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CAROLINA BLUES PARTY ROCKING Terps travel to Tar Heels at low point of season SPORTS | PAGE 12

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Party Correspondent shows you how to throw the perfect party DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Our 102ND Year, No. 99

State considers voting against death penalty Maryland has only used execution five times since 1977 she said the bill will most likely not make it to the floor this year.

“I think as a community and a government we should not be in the business of killing people,” Gladden said. “It has fallen short in crime suppression.”

Since 1977, the state has only used the death penalty five times, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization that analyzes death penalty statistics.

However, Del. Patrick McDonough (R-Baltimore

BY JIM BACH Staff writer

Restaurateur Mohammad Afshar speaks before the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners at a hearing yesterday. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

County commissioners OK liquor license for new Rt. 1 bar

For several years, state lawmakers have proposed repealing the death penalty — an issue that will once again be brought up this session but has yet to make it to a full body vote in the state’s General Assembly.

State Sen. Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore City) — who has sponsored the senate legislation several times — said the issue has polarized lawmakers and prompted discussions about the merits of capital punishment as a crime deterrent. However,

see EXECUTION, page 2

Terrapin Turf to be housed in Santa Fe Café venue

BY NICK FOLEY Staff writer

Students may once again be able to bar-hop to familiar turf when the property that housed Santa Fe Café reopens its doors as a live music venue this summer.

Terrapin Turf, owned by Washington-based restaurateurs Mohammad Afshar and his two daughters, Salomeh and Yasmine, received unanimous approval for a beer, wine and

liquor license at a Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners hearing yesterday. While the Afshars can now open the establishment’s doors with the liquor license, they are also hoping to receive approval for an entertainment license from the city to operate as a live music venue.

Salomeh Afshar said they hope to receive the license at a meeting next month, after

see LIQUOR, page 7

Remembering Shirley Povich Panel discusses journalist’s lasting influence

BY JOSH VITALE Staff writer

Cameras and televisions lights surrounded Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, Maury Povich and four other journalists sitting in front of a crowded Richard Eaton Broadcast Theater, as an audience of nearly 100 attendees eagerly waited to hear them speak.

But none of last night’s panelists had traveled to College Park to talk about themselves.

In the “Remembering Shirley Povich” discussion — which also included Turner sports reporter David Aldridge, Washington Post

Vice President Ben Bradlee and Chairman of the Board Donald Graham, daughter Lynn Povich and son David Povich — panelists regaled the attendees with stories, memories and lessons learned from long-time columnist Shirley Povich and discussed the importance and legacy of the former industry-giant.

“A lot of students and a lot of our faculty have no idea who he was or what he meant to sports journalism,” moderator George Solomon said. “That’s why we wanted to put a panel together to share those anecdotes.”

BSOS Dean John Townshend addresses dozens of attendees yesterday at an event launching a partnership with Beijing Normal University. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

University launches climate change center with China

An ever-present past Hundreds celebrate Black History Month at event

BY ANGELA HARVEY

BSOS to collaborate with Beijing Normal University JIM BACH Staff writer

Celebrating almost seven years of collaboration between this university and China, officials from both countries have a new task to tackle together — tracking and predicting the global impact of climate change.

In front of dozens of attendees yesterday

see POVICH, page 2

afternoon, officials from China joined university President Wallace Loh to announce the Joint Center on Global Change and Earth System Science. The new center will merge this university’s Behavioral and Social Sciences department with Beijing Normal University’s College of Global Change and Earth System

see CLIMATE, page 8

For The Diamondback

About 400 people gathered in Stamp Student Union Monday night to celebrate African-American culture and challenge students to take up social causes for which they are passionate.

Through music, art, dance and speeches, students and special guests at the Culture of Excellence dinner reflected on the struggles and triumphs of past generations in honor of Black History Month. Prince George’s County Councilman Will Campos and representatives from organiza-

tions such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and this university’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also attended the dinner.

