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Poll: Gov support low on ed funding State residents largely support Hogan’s cuts but voice concerns for education growth By Jon Banister @J_Banister Senior staff writer A majority of state residents are confident Gov. Larry Hogan is taking the state in the right direction, but a larger majority oppose his plans for education funding, according to a recent poll. A poll by The Washington Post and this university released Feb. 10 was the topic of discussion yesterday at a panel in McKeldin Library,
THE Rev. Holly Ulmer (center), this university’s United Campus Ministry chaplain, speaks to students in a group discussion about balancing their lives in the Memorial Chapel Lounge on Sunday. The event was part of a new program called L3, which is aimed at mental wellness. tom hausman/the diamondback
listen, learn, lead United Campus Ministry launches mental wellness discussion program By Josh Magness @josh_mag Staff writer College can be a tumultuous time for students as they begin to navigate adulthood and a career path, Rev. Holly Ulmer said, but this university’s United Campus Ministry chaplain said she hopes a new program will reduce that burden.
U lmer has introduced the L3 program, which stands for “Listen, Learn, Lead” and seeks to help struggling students achieve “spiritual and mental wellness” by guiding them in finding a career path based on their passions. The program is not a substitute for mental health treatments, Ulmer said, but is a complementary tool that uses meditation, weekly meetings and networking with Univer-
sity Career Center professionals to help students find their calling in science, the arts and humanities, business or wellness. This university’s L3 program, wh ich was one of 27 L3 g roups funded by private philanthropic foundation Lilly Endowment Inc., is important to Ulmer because she remembers how challenging the See church, Page 2
Weather still a concern for facilities staff
Although a few days have passed since Saturday’s snowstorm, DOTS and Facilities Management are still dealing with the snow-related issues, officials said. The Saturday snowstorm blanketed the campus with about 4 inches of snow. It covered university parking lots, streets and sidewalks, making these areas potential hazards for campus walkers, said Karen Petroff, assistant director of arboretum and
horticultural services. The Department of Transportation Services shut down Saturday’s afternoon and evening bus routes because of the poor conditions caused by the fast-falling snow, said David Allen, director of DOTS. If school ends early or shuts down, DOTS cancels bus routes. Because this storm was on a Saturday, DOTS made its decision to cancel services independently, Allen said.
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Students lobby for more regulation on fracking Univ students made up half of attending crowd By Grace Toohey @grace_2e Senior staff writer College students across the state convened in Annapolis yesterday afternoon to fight for stricter state environmental regulations. About 45 college students — including about 25 from this university — lobbied representatives
By Josh Magness @josh_mag Staff writer A facilities worker drives a small plow outside the Plant Sciences Building Sunday. Facilities Management said despite the clear walkways and roads, snow and ice are still occupying their time. josh loock/the diamondback
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State Sen. Ron young meets with university students Mike Houser (left), Sara Spaur (center) and Maya Spaur (right) to discuss his stance on fracking in Annapolis yesterday. tom hausman/the diamondback
to vote in favor of a bill that would prevent any hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the state until the year 2023. They also showed their support for a bill that would increase the state’s use of renewable energy sources, said Maya Spaur, the Student Government Association Sustainability Committee’s director See fracking, Page 2
Law modeled after alcohol legislation could legalize possession, personal plant ownership
By Carly Kempler @CarlyKempler Staff writer
@thedbk
See poll, Page 3
State legislators weigh weed possession, regulation policy
Despite melting, snow, ice problems remain
DBKNEWS.COM
where two state delegates from opposite parties debated Hogan’s plans, while Post reporters and university professors helped give context to the numbers. When Hogan released his budget last month, he touted a $45 million increase in K-12 public education spending. But this figure was $144 million less than what educators expected and planned for, causing an outcry among some educators.
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“If [the roads] are slippery, then we decide to cancel the daytime and evening services,” Allen said, “at which point we start our social media process, through the website, Facebook, Twitter and direct emails [to students, staff and faculty].” Some students stayed indoors Saturday because they said they did not want to make unnecessary trips in See dots, Page 2
A bill in this state’s General Assembly that could legalize marijuana in the state probably would not apply to this university campus but could be a step toward change. In itia l ly proposed by state Sen. Ja m ie R ask i n (D-Montgomery) on Feb. 6, the Marijuana Control and Revenue Act of 2015 would allow adults age 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow a ma x i mu m of si x ma rijua na
plants in their homes. It would fol low efforts i n Colorado a nd Washington by letting the state comptroller regulate the state’s new marijuana industry as well as the growth, sale and safety requirements of the drug. “Our experience with prohibition in the early 20th century shows that it’s not effective to criminalize a popular intoxicating substance,” Raskin said. “It just doesn’t make sense for us to be giving a criminal record and lifelong stigma to young people who are doing what our last couple presidents have admitted
Celebrate the fine art of basketball. See marijuana, Page 3
Celebrate the fine art of basketball.
SPORTS
OPINION
TERPS WELCOME IN NO. 5 WISCONSIN
STAFF EDITORIAL: NCAA student-athletes
Celebrate the fine art of basketball. The No. 14 Terrapins men’s basketball team will play in the program’s first top-15 matchup since 2003 when it hosts the Badgers P. 8
Big Ten’s proposal needs the support of the NCAA P. 4 DIVERSIONS
PEACE OUT, PAWNEE Say goodbye to Parks and Recreation with our look back P. 6 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is proud to support Maryland Basketball.
Go Terps!
Celebrate the fine art
of basketball.
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is proud to support Maryland Basketball.
Go Terps!
