects graduate assistants when they are facing excessive hours, less than mini-

redding@umdbk.com

quijada@umdbk.com

DAMAGES from page 1 also in the process of assessing damage to plants on the campus.

“Once the snow melts, we are going to find that more trees are damaged,” Petroff said. “The weight of the snow simply overwhelms the structure of many plants.”

While Petroff said Facilities Management can’t be sure yet, she said many trees will likely be removed from the campus.

“You can prune out the damage [on some of the trees], but what you will have in many cases is a tree that can no longer perform its function,” Petroff said.

Petroff said a lot of flowers are going to need to be replaced and the M at the main entrance to the campus will need to be replanted.

“We have low expectations for the survival of the pansies that were planted in the M,” she said.

Although Baker said Facilities Management is expecting tree repair and removal costs to be

Like many buildings on the campus, Somerset Hall has weighty icicles hanging from its gutters. STEVEN OVERLY/THE DIAMONDBACK

between $40,000 and $50,000, Petroff said she expects costs to be even higher.

Fixing potholes created by salt and curbs damaged in the plowing process will be the next step after large-scale snow removal efforts, Baker said.

Baker said Facilities Management will present the university with the costs of the cleanup.

Funds budgeted for other projects, such as planned renovations, will have to be used to make up the difference.

“It’s one of those things that we don’t anticipate and that we don’t budget for,” he said of the storms.

“That’s why budgeting is such a difficult thing to do.” present@umdbk.com

STUDENT MEMBER WANTED FOR STUDENT PUBLICATIONS' BOARD Maryland Media, Inc., publishing board for the Diamondback, Eclipse, Terrapin, and Mitzpeh, has openings on its board of directors for two full-time students.

DATES Feb. 25 & 26 TIME 5 pm-7 pm

Humanities Dean James Harris wrote in an e-mail. “My major advice to Ira and the committee is to provide clear contextualization for how this will occur, in terms of the process of modification and approval, as well as of implementation.”

Berlin will meet with the remaining deans next week.

“Deans are extremely important people on the campus, and we’ll be taking their suggestions seriously,” he said. “It can’t become a reality without the support of the deans.”

Berlin also presented the basic facets of the plan to the Student Government Association at a meeting last night.

“Ultimately, this is going to be students’ education,” he said. “Of all the constituents we deal with, the most important are the students. We want the students to appreciate this plan and help make it better.”

SGA representatives asked

This two part FREE event will take place Thursday, February 25th and Friday, February 26th from 5pm to 7pm in the Stamp Atrium.

It includes a panel discussion led by dancers , writers , and other members of the Hip-Hop community; and an interactive dance workshop. The discussion will focus on Hip-Hop, where it started, where it is now, and how art influences Hip-Hop and vice versa. The dance workshop is where students can learn Hip-Hop and African dance moves from esteemed dance choreographers!

The Board of Directors sets general policy, approves budgets and selects the Editors-in-Chief for the student publications. The term of office is one year and begins in May, 2010. The Board meets about once a month during the school year.

For an application, stop by room 3136 South Campus Dining Hall and ask for Maggie Levy.

Applications are due by Friday, February 26th at noon.

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 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

Advice:

Safety school W

hen prospective college students tour campuses across the country, ments made to the university’s prestige under his leadership. While this is certainly one question is posed to almost every tour guide: How safe do you true, we cannot forget the reputation of the surrounding area directly affects that of feel on the campus? It doesn’t matter if the campus is urban or rural, the university. If administrators want to continue this upward trend in excellence, Northern or Southern. Students — and their parents — want to they mustn’t lose sight of the broader impact College Park has. A city that students feel safe walking in at night and living in during their time at the university not only make sure they’ll be safe during their college careers.

For years, this university’s tour guides probably didn’t want to give an honest benefits current students but attracts better ones, too.

And if the drop in crime continues, better everything — proanswer. Muggers struck on a regular basis, riots would rock fessors, staff and businesses — will feel safer moving to College the city after every major basketball win, and “the Cuddler” Park. Finer, unique retail will come with East Campus and on made many female students double-check their locks at night. the lower levels of student high-rises. With more people minThat’s changed — somewhat.

University and city gling farther down the road, it will be safe for students to leave Statistics from last year show crime in Prince George’s officials should make sure the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Knox Road and County is at the lowest in more than three decades. In every the recent crime Route 1 each night, and the city could become even safer. Let’s area except burglaries, crime dropped 25 percent or more hope this dip in crime is the beginning of a positive feedback since 2005. Prince George’s County Police and University decrease continues. loop, resulting in a truly safe area surrounding the university.

Police should be applauded for these accomplishments.

As administrators gear up for a major change come next fall, crime should not be Although this decrease in crime falls in with a national trend, local police, the City of College Park and the university have taken concrete steps to keep crime down and placed on the backburner because current rates have declined. Instead, administrators and the next university president should reach out to the community, lobby students safe.

Despite these improvements, crime is still a stigma in College Park and for good the city council and ensure that this downward trend in criminal activity is not just a reason. Burglaries remain a serious issue, despite increased police patrols. During blip in the record books.

The city and the university are in this together. The thousands of students and winter break — when the city essentially becomes a ghost town — more than 30 faculty the university draws to the area also bring businesses and revenue. A city houses were broken into.

Much of the praise directed at university President Dan Mote since the Monday and county that is safe and prosperous is one that people will want to live in, busiannouncement that he will step down this summer has centered on the improve- nesses will want to open in and students will want to learn in.

Vices of V-day ESTI

FRISCHLING

Our View

A:

Editorial cartoon: Jenna Brager

State GOP: Step up to the plate

A

s President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats continue to struggle to maintain a fragile economic recovery and address a significant unemployment problem, their rightwing opponents have stumbled upon a winning way to obscure the nation’s problems: create a crisis over the budget deficit. Ross Perot would be proud.

That is not to say the fiscal path forward for the country is sustainable. The United States faces a fundamental disconnect between expenditures and the services the public demands from the government, and the revenues the public finds palatable giving government to finance those expenditures. The government also faces multi-trillion-dollar unfunded liabilities from entitlement programs, such as Social Security, and the current policy to extend former President George W. Bush’s tax cuts for the middle class will only exacerbate Washington’s grim fiscal situation.