Highlights of the event included a modern dance performance to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” and a speech by special guest MarKeith Scott. Other performers cited well-known civil rights leaders, including Rosa Parks, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela as their inspirations and the theme of large

see HISTORY, page 7

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

EXECUTION from page 1

and Harford) said the punishment is justified in certain circumstances. He said proposals for capital punishment repeals in the state are “criminal advocate bills,” and said he would oppose any effort to vote on Senate Bill 872: Death Penalty Repeal and Appropriation From Savings to Aid Survivors of Homicide Victims.

“It’s very seldom, if ever, used. Maryland is one of the weakest states in the nation when it comes to prosecuting murderers,” McDonough said, adding, “we keep watering down the punishment standards on death penalty cases.”

The state’s death penalty statute has been ineffective from a “cost-analysis standpoint,” according to Richard Dieter, the Death Penalty Information Center’s executive director.

He added that execution sentences have cost the state an estimated $180 million over the past 35 years.

“That kind of money could be used for ... a whole lot of things that have an effect on crime,” Dieter said.

“It seems like just an inefficient approach to crimefighting.”

The bill generally struggles to make it through the hearing process because the 11-member Judicial Proceedings Committee has six senators opposed to the measure and five in support, Gladden said.

However, she said it will likely pass in the coming years due to a changing political climate in the state.

Jane Henderson — executive director for Mar yland Citizens Against State Executions, a coalition of antideath penalty organizations

“Maryland is one of the weakest states in the nation when it comes to prosecuting murderers. We keep watering down the punishment standards.”

PATRICK MCDONOUGH STATE DELEGATE

in the state — said the organization would push to have the legislation voted for on the floor.

“It’s time for Mar yland to take this step and really make this big policy change,” she said, adding that this year “it’s a different climate; there’s a lot of momentum nationwide.”

Some students said they are passionate about the issue as well.

Freshman criminology and criminal justice and journalism major Suyeon Son, said she changed her views on the death penalty after being exposed to the Innocence Project, a public policy organization aimed at assisting death row inmates facing execution who have been wrongfully accused.

She hopes to start up a chapter at this university, she added.

“Not all the people who are thought to have committed crimes are actually guilty of those crimes,” she said.

“So then it kind of made me double-over and rethink my idea on that.” bach@umdbk.com

Maury Povich, son of acclaimed Washington Post journalist Shirley Povich and creator of the TV talk show Maury, spoke at last night’s event honoring his father’s contributions to the field of journalism. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

POVICH from page 1 The namesake of the newly formed Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, Povich wrote more than 10,000 columns for The Washington Post for 75 years before his death in 1998. His career crossed paths with almost every facet of sports — from baseball greats Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Jr. to boxing legends Jack Dempsey and Muhammad Ali. “Sports history was in him and through him,” Aldridge said. “Everything that happened, every way that sports became what it is today in the American consciousness, he was a witness to it.”

A believer in the value of

the written word, Shirley Povich was often the last one in the press box after all the other stadium lights had gone out, ensuring his column was perfect before it was finished.

He phoned in his articles to The Post desk, dictating his work rather than sending in a written copy.

“He was such a graceful writer. He cared so much about grace, about words,” Lynn Povich said. “He hated being edited. He had a certain rhythm in his writing, and he didn’t want anyone changing his rhythm by changing any words.”

Shirley Povich also made his mark on younger writers as an intrepid reporter, placing as much emphasis on asking the right questions as he did on writing the story, Wilbon said.

“How to talk to athletes, how to talk to players, how to go into a locker room and get

what you need after a difficult loss,” said Wilbon, who worked with Povich at The Post. “How do you make someone comfortable enough to talk to you when they’re angry or terrified or under the biggest pressure? That might be the biggest [lesson].”

Student journalists said they can learn from those lessons.

“Someone made the comment that he was always right, and even if it wasn’t popular he was always on the right side of things, even if he was in the minority,” junior journalism major Scott Kornberg said.

“Lessons like that and lessons of how he was able to go into the locker room and teach young journalists the ropes and still be professional — you really pick up on stuff even though he’s not living. Simply from his stories, for any future journalists, it can go a long way

toward helping them.”

In a time where journalism has blossomed into a multiplatform industry rife with broadcast media, blogging and social media, Solomon — who is also the center’s director and a journalism professor — said he believes now more than ever that it’s vital for students to learn about the lasting impact Shirley Povich had on sports writing.