2
THE DIAMONDBACK | news | TueSDAY, February 24, 2015
church From PAGE 1 stress of college can be when combi ned w ith hav i ng to think about a professional future. “Realizing how v ulnerable I was in college inspired me to be a college chaplain,” Ulmer said. “In my experience, a lot of my troubles c a m e f ro m w re s t l i n g to find a sense of purpose and meaning. With a purpose, you can get through most challenges in life, both expected and unexpected.” A major practice in the L3 program, which is intended for religious students of all fa it h s a nd non-rel ig iou s students, involves walking th rough the Memoria l Chapel Labyrinth. Students walk through the labyrinth and meditate on a piece of scripture or any question t hey h ave u nt i l t hey feel relieved of the pressures of life, Ulmer said. “Some people walk with a stone representing the problems they have so they can leave it in the middle as a symbolic way of leaving issues behind them,” she said. “There are many ways to do it, and none of them are wrong.” Catholic Student Center Campus Minister Lisa Greey said the L3 program is doing important work for students because it can remind people of the gifts God gives them and influences them to use those gifts for good. “God wants us to identify and use our skills because it fulfills individuals and betters the greater community,” Greey said. “Looking at gifts and talents and
dots From PAGE 1 the snow without transportation services running. “We wanted to get food, a n d t h e b u s e s [s h u t t i n g down] were just kind of an added inconvenience,” said Allison Herskovitz, a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences. “I wanted to go to get food on Route 1, but the buses weren’t working and I wasn’t going to walk in that cold — it just wasn’t worth it.” DO TS ca nceled a l l bu s routes at noon on Saturday, mostly due to the developing icy conditions, Allen said. “Most of ou r i np ut [of the roads] comes from our drivers when they are out there,” he said. “We keep in contact at the end of each run. If they think the roads are slippery, then they let the dispatcher know, and they call management, and they
university students joined others rallying outside the State House last night in Annapolis to encourage stricter environmental regulations. About 25 university students lobbied representatives to vote in favor of an anti-fracking bill. tom hausman/the diamondback
fracking From PAGE 1
the Rev. Holly Ulmer, this university’s United Campus Ministry chaplain, helps students achieve “spiritual and mental wellness” with a new program. tom hausman/the diamondback calling from a faith perspective is extremely important.” The program is planning its main kickoff event, in wh ich t he R ev. D r. R uby Reese Moone, a civil rights leader, will come speak to L3 prog ra m members a nd co-sponsor Black M i n istries Chaplaincy on April 14. Ulmer said Moone’s speech “will show how her faith and spirituality inspired a lifelong calling as a civil rights activist.” “Dr. Moone’s story is truly a n i n s p i rat io n fo r t h o s e hoping to make a difference by fighting prejudice and oppression,” U l mer sa id. “Her personal journey can definitely help students as
they seek to find and live out their personal life callings.” Sophomore computer e n g i n e e r i n g m a j o r Jo h n Cardea said he decided to work with Ulmer on the L3 program because he wants to show students that religious beliefs and satisfaction with academics don’t need to be separated. “This campus has a lot of Christian groups and a lot of academic groups, but it can sometimes be hard for students to be actively involved in everything they want to b e ,” C a rd e a s a i d . “ T h i s program will help people to combine the two.”
call me.” D O T S a n d Fa c i l i t i e s Management consistently prepare for potential snowfalls. Facilities Management had snow response activities every day since Saturday, making it an almost 24-hour response, Petroff said. “ E v e r y [s n o w] e v e n t is goi ng to be d i fferent,” Petroff said. “In a perfect world, we’d know how much was going to fall and when it was going to fall.” Faci l it ies M a n agement staff spent all day Saturday shoveling high-traffic sidewalks and plowing the entries a nd ex its of the campus so university community members and emergency vehicles had access to the campus, she said. “On a Saturday, there was an event at Cole [Field House], [Reckord] Armory and Ritchie Coliseum,” Petroff said. “Our priorities during snowstorms are to first clear entries and exits and to provide additional support to venues that have
events taking place.” Faci l it ies M a n agement also makes it a priority to clear areas by the University Health Center, libraries, Stamp Student Union and dining halls, Petroff said. A few days after the snowfall, Facilities Management is dealing with the consequences of a “fast melt,” Petroff sa id . T he d epa r t ment i s leaving drains open in places where water is unable to soak into frozen ground to prevent puddles from forming. These puddles will then refreeze, meaning many areas need to be rechecked and re-treated. Facilities Management officials are continuing to deal with the storm’s repercussions, Petroff said. “We appreciate the comments and suggestions and patience of people who realize that we are dealing with a natural event and trying to maintain campus as operational,” Petroff said.
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The Changing Landscape of College Sports Wednesday, February 25, 7 p.m. Richard Eaton Auditorium, Knight Hall 1208 Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland
A panel discussion on a hot-button issue, featuring: Brit Kirwan Chancellor of the University System of Maryland
Kevin Anderson
Director of Athletics, University of Maryland
Christine Brennan
Columnist, USA Today Sports
Kevin Blackistone
ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” Merrill College
Missy Meharg
Head Coach, University of Maryland Field Hockey
Akeem Davis
Washington Redskin
Free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.povichcenter.org or email events@povichcenter.org.
w w w. p o v i c h c e n t e r. o rg
of governmental affairs. The group was brought together primarily by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a nonprofit organization fighting global warming in this state, Washington and Virginia. “I’m really worried with Gov. [Larry] Hogan in the office,” said Spaur, a sophomore environmental science and technology and government and politics major. “So far, he’s blocked a lot of the environmental regulations, like phosphorus runoff in the bay. We can’t afford to keep holding off on regulations, we just don’t have time for that.” Spaur served as this university’s campus coordinator for the student lobbying night, which also included students from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland Institute College of Art, Towson University and Goucher College, said Shilpa Joshi, the state’s campaign coordinator for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Joshi briefed students about the status and details of the fracking bill and about lobbying. Then students split
up to attend meetings with 33 legislators and dropped off information at representatives’ offices with whom they didn’t have meetings, Joshi said. “Legislators really open up and really respond well to young people in their office,” Joshi said. “[It’s a] good change of pace from stuffy lobbyists. … [It’s] inspiring to see young people charged up on an issue.” Sophomore computer science major Devin Ganey said he learned about the legislative process from lobbying for the first time. “I learned a lot about fracking and about how the whole legislative process works in Maryland,” Ganey said. “It was cool to see how politicians get lobbied.” However, some students on the trip had experience working with legislators, such as junior sociology major J.T. Stanley. He has lobbied in Annapolis for the University System of Maryland budget and in Prince George’s County for a bag tax. Stanley said lobbying against fracking is important because of the impact burning natural gas has on the environment, he said. “I think it’s important to stop [fracking],” said Stanley, an SGA Sustainability Committee member. “Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas
emission than carbon. … All the projections get worse and worse on the consequences that will have on the globe.” Students wanted to explain the science behind global warming to legislators because the fossil fuel industry can be misleading, Stanley said. They met with staff members from Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller’s office as well as other representatives from across the state. “We have the capability now to invest in green energy, green jobs, green infrastructure,” he said. “That’s why I think it’s important to come out. … Natural gas is not a transition fuel.” The eight-year fracking moratorium bill, sponsored by Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo (DMontgomery), is similar to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ban on fracking, which followed a six-year study on health implications from fracking. “The great thing that New York did that we have to do is they looked at it from a public health perspective,” FraserHidalgo said. “Public health is paramount. … It would be reckless for us to move forward without knowing more about the public health repercussions.” gtooheydbk@gmail.com
tuesday, february 24, 2015 | news | the diamondback
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Univ alumnus visits to discuss career path, face transplants field Philip Brazio, a state surgeon, spoke to 60 as part of undergraduate symposium By Alex Carolan @thedbk For The Diamondback Becoming a reconstructive surgeon is no easy feat, but a university alumnus is among the leaders in the field. Philip Brazio, senior resident at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, came to this university last night to share his endeavors as a surgeon and face transplant expert with attendees of this university’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Undergraduate Research Symposium. The annual event allows students to present posters of the research they’ve conducted. About 60 students and faculty observed one another’s work throughout the afternoon and asked questions while the institute’s fellows explained their research in the Bioscience Research Building’s colonnade. Following the poster session, Brazio spoke about his own experiences in the medical field. Kaci Thompson, the institute’s associate director of programs, said the institute invites
marijuana From PAGE 1 to doing. It’s time for the law to match reality.” Raskin said legalizing marijuana should have bipartisan support because it would provide the state with up to $70 million dollars in ta x revenue a nd wou ld improve law enforcement efficiency by allowing police officers to focus on more dangerous crimes. Legalizing marijuana not only comes with economic benefits, Raskin said, but also more control and regu lation of the d rug ma ny believe is no more dangerous than alcohol. “Surely, alcohol is a more lethal threat on the highways a nd i n domestic v iolence cases. … And people doing m a r iju a n a a re rel at ively harmless, except maybe to a bag of nacho Doritos chips,”
alumni to share details about their career trajectory. These speakers help emphasize the value of undergraduate research, she said. “It clarifies what [undergraduates’] career goals are,” she said. “It gets them interested in fields they may not have been interested in when they started out as an undergrad.” After the poster presentations, students attended a dinner at which Brazio spoke about his own career path. Brazio sa id he chose to specialize in reconstructive yinglun wu, a senior biology major (left), explains his research to freshman biology major Destan Scott during the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Undergraduate Research Symposium in surgery because he finds it one the Bioscience Research Building yesterday. Students presented their research at the symposium before hearing Philip Brazio speak about face transplants. james levin/the diamondback medicine and gave advice to versity of Maryland School of he realizes not everyone is so of the most impactful surgeries a handsome guy.” Brazio said plastic surgery students who asked about Medicine in Baltimore, Brazio certain about his or her career on a patient’s quality of life. “Because of that, it can be is one of the most difficult their own careers and aca- was an undergraduate at this plans. He emphasized the value the most gratifying kind of subsets of medicine in which demic plans. However, the university. He was a member of of the basic courses he took at students Brazio came to talk the Gemstone living-learning the university and how they one can specialize. surgery,” he said. “A lot of other surgery, we to are not limited in their re- program in the Honors College. can influence a student’s inBrazio talked about Richard Norris, a man who accidentally call ‘good-enough surgery,’” search; one fellow, Jessica “The collaboration between terests and goals. shot himself in the face 18 years he said. “You do the operation Terrell, has researched bac- people of totally different “Learning how to plan your ago. Brazio worked with Norris, correctly and safely, whereas terial communication. backgrounds was a really great days and your lab notebook “There have been problems experience,” he said. “We kind and take your notes carefully who underwent more than 30 in plastic surgery and reconsurgeries over the course of 15 struction, every improve- with antibiotic resistance,” she of had to get our heads together so that you can refer to them years. At the dinner, Brazio ment and refinement is felt,” said. “We wanted to see how and figure out a way to com- later is important,” he said. showed before and after photos he said. “You can always work the signals that bacterial cells municate ideas.” “These are lessons I once in use to communicate impact towards perfection.” of Norris’ face. While he knew from the a while forget.” Brazio also talked about the bacterial communication.” beginning that he wanted to “This is him these days,” Before attending the Uni- be a medical student, he said newsumdbk@gmail.com he told the crowd. “Kind of how he ended up in academic
he said. “Marijuana is much easier for high school students to get because it isn’t regulated like alcohol, so we can make it safer and control it more effectively by making it legal.” Lu ke P i nton , t h i s u n iversity’s Student Government Association director o f go v e r n m e n t a l a f f a i rs a nd a sen ior gover n ment a n d p ol i t i c s m a j o r, s a i d he views legalizing marijuana as a civil rights issue because the incarceration rate of people of color is disproportionately high. S t u d e n t s fo r S e n s i b l e Drug Policy President Olivia O’Keefe agreed, saying legalization can help end what some view as racial profiling. “I rea l ly hope lega lization can bring a reduction in the number of arrests that possibly have racial bias,” the sophomore community health major said. Pinton said there was “no
vocal opposition” during the SGA’s two-week process of approving the pro-legalization resolution passed Oct. 29. Suggesting broad support of le g a l i z at ion at t h i s u n iversity, a recent SGA poll of 592 students showed that 60.1 percent support legalization “in some way,” 23.5 percent are neutral and 16.3 percent are in opposition. Every higher education institute in this state would be responsible for crafting its own policies for marijuana use if the Marijuana Control and Revenue Act of 2015 is passed, Raskin said. O’Keefe sa id she hopes legalizing marijuana would force t he u n iversity to change many policies, including lessening the severity of possession charges and permitting medical marijuana users to bring the drug on the campus. Students shouldn’t expect a change in university policy
i f th is state lega l izes marijuana, Pinton said, because the Un iversity Senate Ca mpus A ffa i rs Committee won’t permit the drug on the campus, including medically prescr i b ed doses of it, until the federal government removes it from the Schedule I list of banned substances. Even if the act is not recognized on the campus, P i nton sa id, the SGA would make sure to bring student voices to senate committees. “Being in the room is the most important thing in changing policies,” he said “We need to do more polling to find out what people would want to do, but we would try to hold special events as a student government to address any concerns or questions.” jmagnessdbk@gmail.com
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 2015-2016 school year. The following positions are open:
• Diamondback editor-in-chief • Mitzpeh editor-in-chief 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 27, 2015.
BY THE NUMBERS
69 percent
Amount of state residents who oppose Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposal to slow down education spending increases
27 percent
Amount of state residents who support Hogan’s proposal to slow down education spending increases
58 percent
Amount of those polled who said they are confident Hogan will take the state in the right direction.