But by making the deficit into a crisis, the not-so-loyal opposition has success-

MATT

VERGHESE fully diverted the country’s attention away from the real policy problems that need to be addressed. Rather than taking aggressive steps to combat unemployment and continuing to make much needed investments in education and energy, politicians seem to only offer pronouncements on how the deficit will soon endanger the American way of life.

The country remains at a precarious precipice while these newly minted deficit hawks go on the warpath.

A real debate on the nation’s fiscal health, however, is not what these deficitwhiners want. Taxes cannot be raised — only cut. Social programs cannot be reformed — only privatized. Spending must be reined in without listing which programs can be cut. Their intentions

are insincere, duplicitous and malicious.

At the state level, the deficit problem is even more severe. This state, along with 47 others, started the year with a budget deficit and had a multi-billiondollar projected shortfall. The fiscal outlook for the state will only continue to worsen as unemployment continues, incomes stagnate and stimulus assistance runs out.

Gov. Martin O’Malley has responded strongly. His administration has made more than $5.5 billion in cuts and eliminated 3,500 positions while protecting core priorities, such as both K-12 and higher education and the environment.

The response from state Republicans has been hypocritical and shameful.

Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich — a prospective gubernatorial candidate this year — has no problem pretending to be fiscally responsible by joining a Tea Party rally to protest government spending or railing against O’Malley’s prudent choices on his weekend radio show, even though during his tenure Ehrlich massively increased state spending and

saddled the government with more than a billion dollars in debt. Republicans in the General Assembly have criticized O’Malley’s spending cuts but have refused to propose ideas on how they would do it better. Indeed, Republican opposition is so hollow and uninspired that they might not attend a special meeting arranged in Annapolis next week to discuss ways to cut the budget.

It is time for us to get serious about the fiscal future of every level of government. If we are to act responsibly, we as a people must close the sincerity deficit.

Any way forward depends on elected leaders talking honestly about fiscal conditions rather than using fiscal policy and the budget as a vehicle to score easy political victories. Change has often been predicated by crisis, and it remains to be seen if we can successfully change our politics in time for us to avoid the coming storm.

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

Southwest Airlines: Face the fatness UNDERDOG(S) OF THE WEEK

I

had originally intended this week to give props to the efforts of the campus maintenance crew, as the recent blanket of snowy terror surely could not have made their lives very easy. Well, they deserve some credit for their efforts, but let’s face it: They do get paid to operate badass pieces of heavy machinery, and how often does Mother Nature dump all of her problems on us at once?

I also considered showing some love to commuter students because while we spent our last week binge drinking and playing in the snow, they had the duty of sitting at home and playing Scrabble with their moms, only to find out when school finally started again, they had no place to park. Well that sucks, but it’s only poetic justice for all the time they spend complaining about

how everything is harder for them.

Sorry you don’t live here, but stop killing our buzz — it’s not our fault.

Naturally, I was sweating a bit because I needed the $1.15 I make for writing these articles, but then, like a gift from the gods of idiocracy, Southwest Airlines dropped the Underdog(s) of all underdogs right in my lap. If you haven’t heard yet, earlier this week Southwest Airlines kicked actor/director Kevin Smith (Clerks II) off one of its flights — for being too fat.

Ah, my friends, when I heard that a reputable airline was incompetent enough to eject Silent Bob from their flight because he couldn’t “fit comfortably in one seat,” needless to say it was music to my ears. As a staunch opponent of big businesses and a former (and surely soon to be again) fatty, the opportunity to drop a deuce on the

MIKE

DIMARCO doorstep of a major corporation had me licking my chops.

Smith had apparently purchased two tickets as is policy at Southwest, but when he flew standby instead he could only find one seat. First of all, I understand it isn’t exactly the most comfortable thing in the world to have your shoulder used as a support system for someone else’s arm flab, but Smith is no Ralph Friedgen circa 2008, if you know what I mean. Plus, if you ask me, if a larger gentleman or a buxom ladywoman feels uncomfortable in one seat, then they can go ahead and buy two seats — hell, buy four — but it should be their responsibility, not the

Q:

The guy I’m dating made a really big deal about Valentine’s Day this week, which I really wasn’t expecting. We haven’t been dating for that long, and it kind of freaked me out. I’m also just not really into stuff like that, and it makes me feel like he doesn’t even know me. Do you think I should say something and tell him I think he’s moving too fast, or should I not make a big deal out of it?

airline’s. America is fat, deal with it. If you’re uncomfortable for a few hours of your life I promise you’ll live. And if the plane goes down you won’t have to scramble for a flotation device.

Aside from the fact that the policy is overboard, it literally baffles me how you can be so dense as to pick the one fat guy on the plane to 86 who just happens to be a brilliant and famous comedian. I know Smith may not have Clooney-esque notoriety, but come on, Southwest, do some goddamn research before you chuck him and try to offer a $100 voucher as reimbursement. Maybe I’m biased because I was a fat kid who was raised on Jay and Silent Bob, but I’m in Kevin’s corner, at least until the next time I’m wedged against an airplane window.

Mike DiMarco is a senior English major. He can be reached at dimarco@umdbk.com.

It’s funny how Valentine’s Day never really works out, isn’t it?

Either your boyfriend forgets to get you flowers and only gets you dark chocolate, or he gets you flowers, but they’re carnations.

Or he gets you roses, but he gets you an Almond Joy, or he takes you out to eat at Taco Bell. To be honest, I very rarely hear of girls complaining about getting too much attention.

That doesn’t make it any less legitimate, though. If you’re not into that kind of stuff, you don’t have to be.

That doesn’t mean your man friend doesn’t know you though. You said it yourself: You haven’t been dating for very long.

I understand the whole issue people have with Valentine’s Day, I really do. Big mega-evil card companies trying to exploit and enforce gender stereotypes while at the same time giving single people another reason to want to eat themselves to death. I get that. When you go to The Diner for dinner Feb. 14, it’s like having the word “lonely” tattooed on your forehead, and you’re eating in a cage full of single people shoving in their last few fries before they go home and watch reruns of The Bachelor. That is society’s fault if anything ever was. I also understand how stupid things like flowers and candy are. Flowers are expensive, they don’t do anything, and after a few days, they start to look like someone peed on them. I would rather a guy just write me a check.

What is appealing about all these niceties and cutenesses, though, is it means someone cares about you. To be sure, no guy is spending stupid amounts of money on stupid things trying to make himself feel loved or happy. Perhaps it’s best not to say anything about how you don’t approve of his Valentine’s Day efforts. Instead, slow things down in other ways that won’t reveal to him how picky and alternative you are. If Hallmark has taught us anything, it’s that no one wants those things in a girl.

You have as much control over the pace of the relationship as he does though. You can ask him on dates or come up with ideas for things to do together. If he tries to suggest spending the day naked in bed with mimosas and sushi, suggest something different and perhaps less intimate. You could go ice-skating, which encourages hand-holding but is far too public and cold to encourage nakedness. However you choose to handle it, don’t make him feel bad or insecure about trying to do nice things for you. It’s completely understandable that at this time it was too much for you, but unless you want to scare him away, just let it go.

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.

All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to 600 words.

Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media.

The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 65 Firm refusal 66 Prune the hedge 1 Tug 67 Mil. plane 5 Expels 68 Makes a sketch 10 Swimmers’ aid 14 A moon of Saturn 69 Medal recipient 15 Indy 500 sound 16 Inventor’s spark DOWN 1 Kind of school 17 Many centuries 2 Yikes! (hyph.)

18 Avoid a big 3 Olin or Horne wedding 4 Girls 19 Bang 5 Late 20 Sci-fi weapons 6 WWW addresses 22 Potpourri bags 7 Great Lake 24 Gary’s st. canals 25 U.K. fliers 26 Go faster (2 wds.) 8 Ranked highest 9 Smudged 30 Lowest stratum 10 Hushpuppy meal 34 Zeroes in on (2 wds.)

35 Was mistaken 11 Not employed 37 Sweater makings 12 Orderly 38 College stat 13 Rayburn 39 Atom fragment and Snead 40 — kwon do 21 Finale 41 Samoa’s capital 23 No gentleman 43 Desktop symbols 26 Epics 45 Phi — Kappa 27 Miss 46 Library’s need Longstocking 48 Pined for 28 Inbox filler 50 — Dawn Chong (hyph.)

51 Drain cleaner 29 Buyer’s concern 52 Base 30 Violin-playing 56 Twinkled comedian 60 Cambodia 31 Like Cheerios neighbor 32 Box 61 Not in the dark 63 Taj Mahal feature 33 Work clay 64 Two pounds, plus 36 Milne marsupial

© 2010 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

V A N E S R I A L

L L CH OO HO RN EU I GGER BOK AMOOS E V OWS P EO CE RS T ME T EREOS URN OUSE B SNT N I L AE OR OUD B L

A B B E A D A U C L A

1

47 49 52 53

Spray can Island nation Merchants Width 2

3

4

54 55 56 57

Capture Yes, to Angus Varieties Pace 5

6

7

— contendere Aquarius’ tote Got taller “...to form a — perfect union...”

8

9

58 Bahrain VIP 59 Showroom model 62 “Mogambo” name

10

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

24 26

27

29

34

35

38

30

31

36

42

33

40

43

44

47

53

32

37

48

50 52

13

23

39

46

12

25

28

41

11

45 49

51

54

55

56

57

60

61

62

64

65

66

67

68

69

58

59

63

orn today, you seem to understand the fleeting, even risky nature of your life and the world around you, but you never let it get you down. Despite the proof that you see every day, day after day, that nothing lasts forever and that no one can always get what he or she wants, you are able to maintain a positive outlook and a friendly, positive, upbeat demeanor — even when things are not going your way. You don’t have to win to enjoy playing the game; taking part is often your single greatest reward. You are in it for the experience, and you are sure to gather more than your share of experience when all is said and done.

B

You truly do honor those who have gone before — the elderly, those who have walked in your shoes, those who can claim to have been there and done that.

Ultimately, you cherish them for their trailblazing ways, and it is quite likely that your own parents are your heroes.

Also born on this date are Helen Gurley Brown, editor; Cybill Shepherd, actress; Yoko Ono, artist; Molly Ringwald, actress; Matt Dillon, actor; John Travolta, actor; Milos Forman, filmmaker.

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

I R GORP

BY URA L I E MEGA D I BSEN D I A BO I L ERS RE L RON AR AV I D ASSE T S I MPERS N I A T T ERF L Y HE I L I E ON NEAP ND GEMS

lack of confidence or vision.

What happens next gets your blood pumping.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — It’s a good time to re-establish ties with those who were so important to you in the past. One friend in particular is ready now.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Trust yourself to do and say the right things when called upon to do so. You know what’s going on, and you have a keen understanding, too.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Use your head, and don’t let someone pull you into an undesirable situation merely by playing on your emotions.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Major gains are in the offing, but you’re going to want to begin this next phase of things in a slow, deliberate fashion. Minimize risks.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — The more you reflect on the past, the more you can anticipate the future in accurate detail. Others look to you for assistance in this line.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You may be finally coming out of a slow period marked by a

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — A few of your friends will be playing more significant roles in your affairs than expected. Are you the only one who is really surprised?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Tend to routine affairs before giving yourself over to a situation that others have provided and that demands you cut loose a bit.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You’ll benefit from greater analysis — even when a situation seems to be simple and clear-cut. There’s always a mystery to solve.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Don’t be so keen on being one step ahead at all times that you can’t enjoy taking the journey with a friend or partner.

Copyright 2010 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE SPONSORED BY:

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

THURSDAY $3 Absolut, $3 Jim Beam, $2 Domestic, $2 Coors & Miller Lite, $2.50 Bacardi

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — It’ll be more important to you today than it has been in the recent past for you to process and assimilate what comes in an efficient manner.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You tend to be hard on yourself when you feel you are at fault, but a negative situation has little to do with you.