poll From PAGE 1 A c c o rd i n g to t h e p ol l , 69 p ercent of st ate re sidents oppose Hogan’s proposal to slow down educat ion spend i ng i ncrea ses, wh i le 27 percent support it. Still, 58 percent of those pol led sa id they a re confident Hogan will take the state in the right direction. Del. Alonzo Washington (D-P r i nce G eorge’s) sa id the slowdown in spending would force Prince George’s County schools to cut 600 teaching jobs. “ H o w a re w e go i n g to improve? How are we going to attract more families to our country?” Washington said at the forum. “We won’t be able to stabilize our education system without the money that was slated due to the education formulas put in place over 10 years ago.” D el . Tony McCon key (R-Anne Arundel) argued that Hogan is spending as much as possible on education given the state’s fiscal woes. “Annapolis for the last 10 years has spent more than what it has taken in and that’s why we’re in so much difficulty now, we’ve maxed out our credit cards,” McConkey said. “What Gov. Hogan is saying is simply ‘Let’s spend within our means.’ If we get X amount of dollars, let’s not spend more than X amount of dollars. Still, with that limitation, he has found an extra $45 million for education.” After Rafael Lorente, the event moderator a nd t he journalism school associate dean, opened the floor for questions, the discussion shifted to higher education funding, with some students expressing concerns about tuition increases. Washington said Hogan’s budget could lead to a 20 percent tuition increase over
“I WAS A FIRSTGENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. ... I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE EDUCATION AND ENSURING COLLEGE STAYS AFFORDABLE.” ALONZO WASHINGTON
State delegate (D-Prince George’s) the next four years, with a 5 percent hike for the upcoming school year. “I was a first-generation college student,” said Washington, who graduated from this university in 2007. “I understand the importance of col lege educat ion a nd ensuring that college stays affordable.” After the forum, Washington said that the legislature can only move funds around, not increase total spending in the budget, so he would like to find other places to make cuts and transfer that money to education. Alexander Sorto, a sophomore cri m i nolog y a nd criminal justice major, said h e i s n e r vo u s re g a rd i n g what budget cuts will do to young people trying to pay for college. “It will definitely affect a lot of people because not everybody has the resources to pay for higher education,” Sorto said. “UMD is a flagship school and it is definitely going to be difficult for us.” Government and politics professor Michael Hanmer, one of the poll’s creators, said respondents wanted the governor and state legislature to prioritize public education. “The General Assembly and governor have to figure out ways to make sure that our education system gets stronger,” Hanmer said. “And we have to do more with less.” jbanisterdbk@gmail.com
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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015
OPINION
EDITORIAL BOARD
Laura Blasey Editor in Chief
MATT SCHNABEL Managing Editor
NATE RABNER
Deputy Managing Editor
MAGGIE CASSIDY Opinion Editor
Consequences of recent GMOs
Reality of student athletics
T
Opinion Editor
CONTACT US 3150 South Campus Dining Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | opinionumdbk@gmail.com PHONE (301) 314-8200
STAFF EDITORIAL
he notion that the NCAA has overstepped its commission as the governing body of an educationfirst amateur athletic association has gained serious traction over the past decade or so. The argument — that the NCAA prioritizes big-money television deals over the well-being of the studentathletes it purports to serve — certainly has its well-documented merits. In fiscal year 2013, the NCAA reeled in a nearly $61 million surplus, thanks in large part to its ultra-lucrative TV deal with CBS to air the Division I men’s basketball tournament as well as smaller agreements to air Bowl Championship Series football games. Meanwhile, its most profitable student-athletes, and those who allow the NCAA’s member institutions even a fighting chance at getting out of the red — men’s basketball and football players — continue to lag behind their peers and fellow student-athletes in the classroom. In the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate and Academic Performance rate data, football and men’s basketball rank last among all sports listed. Student-athletes in these two sports, on average, enter college with lower GPAs and standardized test scores. Once there, they account for 80 percent of all academic infraction cases across Division I sports — despite making up less than 19 percent of all participants. Part of the problem lies with these student-athletes’ perception of college athletics, a misconception fueled by the high-stakes, high-pressure environment, men’s basketball and football players experience upon matriculating. It’s common for Division I studentathletes to spend up to 40 hours a week in practice, which meshes little with the NCAA’s message of amateurism. It comes as little surprise, then, that many men’s basketball and football players have unreasonable postgraduate aspirations. Fifty-eight percent of BCS football players polled believed it was at least “somewhat likely” that they will play professionally, while a whopping 76 percent of men’s basketball players polled think they will reach the professional level.
CAROLINE CARLSON
Of course, the NCAA website’s probability table shows that just 1.2 percent and 1.6 percent of men’s basketball and football players, respectively, will go pro. But when those same NCAA athletes account for millions of revenue dollars and put thousands of fans in arena seats, all while taking reduced credit course loads during the season in majors that often offer little in the way of legitimate job options, can we blame them for some career miscalculations? OUR VIEW
The Big Ten’s proposal to improve the quality of education for student-athletes seems unlikely to win support from the NCAA. As anyone well-versed in college sports knows, when it comes to the academic and athletic components of the student-athlete, the emphasis is squared firmly on the latter. That’s why the pay-for-play, unionization and compensation for likeness usage lawsuits have gained so much steam over the past few years, and it’s why the 21st-century NCAA is at more of a crossroads than ever before. The Big Ten’s “Year of Readiness” proposal acknowledges that Congress and the public at large don’t quite seem to see eye-to-eye with college sports’ governing body on a number of fronts, and it comes as close as any arm of the NCAA has ever come to admitting that the current model of so-called amateurism is inherently flawed. The proposal, which more or less equates to a required redshirt season for men’s basketball and football players (still leaving them with four years of eligibility), aims to improve academic progress across those sports and “clearly distinguish the collegiate model from the professional model.” It acknowledges the staggering costs the proposal would incur — projections include $94.5 million in additional men’s basketball, football and Title IXmandated women’s sports scholarships.
The proposal suggests the NCAA could cover the additional grants by skimming the expenses off the top of its men’s basketball tournament and College Football Playoff television revenue. All the same, redistributing money produced by “institutions of high market value and competitive success” glosses over the sheer lack of such institutions. Of the 1,083 college sports programs in the nation — and the 350 such programs that offer Division I men’s basketball — just 20 netted a profit in fiscal year 2013. Cost, however, would be far from the only deterrent to such a proposal. The NBA does not permit drafting players fresh out of high school, resulting in a number of one-anddones — many of the best NBA prospects play Division I basketball for one season and declare for the draft before their second year of college. Without the opportunity to play basketball on a national stage their freshman year, elite prospects likely would spend that enforced gap year playing abroad or in the NBA Developmental League. It’s no stretch of the imagination to suggest the NCAA’s revenue from men’s basketball would suffer as a result. Though a mandated redshirt year would serve to protect studentathletes’ academic interests, it seems unlikely that the NCAA as a whole would sign off on the Big Ten’s plan, considering its economic challenges. The “Year of Readiness” proposes the most significant restructuring of the NCAA’s academic guidelines since 1972 — the year the organization adopted freshman eligibility in all sports. Much has changed since then, but the financial motivators that have driven big-budget college sports programs have only grown. “If we could send a reasonable yet unmistakable signal that intercollegiate athletics prioritizes education over athletics, why would we not do so?” the proposal asks. It’s nice to think positively, but without the NCAA’s co-sign, the Big Ten’s proposal boils down to little more than how its opening sentence reads: A simple public relations move.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
also result in contaminating organic and conventional apple farms. In essence, genetic modifications could lead to genetic pollution, where the modified species would eventually dominate a population by influencing the gene pool. On a broader scope, the most alarming concern of the Arctic Apple is that it sets a precedent for future GMOs and biotechnical products and techniques. GMO companies and organizations will use this as a platform to push their own products into the market. The result will be an influx of an overwhelming amount of diverse products, many of which could have no additional benefits to society, without proper regulation. This can be dangerous, and over time, who knows what the outcome will be on society. Even right now, there is no set standardized system in place to label GMOs, such as soy or milk products, justifying concerns. We all understand that the goal of GMOs is to produce food efficiently by maximizing potentials, and there is certainly no problem with that. We can even use GMOs as possible biofuels for renewable energy and in drugs, among other uses. The applications and benefits are promising; however, when our safety and the environmental wellbeing are compromised to achieve an end, we have to understand that this is a problem. The solution starts with us becoming aware and educated of the situation. By recognizing the problems, we can have a significant impact on the production and sale of GMOs by directly pushing for newer, safer regulation and labeling systems for GMO products.
SAURADEEP SINHA SOPHOMORE
T
he U.S. Agriculture Department recently approved the production and sale of the Arctic Apple, the world’s first genetically engineered apple. While genetically modified organisms are already common in our marketplaces, their increasing prominence and the entrance of the Arctic Apple is beginning to shed light on a significant problem. The uniqueness of the Arctic Apple is that it lacks an enzyme that catalyzes the browning process. By utilizing a relatively new technique, RNA interference, scientists are able to silence the gene that controls the expression of this enzyme. Proponents strongly argue that GMOs and novel biotechnology might be the solution to hunger and malnutrition across the world, but the Arctic Apple questions the relevance of such aims. At the basis, the Arctic Apple is simply addressing a cosmetic issue at the cost of opening the gates to several dangerous risks and serious future implications. Firstly, getting rid of the brown color gives a false indication of freshness. In addition, the RNAi technique being used to engineer these apples might potentially target and knock out other critical genes associated with immunological defenses and overall plant health. And because of the novelty of such technique, we are unaware of the potential harmful effects it might have on humans. There simply is not enough background and research to validate and be conSauradeep Sinha is a sophomore fident in these methods yet. Furthermore, the growth of chemical engineering major. He can the Arctic Apple product might be reached at ssinhadbk@gmail.com.
LAURA BLASEY, Editor in Chief MATT SCHNABEL, Managing Editor NATE RABNER, Deputy Managing Editor JORDAN BRANCH, Assistant Managing Editor BRITTANY CHENG, Assistant Managing Editor ERIN SERPICO, News Editor TEDDY AMENABAR, Online Managing Editor NICK GALLAGHER, Deputy Online Managing Editor MOLLY PODLESNY, Social Media Editor KELSEY SUTTON, Design Editor CAROLINE CARLSON, Opinion Editor MAGGIE CASSIDY, Opinion Editor SAURADEEP SINHA, Assistant Opinion Editor BEENA RAGHAVENDRAN, Diversions Editor ERIC BRICKER, Diversions Editor AARON KASINITZ, Sports Editor DANIEL POPPER, Assistant Sports Editor CHRISTIAN JENKINS, Photo Editor JAMES LEVIN, Photo Editor
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A B1G resurgence of spirit MATT DRAGONETTE
JUNIOR
E
ver since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to go to this university. At age 7, I understood nothing of the intricacies of college courses or why one would want to suffer through more school. All I wanted was to be in the student section for Terps football and basketball games, especially the ACC basketball games. The students were boisterous, the games were exciting,and the stadium atmosphere was tremendous. I couldn’t wait to lose my voice and storm the court at a Duke game. When I finally started attending games as a student in fall 2012, I
felt as though I was late to a party that was already winding down. The football games (in the four-win 2012 season) were less than exciting, and while the men’s basketball games were slightly better, the announcement of the university’s move to the Big Ten put a damper on the season for me, knowing it would be my only chance in college to see the Terps play Duke as ACC rivals. Luckily, that game was about as loud and as exciting as a basketball game can get — and we won. Last season, men’s basketball attendance was down and the game atmosphere seemed less exciting. There were several reasons for this, but it was clear that student energy was down. The athletic department continued to try out new traditions and gimmicks to drive up excitement and attendance. Men’s basketball finished with a me-
diocre record and failed to make the NCAA tournament. In addition, the men’s team saw some high-profile players transfer to other schools. I despaired. Where was the team of my youth? Why were there fewer students excited? But I shouldn’t have worried. Today, the Terps sit in the Associated Press Top 25. They are second in the Big Ten standings, have a top-15 RPI and have an outstanding 22-5 record. Not only that, but game energy also is up and it appears that attendance is up, based on the amount of student ticket-selling I am seeing (unscientific but seemingly solid evidence). My passion is rekindled, and though I’ve had a heart attack in just about every Big Ten game, I couldn’t be happier. I’ll leave the basketball analysis to The Diamondback’s sports section (and my Thursday night WMUC
sports show), but it is worth delving into attendance and enthusiasm “statistics.” Certainly, winning helps attendance — seeing your team lose 20 times a season would be horrible — but even top-tier schools have vocal student sections in their down years, so I know it’s more than that. Some credit should go to the athletic department. Officials have found some success in establishing new traditions, especially with inspirational videos and the flag unfurling. Organizing arrival times, giving away T-shirts and setting up in-game entertainment all help get students in the stands. The value of this work should not be understated because it provides some organization to the madness that is a student section. But there is no denying that students have stepped up. This is nothing new, as dedicated students
have and will always attend every game with enthusiasm, but the whole student section is willing to come, stay and be engaged. While in Big Ten play, the student section almost always has been filled and loud, giving the team a stronger home-court advantage and making the environment simply awesome. So tonight, if you have a ticket, come to the game and get loud. Make Xfinity Center a place to be feared by Big Ten opponents and loved by our team and crowd. Wisconsin might be in the national top five, but we can give our guys an incredible home-court advantage. Go Terps! M a t t D ra g o n e t t e i s a j u n i o r accounting and government and politics major. He can be reached at mdragonettedbk@gmail.com.
POLICY: Signed letters, columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback’s editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | The Diamondback
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FEATURES CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Part of SST 6 Marshes 10 “Sure thing!” 14 It merged with BP 15 -- fixe 16 Corsica neighbor 17 Internet link 18 Cold-light producers 20 Plea at sea 21 Destined 23 Cut drastically 24 Mild expletive 25 Sporty truck 26 Observation 29 Monty Python pieces 34 Raise high 35 Minty quaff 36 Endorse 37 Walk in the woods 38 Frothy 39 Milan moola, once 40 Stein filler 41 African river 42 Cower in fear 43 Swimming instructor 45 “Crocodile --” 46 “He’ll get --!” 47 Not much (2 wds.)