FRIDAY Happy Hour 4-7 pm: $2.50 Bud & Bud Light 16 oz.

Drafts, 1/2 Price Appetizers

8 pm-Close: $2.50 Bud & Bud Light Bottles, $2.50 Rails, $3.50 Stoli, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan, $4 Jagermeister

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

W I AB T A TR

42 43 44 45

JUSTIN COUSSON BEAR ON CAMPUS

COLD SNAP

Thousands read The Diamondback Classifieds.

Call 314-8000 for advertising information.

TUNG PHAM

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

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

❖ APARTMENTS

❖ AUTO Degree of Difficulty: HARD

TODAY’S SUDOKU PUZZLE SPONSORED BY:

$30 Off per Month for All University of Maryland Students

888-351-8548 Romanesque Charm

866-236-0946

Parkview Gardens 6400 Riverdale Road Riverdale, MD 20737

• Furnished apts. available • Free internet & cable (1 BR only; subject to change) • Gated community • Beautiful kitchens and granite countertops* • Washer/dryer* • Fitness center • Indoor & outdoor pools • Free water & gas (cooking & heat) *Select units

C LOSEST O F F C AMPUS H OUSING! •Newly renovated • Parking Available

301-770-5623

Li

fo

r

Ru V o t Be nne e d rve st u O Pla p ff -C ce am to pu s

301-864-5050

thechateau.net

❖ FAX

SERVICE

FAX

SERVICE

Send/Receive

Local/Long-Distance

(international not available)

Diamondback Business Office • 3136 South Campus Dining Hall PHONE: 301-314-8000 • Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

❖ FOOD

gosia@pinstripeproperty.com UMCP Grad Students Pre-Approved

campusgardens.com

877-453-8948 Student Discounts Discounts Available Available• 1-3 Bedroom Apartments Available

❖ RECREATION

SKYDIVE!

Easy one-day first jumps year round from 22-Jumper twin-engine airplane at over 13,500 feet! (877) 348-3759. We offer GIFT CERTIFICATES & complete courses of skydiving instruction for Skydiving certification & instructors ratings too!

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

WWW.SKYDIVEORANGE.COM

summithills.net • 866-236-5492

Heritage Park Apartments Now Leasing!

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

Call 1-877-273-2458 1818 Metzerott Road

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

www.Heritage-Park-Apts.com

YOUR AD HERE. To place your ad in the daily Service Directory, call 301-314-8000.

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE:

Diversions

MOVIE — THE WHITE RIBBON “With mournful pacing, innumerable shots at Christians and a steadfast determination to refuse the narrative norms of horror movies and period pieces, director Michael Haneke has once again made a film about the audience watching it.” — Vaman Muppala RATING: 4.5 stars out of 5 For a full review, just click the Diversions tab at: WWW.DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

INTERVIEW | MARTIN SCORSESE, LEONARDO DICAPRIO & BEN KINGSLEY

Four of the men behind Shutter Island, from left to right: actors Ben Kingsley and Leonardo DiCaprio, director Martin Scorsese and actor Mark Ruffalo.

COURTESY MOVIEWEB.COM

WELCOME TO SHUTTER ISLAND The psychological thriller’s cast and crew discuss the filmmaking process

BY THOMAS FLOYD Senior staff writer

[Editor’s note: The Diamondback reported this press conference from New York City at the full expense of Paramount Pictures.]

NEW YORK — The face of American cinema is getting older.

As director Martin Scorsese fielded questions from a handful of reporters at a Manhattan hotel, one could clearly spot several thick wrinkles lining his forehead, just above his bushy black eyebrows and oversized glasses. The shoulder-length black mane he donned four decades ago while changing the scope of Hollywood with his violent tales of urban guilt, including Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, gave way to much shorter, thinner strands of gray and white hair.

When he starts talking film, however, Scorsese is like a kid planted on Santa’s lap — he goes on forever, but no one would dare cut off such genuine excitement. At 67, he still keeps pace with the energy of his more youthful peers. The man loves making movies. Always has, always will.

So it came as no surprise when a question about his influences had Scorsese roiling with enthusiasm moments into the discussion of his latest picture, the tense and psychologically trying Shutter Island.

“The more you see the past, the more you can draw upon that and the more you can make the present and the future,” Scorsese said. “All this draws on a very long memory of films that I’ve seen, books that I’ve read, and music that I’ve listened to over the years.”

The label “old school” quickly comes to mind when listening to the passionate Scorsese delve into his encyclope-

dic knowledge of film. Centered on an investigation of the fictional Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Shutter Island is Scorsese’s first dramatic feature since 2006’s twisty crime caper The Departed.

It’s not coincidental the founder of the World Cinema Foundation prepared his actors for production on the suspenseful Cold War period piece by screening them a series of classic thrillers from the mid-1900s.

“The trappings of [Shutter Island] automatically bring certain genres to mind,” Scorsese said with a grin, his distinctively brisk Queens accent in full force. “The issue was ultimately to have them work for our story and our characters, and at the same time refer to other material, other films, other genres in the past.”

Flanking Scorsese at the press conference were two of his Shutter Island cast members: Leonardo DiCaprio and Sir Ben Kingsley. Although Scorsese was his usual dapper self, sporting a navy blazer and tie, DiCaprio looked more relaxed, wearing an untucked sweater.

When he spoke, though, DiCaprio didn’t seem entirely at ease. Mostly avoiding eye contact with the reporters in front of him, he sheepishly looked down at his table while discussing his fourth collaboration with Scorsese.

DiCaprio’s somewhat introverted demeanor seemed appropriate when considering the journey of self-discovery his Shutter Island character, Teddy Daniels, embarks on. The deeply damaged U.S. marshal’s arc throughout the movie places him among Travis Bickle, Jake La Motta, Henry Hill and Howard Hughes as tortured Scorsese protagonists.

“We started to unravel who this man

Classified CALL

was,” DiCaprio recalled. “It got darker and darker and more emotionally intense than we ever expected. At the end of the day, it is what Martin Scorsese does best and that is portraying something about human nature.”