48 51 53 56 58 60 61 62 63 64 65
Sonnet stanza Mosey along Festive night Mechanic’s tool (2 wds.) Afghan, maybe Haunches Troubadour prop Aerie builder World’s fair Smirk’s kin Chorus platform
26 27 28 29 30 31
Fix up Banish -- -- fresh start Roly-poly To boot Helen of Troy’s story 32 Uncanny
33 Archaeology find 35 Roman Hera 38 Cries audibly 39 Fontanne’s husband 41 IOUs 42 More peaceful
44 El -45 Two-bagger (abbr.) 47 Daisy Mae’s man 48 Hideous monster 49 Heart of the matter 50 Office fill-in
51 52 53 54 55 57 59
The chills Silent Joule fractions Meadow rodent Aquarius’ tote Pipe bend Yes in Tokyo
DOWN 1 Snead and Spade 2 Melville title 3 Drowses off 4 Finish a cake 5 Reassure 6 Liquor buy 7 Ms. McClurg 8 Dweeb 9 Get the drift 10 Bellowed 11 Lamb’s alias 12 Fortas and Burrows 13 Leftovers dish 19 35mm setting (2 wds.) 22 Grill, perhaps 24 Strong wind 25 Heavy hydrogen discoverer
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HOROSCOPE | STELLA WILDER
orn today, you are nothing if not visionary. You are able to see the world as it is, but you can also see the it the way you would like it to be -- a better world, a world with greater opportunities for all, full of greater accomplishment and reward. You never hold back when you spot a chance to excel; you will work tirelessly, focusing on the most minute details, burning the candle at both ends, to see that you meet your goals and turn your vision into reality. Like so many born under your sign, you are a natural student of history, but you are not the kind to get lost in what has gone before. Instead, you will build upon the past to create a bright, shining future. You are likely to build quite a remarkable reputation for yourself, but not all of it may be positive. Indeed, there are some who will set themselves up as your rivals because they do not agree with what you are doing, how your are doing it and, perhaps most important, why. Also born on this date are: Steve Jobs, computer mogul; Kristin Davis, actress; Abe Vigoda, actor; Billy Zane, actor; Edward James Olmos, actor; Barry Bostwick, actor; George Thorogood, singer and musician; Chester Nimitz, U.S. naval leader; Joe Lieberman, politician; James Farentino, actor; Paula Zahn, journalist. To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- The more quickly you traverse dangerous territory, the more likely you will be to escape the dangers lurking within. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Just because you’re bound and determined to keep up the pace doesn’t mean that you should throw caution to the wind. Quite the contrary! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You must focus on the simplest way of getting the job done. Any attempt to come up with something new will only complicate things. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You know just where you are going, yet the road may be obscured for a time. You must always trust your instincts. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Though known for your ability to empower others, you must be willing to make a key decision entirely on your own. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You have much on your mind. A loved one is ready to throw an unknown element into the mix. Give a friend your two cents’ worth.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -You can maneuver past all kinds of obstacles, but you may be heading for one that will challenge you in a very profound way. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You and a loved one may both be waiting for the other to make the same key decision. There’s no reason to wait any longer. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- The way to a friend’s heart is through generosity -- and, at one specific point at least, a willingness to take the lead. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may feel as though things are not coming together as you had anticipated, but progress is still being made. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You can count on another to see you through a situation that pushes your buttons. Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You’re getting to the end of a key personal phase. Someone who knows you well is likely to surprise you with what seems like a revelation. COPYRIGHT 2015 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
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THE DIAMONDBACK | TueSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015
DIVERSIONS
YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW Staff writer Maeve Dunigan looks back on the ever-changing career of Paul McCartney, who has recently been making music with Kanye West. Visit dbknews.com for more.
ON THE SITE
TV | PARKS AND RECREATION
the Parks pyramid of greatness As we prepare to say peace to Pawnee, here are 10 of the beloved sitcom’s most hilarious and heartwarming moments
The cast of Parks and Recreation, including star Amy Poehler (center), poses for a publicity photo. The critically-acclaimed NBC sitcom has run for seven seasons, and its hourlong series finale is scheduled to air tonight. By Dustin Levy @dustinblevy Staff writer
it was cathartic to see him go out on a relative high.
Tonight we say goodbye to the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Over seven seasons, Parks and Recreation has displayed a knack for merging sincere sentiment with good-natured comedy that avoided mean-spiritedness (unless it was aimed at Jerry. Dammitw, Jerry!) Parks and Rec started as a messy affair about a broadly drawn protagonist trying to fill a pit, but it will conclude as one of the most enjoyable comedies on TV, starring a kick-ass leader in Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and her band of kooky, loyal friends. Once Parks and Recreation found its modus operandi somewhere during the second season, there was no stopping this infectious juggernaut of amusement. But before Leslie, Ron, Andy, April and the others say bye-bye like Li’l Sebastian, let’s take a look back at 10 times when Parks and Rec warmed our hearts or made us cackle until it hurt (or both).
Garry goes out in style Garry “Jerry” Gergich is the longsuffering punching bag of the Parks and Recreation department, and while he’s scored a few victories — such as enjoying a marriage to Gayle (Christie Brinkley) — nothing compared to his send-off in Parks and Rec’s penultimate episode. Ben grants the useless position of interim mayor to a stunned Garry, who is charioted to a celebratory hot air balloon ride, complete with a banner that acknowledges his birth name. For a character who cheerfully endured so much abuse on the show,
Leslie and Ron work out their differences with the help of Billy Joel Perhaps the crux of Parks and Rec has always been the mismatched but perfect pairing of Leslie and Ron. Although their political ideologies often clashed, they always found a way of letting their mutual respect prevail over their squabbles. That is, until the mysterious Morningstar incident that resulted in Leslie and Ron turning against each other during Parks and Rec’s threeyear time jump. But after the foes were trapped together to work out their differences, Leslie and Ron made up in the best way possible: getting drunk and rocking out to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (after a spectacular ad-libbed rendition from Leslie earlier).
Donna and Tom help Ben treat himself The novelty of “treat yo self” is worthy of a mention alone. But when Donna and Tom decided to bring Ben along for their annual day of pampering, magic happened. Enter Ben in a Batsuit, some stellar mugging at the camera from Donna and Tom, and some waterworks from Ben. “Uh oh, Batman’s crying.” Yes, and it was glorious.
The gang gets drunk on Snake Juice Everyone gets dangerously, absurdly drunk in one of the best uses of the sitcom talking heads trope ever. Ron Swanson dancing, anyone?
PARKS AND RECREATION DISPLAYED A KNACK FOR MERGING SINCERE SENTIMENT WITH GOOD-NATURED COMEDY THAT AVOIDED MEAN-SPIRITEDNESS ... THERE WAS NO STOPPING THIS INFECTIOUS JUGGERNAUT OF AMUSEMENT.
Ben quits his job for Leslie Be n a n d L e s l i e ’s l ove s to ry u nfold e d in many great ways throughout Parks and Rec’s run. Their surprise engagement and impromptu wedding certainly stand out as great moments on the show, but nothing beats the moment when Ben made the ultimate sacrifice to prevent Leslie from losing her job over their relationship. But, because it’s Parks and Rec, this sweet gesture was punctuated by hilarity, which came in the form of Ethel Beavers reading Leslie’s statement of love to Ben as snow fell and as the couple kissed.
Leslie casts a vote for herself After years of dedication, roadblocks and public forums full of Pawnee’s most colorful, Leslie was finally getting a chance to achieve a dream. As she punched the hole by her name in the city council election, Leslie’s eyes watered, and it felt too good to be true. So naturally, Bobby Newport, Leslie’s flighty political rival, interrupted
her moment because he was having a complete pen meltdown. Again, Parks and Rec really mastered the art of peppering sentimental moments with comic beats.
The jump to the year 2017 The sixth season finale needs to be included for ambition alone. For a season full of many goodbyes and big moments for the characters, it was a welcome surprise when the Parks and Rec powers decided to throw a twist in the mix. The season concluded with a hop to the year 2017, complete with a new name for Jerry, Leslie with bangs and Jon Hamm, for some reason. This set up many futuristic jokes for the final season, and it probably helped the showrunners get the characters where they needed to be before the final bow. How else would we have witnessed The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show?
April and Ann jam to Cyndi Lauper The April-Ann relationship remained fraught throughout the series, but they shared a wonderful little moment of respite during the fifth season. As Ann tried in vain to force friendship upon April, who was only complying to get a letter of recommendation for veterinary school, she failed again and again until voicing her feelings about having a baby with Chris. This culminated in April joining in on Ann’s planned duet of “Time After Time” because “everyone knows this song. It’s amazing.” (True!) Cue the former enemies feeling the feels to Cyndi Lauper’s ’80s classic, complete with Donna hilariously barging in the room to lend her vocals.
photo courtesy of wired.com
Andy and April get hitched One of the greatest strengths of Parks and Rec was its ability to let relationships grow naturally. There was no better example of this than Andy and April, a perfectly imperfect duo and a romance we were all rooting for. So in the show’s third season when the couple invited their friends over for a fancy party only to surprise everyone with a wedding, it felt so right. Andy recited his vows in an Indianapolis Colts jersey, April sobbed over her sister’s not-so-moving toast and, one Knope-sized freak out later, they were married.