It was almost exactly three years ago, on Feb. 25, 2007, that Scorsese finally won an Oscar following seven defeats. One member of the production who has had an Academy Award for some time now is Kingsley, who won in 1983 thanks to his tour-de-force leading role in Gandhi. After appearing in more than 50 films, Kingsley — who plays psychiatrist Dr. John Cawley in Shutter Island — is still amazed by the power of sheer creativity.

“A vital ingredient to this characterdriven piece, because of the miracle of filmmaking, is that actually you make something out of nothing,” Kingsley said. “There’s nothing there at all. And then our collective imaginations create something that fills cinemas, which is extraordinary.”

Before Scorsese, DiCaprio or Kingsley could bring Shutter Island to life, someone had to adapt a script from Dennis Lehane’s 2003 best-selling novel. Several screenwriters tried and failed before Pathfinder scribe Laeta Kalogridis wrote an acceptable draft.

Upon reading it, Lehane only had one comment for Kalogridis: be less faithful.

“The biggest single challenge was to not get lost in how much good material there is in the book and find a way to preserve that sense of discovery and horror,” Kalogridis said.

Producer Mike Medavoy also recognized the problem, noting that short stories are easier to convert to films than full-length books because “it really takes a lot of work to get novels to fill the format and get everything

set in two hours.”

Lehane, who penned three episodes of The Wire and also wrote the source material for Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River and Ben Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone, told Kalogridis much of his narrative wouldn’t translate to the silver screen without changes. From his perspective, she needed to first and foremost concentrate on capturing the essence of the characters’ mentalities.

“I’m a very internal novelist, and even though I have a certain level of external plot in my books, they are very much always about the characters’ minds,” Lehane explained. “What great screenwriters do is they externalize what’s the internal in the book, and that’s what she did.”

Scorsese said he joined the project when the script’s can’t-put-it-down nature forced him into a sleepless night of reading. From a directing perspective, the movie presented him with unique visual challenges that both tested and excited him, including how to best use the widescreen format.

“If the characters are in a labyrinth or a trap, it’s interesting to fill the frame more with those elements of a trap. We had room in the frame to play with it,” Scorsese said. “Yet, at the same time, you’re on an island where it’s open sky and open ocean. So where is the claustrophobia?”

With scenes involving elaborate hallucinations, heavy flashbacks to World War II and fervent exchanges amid a pounding hurricane, the Shutter Island shooting schedule was plenty taxing on its cast as well.

“There were a few weeks there that were, I have to say, some of the most hardcore filming experiences I’ve ever had,” DiCaprio said. “It was like reliving trauma in a way. It was pretty

Engineering Tutor Needed Spring 2010 Market Rate $ Approx. 5-7 hrs./wk.

Contact Marie 914-666-9126 or 914-523-8974 STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM. Paid survey takers needed in College Park. 100%. Free to join. Click on surveys.

See Hundreds Of Different Job Listings On THE DIAMONDBACK

JOB BOARD

EMPLOYMENT

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

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

Earn Extra Money Mad Scientists!

Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No experience required. Call 1-800-722-4791.

COACHES WANTED Kids Sports League is looking for coaches to work with kids ages 3-9.

Weekday late afternoons and weekend mornings. Kensington/Bethesda/Potomac. Call or email: 301-466-6645, kidssportsleague@aol.com.

Veterinary Assistant — evenings and Saturday mornings. Silver Spring. $12/hour.

301-439-9444.

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

Training provided.

1-800-965-6520 x 116

By Visiting Finding a babysitting www.diamondbackonline.com job is as easy as pie!

Click on “Job Listings” in our navigation bar.

NEED MONEY? Conferences & Visitor Services is seeking highly motivated students for various summer positions. Great pay & FREE campus housing for FT employees.

Visit www.cvs.umd.edu for job descriptions and application. EOE.

EMPLOYMENT

THE DIAMONDBACK CLASSIFIEDS For More Info, Call:

301-314-8000

Up to $35/Class Hr. Instructors needed to lead fun after-school science clubs for kids in Metro area elementary schools. Experience working with kids a plus and MUST HAVE A CAR. Flexible PT opportunity. Must be available at least 2 days/ week (M-F) by 2 p.m. Paid training. Science background NOT required. $25-$35 per program hour.

Mad Science 301-593-4777

OFFICE HOURS

DEADLINES

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

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

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

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

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

TRAVEL

KNOX BOX APTS. LEASING NOW!

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL HQ!

HOUSES FOR RENT. Go to cphouse4rent.com.

Move in today! New home – 5 bedrooms, $600-$740/month/room plus utilities. 1 minute drive/walking distance from campus, on shuttle route. Deck, spacious backyard, washer/dryer, parking.

Richard: 240-423-1626.

Private bedroom in graduate house. Walking distance. $450-500. Joe, 410-830-9110. ircinc@comcast.net.

FOR RENT

Nice 2 bedroom Knox Box apartments for Fall 2010. 301-918-0203.

Nice room, clean student house, block from Bentley’s. collegeparkhouse@aol.com; 301-865-0662.

College Park Area — Quiet, elegant, (un)furnished studio apartment. Dishwasher, washer, dryer, a/c. All utilities included. $675. jkh3302005@yahoo.com or 703-715-6200.

2 HOUSES FOR RENT. 7600 Adelphi Road & 7602 Adelphi Road. 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, new central ac, washer, dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal. June 1 rental. $2900 each house. Contact Dr. Kruger: 301-408-4801.

BY FAX: 301-314-8358

HOUSE FOR RENT. 10 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 kitchens, big yard, 9 car lot. One block from Metro, 6 blocks from campus. $8000.

Visit www.thecollegeparkhouse.com for more info. Call Shaun 301-956-0110 if interested.

www.madscience.org/DC

College Park – Houses 4-6 bedrooms. Apartments – 2 bedrooms. 410-544-4438.

tfloyd1@umdbk.com

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY ADS

RATES

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

EMPLOYMENT

intense. And I don’t say that stuff very often because it always seems superficial when you’re talking about it in reference to movie-making.”

Though the film marks a step outside Scorsese’s perceived comfort zone in some regards, the veteran director’s colleagues recognized his ability as an actor’s director transcends genres.

“Just watching Marty work with actors generally is an amazing thing to behold,” producer Brad Fischer said.

“It’s seeing the way the scene evolves and the way the performances move in different directions to different levels.”

Added Kingsley: “I think it’s life and art. When you have a great working environment provided by Marty, one of the blessings of working under his love and guidance is that whatever you offer the camera, he will see every single scrap. He doesn’t miss anything.

The slightest movement of your eyebrow, and elbow, and inflection of a certain word — everything is noticed, everything is gathered.”

As Kingsley spoke, Scorsese’s eyes began watering. Quickly, he covered his face with a raised right hand. Following decades of seemingly universal praise, the quirky little filmmaker from New York still gets choked up when hearing a collaborator’s admiration.

“Marty directs like a lover,” Kingsley said, firmly clasping his hands together. “Everything is held together by affection — affection for his craft, affection for his actors, affection for his crew, affection for the material, and affection for the great journey of cinema in our lives.”

Shutter Island opens nationwide tomorrow.

Two blocks from campus: 2 rooms in 6 room house (males). Reduced rent. Pleasant housemates. 410-714-9357.

UNIVERSITY VIEW $750/month, NEGOTIABLE. One bedroom in 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. ALL utilities included.

Washer/dryer, fitness center, pool. 1100 square feet, walk-in closet. Patricia: 301-367-7555; pvalenci@umd.edu.

ROOM FOR RENT. 5 bedroom house, close to campus, shuttle/Metro route, walk to shops, washer/dryer, clean house! $525/ month. Email: 4705edgewood@gmail.com.

Single home, 3 bedroom, 2 bath. $1300 plus utilities. New appliances. 301-602-5242.

10 Steps to Campus 2-3 BR from $1200-1900 301-770-5623 gosia@pinstripeproperty.com

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

301-474-6000 Anytime.

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

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

Mexico Jamaica Bahamas Florida Texas Visit www.diamondbackonline.com and click on “Travel Center” in the navigation bar for hot spring break deals.

SAVE $25 – BOOK EARLY! ADOPTION

ADOPTION

Happy, Loving, Professional couple seek to adopt and provide loving home for Baby. Will help with medical and legal expenses.

Please call 1-866-372-8378.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010 | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

REVIEW | SHUTTER ISLAND

BY THOMAS FLOYD Senior staff writer

Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is the first marquee film of 2010. In 10 months, when all is said and done, it could very well be the best.

Although its enigmatic nature may be overwhelming to some, the latest entry into Scorsese’s filmography is a disturbing psychological thriller that artfully dissects the human mind and how it copes with trauma.

Laden with cryptic symbolism and motifs, the movie dares its audience to keep up amid the surrealism. If drawing the line between reality

and fantasy becomes a trying task, putting all the pieces of the narrative puzzle together is nearly impossible.

One can enjoy Shutter Island on first impression well enough, but to understand it completely, a second viewing is mandatory.

Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane (whose books have already been translated into superb dramas Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone), Shutter Island is set in 1954 at the height of Cold War paranoia.

The U.S. government tabs a pair of marshals — veteran Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road) and his new partner, Chuck

MOVIE: Shutter Island | VERDICT:

Aule (Mark Ruffalo, Where the Wild Things Are) — to investigate a mysterious matter at the water-locked Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

The grounds are eerily calm as Scorsese’s foreboding musical selection heightens the suspense. The pressing matter at hand is the disappearance of a particularly dangerous patient named Rachel Solando (played equally perfectly in different contexts by Emily Mortimer, The Pink Panther 2, and Patricia Clarkson, Whatever Works).

Daniels, however, has his own agenda. When the apprehensive behavior of Ashecliffe’s head psychiatrist, Dr.

1/2

John Cawley (Ben Kingsley, 50 Dead Men Walking), draws his suspicion, he vows to expose the hospital’s darkest secrets.

Amid the conflict, he is troubled by intense visions of his time in World War II and the death of his wife (Michelle Williams, Mammoth). Daniels downplays his hallucinations as mere headaches, which is like saying the guy whose face melts off in Raiders of the Lost Ark just had mild skin irritation.

Ruffalo, delivering a layered performance that can only be truly appreciated at film’s end, guides Daniels and often serves as the voice of the audience. Though the overarching twist is a tad predictable, its details provide the necessary shock value. When it’s over,

OPENINGS

FOR EDITORS OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Maryland Media, Inc., the independent publishing board for student publications on campus, is accepting applications for editorships for the 2010-2011 school year.

The following positions are open: 1. Eclipse editor-in-chief (current salary $1,500) 2. Diamondback editor-in-chief (current salary $14,000) 3. Mitzpeh editor-in-chief (current salary $1,500)

Application forms may be picked up in the Diamondback business office, room 3136 South Campus Dining Hall. Applicants will be notified of an interview time and date.

The deadline for applications is noon on Friday, February 26, 2010.

one can appreciate the subtle clues screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis (Pathfinder) used to hint at the ultimate conclusion all along.

On many levels, Shutter Island is visually the most ambitious picture Scorsese has ever made. The 67-year-old responsible for so many gritty masterpieces (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed, the list goes on) dresses Daniels’ delusions in beautifully haunting imagery.

The first major effects sequence involves Daniels speaking with his wife as her body slowly burns to ash — a metaphor for her real-life fiery demise. It is a gut-wrenching scene, enhanced by the heartbreaking visuals and score but anchored by powerful performances from DiCaprio and Williams. When the duo reunites for a pivotal flashback in the final act, another poignant exchange brings the story full circle.

Scorsese has cited mid-20th century film noir and B-movies as inspiration for Shutter Island, and a more contemporary eye can catch traces of Christopher Nolan’s tragically deceptive Memento and Charlie Kaufman’s existentially thought-provoking Synecdoche, New York, scattered throughout the film.

Considering its February opening, Shutter Island emphatically defies the convention that Oscar-worthy fare doesn’t hit theaters before October. After all, Paramount

Pictures originally set Shutter Island’s release in the month of Halloween chillers and thrillers. Regrettably, the studio bigwigs decided the film would be more profitable with an early 2010 debut, sacrificing an awards season push for financial leverage.