The gang struggles to “get on their feet” “The Comeback Kid” stands as a top-tier episode of Parks and Rec, mostly due to the catastrophic events on an ice rink during Leslie’s city council campaign. As Leslie prepared to reignite her campaign, her team experienced quite a few mishaps, including the basketball court being converted into an ice rink, a way-too-short red carpet and a botched banner only featuring Leslie’s eyes (because “windows are the eyes to the house,” Andy says). Unsurprisingly, disaster struck, as the friends slipped and slid their way to help Leslie onto the podium while Gloria Estefan’s “Get On Your Feet” played over and over. Not only was the scene unspeakably hilarious, but the image of Leslie’s friends haplessly and unselfishly working together for her benefit captures everything wonderful about this show. I’m going to miss it. dlevydbk@gmail.com
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 |SPORTS | The Diamondback
7
popper From PAGE 8
GUARD MELO TRIMBLE rises for a layup during the Terps’ victory over Nebraska on Thursday at Xfinity Center. alexander jonesi/the diamondback
badgers From PAGE 8 commanded the country’s attention. It’s been about a dozen years since the campus has hosted such meaningful men’s basketball games, but a surprising run this season has catapulted the Terps back into the national spotlight. That’s where Graham, now a senior forward for the No. 14 Terps, said the p r o g ra m b e l o n g s . A n d that’s where the team will be tonight when No. 5 Wisconsin visits Xfinity Center and the Terps take the court in a top-15 matchup for the first time since 2003. “It brings me back to the days before I [played] here,” Graham said. “Watching topfive matchups like when Duke was No. 1 or No. 2, Carolina was ranked three, four or five. It brings you back to those times.” So yes, Graham and his teammates recognize the significance of tonight’s contest. Mark Turgeon does, too. When the fourth-year coach took over the Terps position in 2011, he cited the program’s storied history, a fertile recruiting area and a loyal fan base as reasons to expect success. The Terps, though, haven’t made an NCAA tournament appearance since Turgeon accepted the role. The team has beat its share of tough opponents over the past several years, but Turgeon said it hasn’t played in a contest quite like tonight’s, one with NCAA tournament implications and nationally compelling storylines. “ We ’ ve wo n a l o t o f
ga m e s, b u t we h ave n ’t played in a lot of meaningful games,” Turgeon said. “Now the games become pretty meaningful down the stretch here.” Turgeon’s squad has sustained success this season — it has been ranked for 13 consecutive weeks and has yet to lose back-to-back games — behind solid play from a trio the coach labels “the big three.” Freshman guard Melo Trimble, senior guard Dez Wells and junior forward Jake Layman each average at least 13.6 points per game and have dominated late in games for the Terps (22-5, 10-4 Big Ten). But Wisconsin (25-2, 13-1) has three stars of its own, who helped the team reach the Final Four last season. Forwards Frank Kaminsky (17.7 points per game) and Sam Dekker (13.1) earn most of the press and are touted as potential first-round NBA draft picks, while Nigel Hayes has helped round out the Badgers’ offense. The sophomore forward averages 12.1 points per game and shoots 52.8 percent from the field. As a whole, Turgeon said, the Badgers are so good because they don’t make mistakes. Wisconsin’s 201 turnovers this season are easily the fewest in the country as are its 343 fouls. “You watch film, and some teams try to speed them up, but they can handle it,” Turgeon said. “Some teams just try to go with the flow. Everybody’s tried something on them. They’re just so disciplined, so wellcoached that they usually adjust pretty quickly because they’ve seen it all.” Wisconsin’s solid play,
coupled with the production of the Terps’ big three, has both of the teams set to take the floor at Xfinity Center tonight in the hunt for the Big Ten title and a favorable position in the NCAA tournament. We l l s s a i d t h e Te r p s wouldn’t back away from the higher stakes considering they’ve beaten three top-five teams since he’s been in College Park. The 6-foot-5 wing isn’t worried a b o u t h ow h i s yo u n ge r teammates will react tonight, either, because this year’s team earned a convincing win over No. 12 Iowa State in November and hung tight in a loss to No. 2 Virginia in December, a game Wells missed because of a wrist injury. “At the end of the day, these young guys are experienced,” Wells said. “They know exactly the mindset they need to have, they know what to expect and what not to expect. Those guys are ready, those guys are battletested, and this team is ready for a challenge like this.” Graham agrees. He still perceives the Terps, despite t h e s t r u g g l e s o f re ce n t seasons, as the type of team that should be involved in heavyweight contests like tonight’s. Maybe even the type of team that can win them. “It’s Maryland,” Graham said. “For as long as I can re m e m b e r, M a r y l a n d ’s always been that team that: You expect them to go to t h e NCA A to u r n a m e n t , you expect them to make a run and you expect them to perform well.”
Turgeon’s squad hosted two top-five foes — Syracuse and Virginia — in a matter of weeks, pulling out an overtime victory over the Cavaliers in the Terps’ regular-season finale. Go back another year in College Park, and the Terps handed then-No. 2 Duke, an eventual Elite Eight team, one of its three regular-season losses of the year. Big stages, great players, Terps victories over nationaltitle contenders — it’s nothing new for the bright lights of Xfinity Center. But one thing sets tonight’s contest against No. 5 Wisconsin apart, and it has less to do with the prowess or ranking of the Terps’ opponent than one might think. For the first time since that 2002-03 season, the program’s first campaign outside of Cole, the No. 14 Terps will host a bout between two teams ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Key words: two teams. No longer is it the up-anddown Terps needing a defining victory over a marquee opponent to cling to ever-fleeting NCAA tournament hopes. No longer does the nothing-tolose mentality apply. This time, the college basketball world will be watching not only because of the
“WIN OR LOSE, WE WANT TO GO DOWN SWINGING. WE WANT TO LET WISCONSIN KNOW THAT WE’RE HERE.” JON GRAHAM
Terrapins men’s basketball forward team on the road, but also because of the squad that calls Xfinity home. “Just roll the ball out,” guard Dez Wells said. “I’m ready.” At yesterday afternoon’s media availability, Turgeon stressed that he doesn’t put too much stock in any one game — win or lose. When the Terps traveled to East Lansing, Michigan, and toppled Michigan State in a double-overtime thriller, Turgeon made sure his players didn’t get too high. And when the Terps faltered at Iowa and suffered a demoralizing loss, their third in five games, Turgeon kept his players from feeling too low. “You never make it more than what it is,” the fourthyear coach said. But one game can also vastly change a landscape littered with parity. That’s the opportunity tonight’s matchup presents for Turgeon’s squad. “Win or lose, we want to go down swinging,” forward Jon Graham said. “We want to let Wisconsin know that we’re here.”