Which raises the question: Does Shutter Island have a shot at Oscar gold? It might, and the film should definitely pick up a nomination in the expanded Best Picture field. DiCaprio, meanwhile, is long overdue for a statue and admirably tackling this immensely complex role could push him over the top.

Kingsley and Williams should be contenders in the supporting categories, along with Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), a one-scene wonder as a bruised and beaten schizophrenic. If nothing else, they deserve recognition for standing out among a prestigious cast that also includes Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs, the last February release to win Best Picture) and Max von Sydow (Solomon Kane).

Of course, there is also the possibility of Scorsese taking home top directing honors for two straight features after decades of snubbery. All things considered, it’s hard to see the justice in Scorsese being tied with Phil Collins and Three 6 Mafia on the running Academy Award tally with one. Fair enough? tfloyd1@umdbk.com

The Diamondback Online • Campus News • Sports • Opinion • Diversions • Classified Ads • Blogs and additional features

www.diamondbackonline.com

SENIOR GRADUATION PORTRAITS

T

he 2010 TERRAPIN YEARBOOK, in association with Carl Wolf Studios, will be taking graduation portraits the week of February 22-26, 2010.

Although it is TOO LATE for these pictures to be included in the 2010 TERRAPIN, many of you called to request this portrait session.

There is absolutely NO cost or obligation on your part. Several poses will be taken, both with and without cap and gown, if you prefer. You will then have an opportunity to purchase portraits at a reasonable charge.

You may make an appointment by calling 1-800-687-9327, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. until Friday, February 19th, or schedule your appointment on the net! Visit our site at www.ouryear.com using Maryland’s school code: 87101.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 22nd, appointments can be made by calling the Terrapin office at (301) 314-8349 between 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

DATES: February 22-26, 2010 One Week Only!!

TIME: 11am-7pm PLACE: 3101 South Campus Dining Hall (TERRAPIN YEARBOOK Office) PHONE: 1-800-687-9327 or www.ouryear.com School code: 87101

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010

Sports THE UPS

& THE DOWNS

INSIDE PRESENCE

A look at Vasquez’s chances Go to Terrapintrail.com for an examination of Greivis

Vasquez’s chances at the ACC’s Player of the Year award.

TERPS CATCH SECOND WIND Men’s basketball overcomes poor first half to beat N.C. State, 67-58

BY ERIC DETWEILER

Not only did Terps forward Jordan Williams score 19 points, the freshman did a lot of his damage in the flow of the halfcourt offense.

HAYES AND MOSLEY The two starting guards provided little support for Greivis Vasquez, combining for four total points on 1-for-11 shooting from the field.

VASQUEZ FOR POY Vasquez continues to make a strong push for ACC Player of the Year.

He poured in a gamehigh 26 points and kept the Terps afloat early.

TERRAPINS N.C. STATE

27 37

40 ——————67 21 ——————58

TERRAPINS (18-7, 8-3 ACC) PLAYER MIN FG FT Milbourne 29 4-11 0-0 Hayes 28 0-5 0-1 Mosley 30 1-6 2-2 Williams 30 7-10 5-8 Vasquez 35 9-17 5-7 Bowie 18 3-5 0-0 Tucker 9 0-2 0-0 Gregory 19 1-2 0-1 Padgett 2 0-0 0-0 Team TOTALS 200 25-58 12-19

O-T 1-5 0-4 2-6 4-11 1-4 0-3 0-1 0-2 0-0 3-3 11-39

A 0 5 1 0 6 0 1 0 0

PF TP 2 8 1 0 3 4 2 19 1 26 2 8 1 0 2 2 0 0

13 14 67

PERCENTAGES–FG: 43.1 FT: 63.2 3FG: 38.5 3-POINT GOALS– 5-13 (Vasquez 3-7, Bowie 2-2). TURNOVERS–7 (Vasquez 4).

BLOCKED SHOTS– 4 (Mosley, Gregory 2). STEALS– 5

N.C. STATE (14-13, 2-10 ACC) PLAYER MIN FG Painter 38 1-4 Gonzalez 26 0-5 Degand 22 4-12 Vandenberg 35 1-2 Wood 36 4-7 Williams 17 0-4 Davis 10 2-3 Smith 11 3-8 Mays 3 1-8 Horner 2 7-13 Team TOTALS 200 23-66

FT 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-2 1-1 0-0 0-0 4-4 0-0 3-3

O-T 2-4 0-1 0-4 1-2 0-1 0-2 0-1 1-6 1-2 5-10 5-8 8-10 15-41

A 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 3 1 0

PF TP 2 2 0 0 1 9 0 2 3 9 2 0 3 4 1 10 1 3 4 19

10 17 58

PERCENTAGES–FG: 34.8 FT: 80 3FG: 25 3-POINT GOALS–– 416 (Horner 2-3, Mays 1-4, Degand 1-4). TURNOVERS–– 12 (Wood 3). BLOCKED SHOTS–– 4. STEALS–– 4 (Smith 2).

ATTENDANCE–– 14,288 (19,722).

Senior staff writer

RALEIGH, N.C. – Gar y Williams stood behind the wooden podium in the RBC Center’s media interview room last night and started his post-game press conference with a sometimes-hackneyed line winning coaches often invoke, especially after particularly tough ACC games.

“I’m proud of the team,” the 21st-year Terrapin men’s basketball coach began.

Williams could’ve been talking about his team’s grinding comeback win against N.C. State or surviving a stretch of three games in five days with a pair of wins to stay tied for second in the ACC. More likely, it was both.

The Terps overcame a double-digit second half deficit to rally past N.C. State 67-58.

Guard Greivis Vasquez led the rally with 17 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to help the Terps to their seventh straight win against the Wolfpack. For ward Jordan Williams added 19 points and 11 rebounds for his second straight doubledouble as the wear y Terps shrugged off a sluggish start to cap their rigorous few days with a road win.

“We had a tough week, but there’s no excuses for us, and we got the win,” Vasquez said.

The comeback didn’t happen quickly, but after a forgettable first half, the Terps wore down the Wolfpack with pressure defense, inside scoring from Jordan Williams and timely shots by Vasquez.

The Wolfpack led by 12 points in the first two minutes of the second half, but the Terps gradually cut the deficit using their pressing defense to force N.C. State into quick shots.

Gar y Williams acknowledged he yelled at his players through most of one early second-half

“I think we had to play ourselves out of it. ... I think you can start a game tired and gradually get the momentum going.”

GARY WILLIAMS TERP MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

timeout.

Vasquez’s 3-pointer gave the Terps (18-7, 8-3 ACC) a 53-51 lead with 8:21 remaining — their first advantage since the game’s opening 10 minutes. That was part of a decisive 13-0 run that didn’t end until Jordan Williams’ free throw with 5:03 left made it 58-51.

N.C. State for ward Tracy Smith had just one second-half field goal, and the Wolfpack (14-13, 2-10) scored just seven points in the game’s final 9:53.

“We just wanted to press them at all times and make them get tired,” said guard Adrian Bowie, who hit a pair of second-half 3-pointers to aid the comeback.

“Once they got tired, they couldn’t make shots. They didn’t look inside as much.

It helped us.”

The only other time the Terps had completed a comeback when trailing at the half was in a Feb. 4 win at Florida State. In that game, they rallied for the lead early in the second half.

Against the Wolfpack, which lost by 24 in College Park on Jan. 23, the Terps needed to find a rhythm first.

Gar y Williams said there was “nothing” good about a first half in which they shot just 33 percent, including 1-for-5 from 3point range. Two days after not turning the ball over in a blowout win against Virginia, Vasquez

Guard Greivis Vasquez defends N.C. State guard Farnold Degand in the Terps’ 6758 win last night. Vasquez finished with 26 points to help lead the Terps to a second-half comeback. PHOTO COURTESY OF PEGGY BOONE/NCSU STUDENT MEDIA

had four turnovers in the first 20 minutes alone as the Terps went into the half down by 10 points.

“I think we had to play ourselves out of it,” Gar y Williams said. “I think you can start a game tired and gradually get the momentum going.”

“The second half we completely changed our

Vasquez’s play does the talking GREG

SCHIMMEL RALEIGH, N.C. –

A

bout an hour before the Terrapin men’s basketball team’s 6758 win over N.C. State last night, Terp guard Greivis Vasquez stood at the top of the key putting up shots.

An N.C. State student stood in the first row of seats and heckled Vasquez as he knocked down a practice 3pointer.

“Greivis, you suck!” the fan yelled loudly.

Vasquez calmly turned toward the fan, looked right at him and said, “What?”

Surprised and embarrassed by the attention, the student sheepishly — and much more quietly — said “Uhh, you suck.”

It was the first of many times Vasquez would make certain members of a vulgar and obnoxious crowd look stupid.

The Terps overcame a sluggish start, the fatigue of playing three games in five days and a Wolfpack team hungry for a victory to pull out one of their gutsiest wins of the season.

They trailed by as many as 12 points early in the second half and needed a 22-7 run over the final 9:53 to earn their eighth ACC win of the season.

And once again it was the senior Vasquez who led the way, willing his team to win no matter what it took.

Vasquez, who finished with a game-high 26 points, has taken his game to a higher level than ever before in recent weeks, and his leadership has been

incredible.

You may occasionally be turned off by his out-sized personality, but you cannot argue the impact he has on this team.

“Vasquez, in the second half, I don’t think in his mind he was going to let us lose,” coach Gary Williams said.

“When you have a player like that, that helps everybody else.”

And he did it in front of thousands of people who evidently hate him.

The shamefully rude crowd at the RBC Center yelled it all at Vasquez last night.

They chanted “U.S.A.” when the Venezuelan shot free throws.

One fan started an unoriginal and even more offensive “deport Vasquez” chant as Vasquez stood and waited for a Wolfpack free throw attempt.

They screamed epithets in Spanish, yelled taunts about his mother and held up signs that compared his appearance to that of a wild animal.

And yet Vasquez thrived.

It wasn’t his best game of the season or even his best game of this week, but it was his toughest game.

His four turnovers are more than he would have liked, and he did force a few bad shots, but Vasquez always seemed to have a big basket in him when the Terps needed one.

His deep 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock sparked the Terps’ offense early in the second half, and another trey from the corner gave the Terps their first lead after half-time with 8:21 left in the game, putting the Wolfpack on its heels.

And, most importantly, he wanted to win more than any-

body else on the court.

“I think my teammates carried me today,” Vasquez said.

“You’ve got to point that out.”

And that’s the other thing about Vasquez, especially this season.

Despite his shimmying, his jawing and his hairstyles, he really is a great team player.

He always has been, but it is becoming more apparent as this season progresses and he continues to make everyone around him better.

He’s a great passer, he’s a coach on the floor, and he knows the best way to motivate each of his teammates.

Vasquez showed incredible maturity last night, in the way

he led his team and in the way he dealt with all the hostility both during and after the game.

Vasquez wouldn’t bite at reporters’ questions aimed at getting him to comment negatively about the crowd.

“It’s a great building, great fans, and it was a great game,” Vasquez said.

With only a handful of games left in his senior season, Vasquez spoke recently about making the most of his remaining time in a Terp uniform.

With performances like last night’s, Vasquez showed once again that he does a whole lot more than just talk. schimmel@umdbk.com

attitude,” Vasquez added.

Following a blowout loss at Duke on Saturday and a blowout win against the Cavaliers on Monday, last night’s surge sent the Terps back to College Park with mostly positive memories of their snowinduced string of quick turnarounds.

“They’re resilient,”

Gar y Williams said about what the stretch taught him about his team. “[The schedule] takes something out of you. I think a lot of it is mental. You have to be willing to accept that things aren’t always going to be the way you’d like schedule-wise.” edetweiler@umdbk.com

Free Legal Advice!

Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office Walk-In Hours: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

(M, T, Th, F) New! Extended Wednesday hours10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

1235 Stamp Student Union 301-314-7756 Funded in part by your student activities fee