In a season defined by exceeded expectations and pleasant surprises, the Terps have one more chance to prove doubters wrong. And credible doubters still exist. Seth Davis, a respected college hoops writer for Sports Illustrated, left the Terps off his most recent AP ballot. The Terps displayed an ability to compete with the nation’s elite teams early in nonconference play with a victory over Iowa State, which moved up to No. 12 in the AP Poll this week. But in the months since, they’ve struggled with consistency, getting blown out on the road while playing down to inferior opponents at home. The past few weeks have done little to show who the Terps really are: a viable threat to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament or a fringe top-25 team that’s mastered the escape act. Tonight’s game against Wisconsin should help define the Terps. Either way, Turgeon admitted a win would hold great implications for his players’ confidence and his program’s postseason resume. At this point, though, the Terps just need to hang with the Badgers and provide them with a true test in the biggest game this campus has seen in more than a decade. dpopperdbk@gmail.com
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We Want Your Input! STUDENT publications’ board needs two new members Maryland Media, Inc., publishing board for the Diamondback, Terrapin, and Mitzpeh, has openings on its board of directors for two full-time students. No publication experience necessary, we just want students who want to be involved. The Board of Directors sets general polic policy, approves budgets and selects the Editors-in-Chief for the student publications. The term of office is one year and begins in May, 2015. 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.
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Guard Lexie Brown breaks up a pass during the Terps’ victory over Penn State last night at Xfinity Center. christian jenkins/the diamondback
lions
BY THE NUMBERS From PAGE 8
for the Terps offensively. The sophomore finished the night 8 of 12 from the field for a gamehigh 17 points. The Terps’ stifling defense started early and persisted. More than seven minutes into the contest, Penn State (6-21, 3-13) had committed seven turnovers and all six of its field-goal attempts had missed the mark. It wasn’t until the 12:54 mark in the first half that the Nittany Lions ended the field-goal drought on center Candice Agee’s layup. “It’s been an area for us that we have really focused on,” Frese said of the defense. “A few of the lapses we had in the last game, we wanted to improve on. We have had two great practices leading up to this game, so I’m not surprised given the focus that we’ve had.” Led by guard Lexie Brown’s five first-half steals, the Terps defense continued to stymie the Nittany Lions, who converted on just 6 of
7 steals
Lexie Brown totaled in the Terps’ win over Penn State, marking a career high
6 shots
Penn State made from the field in the first half against the Terps out of 24 attempts
51 boards The Terps grabbed against Penn State, 24 more than the Nittany Lions’ total
24 field-goal attempts and committed 15 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. Even with the Terps offense stagnant at times against the Nittany Lions’ zone defense, Penn State’s inability to score prevented them from keeping the game close. The Terps jumped out to a 10-0 lead and took a commanding 35-14 into the locker room after Jones finished off a putback layup to beat the buzzer. Brown, meanwhile, tied her career high with seven steals to help the Terps force the
Nittany Lions into 22 turnovers on the night. “Everybody stepped up today to defend,” Brown said. “We were just really playing the passing lanes.” Even when Penn State got a shot up against the Terps defense, more often than not, it didn’t find the bottom of the net. The Terps, who also compiled a 51-27 advantage on the boards, held the Nittany Lions to 30 percent shooting and didn’t allow a made 3-pointer. After the blowout, the Terps’ lone senior, guard Laurin Mincy, sat before a group of reporters with the Big Ten trophy sitting on a table to her right. She’s hoping the hardware is just the first of many in her last season with the Terps. “ G e t t i n g t h e B i g Te n trophy at the end of the game was a big motivation for us, but we are not done yet,” Mincy said. “This is only the starting point for us. … We are going to live in it tonight and then we are going to get back at it tomorrow.” rbaillargeondbk@gmail.com
TWEET OF THE DAY Dion Wiley @NoShawties Terrapins men’s basketball guard
SPORTS
“Boutta go food shopping myself for the first time in my life lol”
WEST LEADS TERPS INTO MATCHUP WITH PENN
Midfielder Henry West and the men’s lacrosse team aim to fend off Penn at Byrd Stadium tonight. For more, visit dbknews.com.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015
MEN’S BASKETBALL | WISCONSIN PREVIEW
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Defense leads win over PSU No. 5 Terps blow out Nittany Lions to earn 19th straight victory By Ryan Baillargeon @RyanBaillargeon Senior staff writer
Since the Terps moved out of their historic home in Cole Field House before the 2002-03 s ea s o n a n d re l o c a te d to a n upscale facility on the outskirts of the campus, they’ve continued to welcome great teams to College Park. In 2014 alone, coach Mark
Last night’s contest against Penn State was a sluggish affair for the Terrapins women’s basketball team, which finished with 20 turnovers and shot 50 percent from the freethrow line. But a smothering defense helped mask the squad’s offensive deficiencies. The Nittany Lions finished with a season-low 34 points, the lowest score the Terps have allowed in conference play by 13 points. Behind that suffocating defense, the No. 5 Terps rolled to a 65-34 rout over Penn State at Xfinity Center. The win is the Terps’ 19th straight and brings them within two games of a perfect run through the conference regular season. After the game, the conference awarded the Terps (25-2, 16-0 Big Ten) the Big Ten regular-season title trophy, which they clinched over the weekend after Iowa fell to Ohio State on Saturday. “This is the first step for us,” coach Brenda Frese said. “Obviously something we are proud of, but the first step of many great things left for this team to be able to do.” Center Brionna Jones led the way
See POPPER, Page 7
See lions, Page 7
FORWARD JON GRAHAM yells at teammates on the floor during a win over Northwestern on Jan. 25. Graham and the No. 14 Terps host No. 5 Wisconsin at Xfinity Center tonight.
alexander jonesi/the diamondback
BACK ON THE BIG STAGE
No. 5 Badgers visit Xfinity Center for campus’ first matchup between top-15 teams since 2003 By Aaron Kasinitz @AaronKazreports Senior staff writer
After years of hoping for resume boosts or upsets, No. 14 Terps finally belong in prime time
Celebrate the fine Celebrate theartfine a of basketball. of the basketball. Celebrate fine art Celebrate the fine art
Ernie Graham starred for the Terrapins men’s basketball team in the late 1970s and early ’80s, so as soon as his son Jon was old enough, the two would attend games at Cole Field House together. Jon Graham grew up watching
coach Gary Williams’ Terps teams contend for ACC titles year after year, and he especially remembers games from the early 2000s. That’s when the Terps were often ranked in the top 10 and routinely welcomed powerhouse opponents such as Duke and Wake Forest to College Park for contests that See BADGERS, Page 7
DANIEL POPPER
Basketball columnist
Tonight won’t be the first time a top-five opponent strolls into the arena formerly known as Comcast Center to take on the Terrapins men’s basketball team. Far from it.
Celebrate the fine art of basketball. of basketball.
of basketball.
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is proud to support Maryland Basketball.
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Arts Center The Clarice Smith Performing Go Terps! proudSmith to support Maryland Basketball. TheisClarice Performing Center is proud toArts support Maryland Basketball. is proud to support Maryland Basketball.
Go Terps! Go Terps! Go Terps!