“What he was like as a writer, what he was like as a person, his ethics, how he looked at journalism, how he looked at sports — that’s why it’s important,” Solomon said. “It’s important for students to understand that good writing and good reporting mean a lot, and it’s still important even though a lot of the mediums have changed.” vitale@umdbk.com

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

0pinion

THE DIAMONDBACK

LAUREN REDDING EDITOR IN CHIEF

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MARIA ROMAS

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Staff editorial

Guest column

Sign on the electronic line

The clash of belief systems

W

hether managing bank accounts, registering for classes or pay- makes sense for students at this university because if the Student Government ing their taxes, students are accustomed to getting it done with Association has its way, passage of the bill could mean future students will be able the click of a button — even when sensitive data is involved. So to register to vote with the click of a mouse on a university website. Since stua proposed state law that would enable online voter registration dents’ electronic signatures are already in the school’s records, registering to vote could be as simple as logging into MyUMD. probably seems like a no-brainer to this generation.

That’s a big deal on a campus where student activists have long struggled to Hopefully the state Senate sees it that way, too. get out the vote for local elections and where a couple hunAfter passing the House of Delegates by a nearly threedred students could influence a city council that traditionto-one margin last week, a bill that would allow electronic ally favors actual voters (read: longtime College Park resisignatures for voter registration needs to clear the Senate before Maryland joins the nine other states that currently Enabling electronic voter dents) over all of other constituents.

Last year, “TerpsVote” — a coalition comprised of the give voters the option to eschew paper voter registrations. registration makes sense SGA, MaryPIRG, College Democrats and College RepubliOn one hand, passage of the bill puts the state slightly ahead of the national curve on something that’s probably because it will save money, cans — managed to garner about 750 student voter registrations. But a registered voter doesn’t make an actual inevitable. But on the other, passage could mean big increase efficiency and voter, and with many municipal candidates running unconchanges for voter registration on this campus — changes few students were interested in the local election. that would no doubt impact local politics. hopefully give students an tested, In 2007, a university student lost a special election in DisThis editorial board supports enabling electronic voter trict 4 by only 79 votes — an outcome that seems unlikely registration because doing so is a natural evolution of a increased role in College to be repeated if the more than 35,000 undergraduate and process that has become outdated. Currently, one must download and print a voter registration from the Maryland Park City Council elections. graduate students can register to vote locally from the comfort of their own computers.

State Board of Elections, fill out and sign the document Anticipating the bill’s passage, SGA leaders have already met with Stamp and mail it to the proper county Board of Elections. It’s not an overly complicated process, but it isn’t particularly efficient or cost effective. A recent Pew report Student Union Director Marsha Guenzler-Stevens to discuss implementing found that one in eight voter registrations nationwide are either invalid or inaccu- an electronic registration system. Guenzler-Stevens, who says she has met rate; about 2.8 million people are registered in more than one state; and more with administrators in the Office of the Registrar about the possibility, is unsure whether the university would be able to feasibly institute a universitythan 24 percent of eligible citizens are not registered to vote.

Furthermore, paper registration is expensive. Canada, which utilizes a modern run online voter registration system.

But if students ever want to have a say in local politics, then we must find a electronic voter registration and record-keeping system, spends a per-voter amount about one-twelfth that of this country. After switching to electronic regis- way to implement such a system. As soon as the bill is passed by the senate tration, Arizona’s Maricopa County — which includes Phoenix — reported spend- and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley (fingers crossed), the SGA ing about 3 cents per electronic registration versus 83 cents per paper registration. should put all hands on deck to have a system in place well before the next It’s clear this bill makes sense for voters and taxpayers. But it particularly municipal elections in 2013.

Our View

Editorial cartoon: Kevin Brooks

Why I’m proud to be a minority

T

oday marks the last day of Black History Month. On a cursory level, the month is a celebration and remembrance of leading figures and events of the African diaspora in this country. While this does in fact represent an important aspect of this month, there is a deeper message beneath the surface.

Black History Month serves to remind us that minority groups do indeed face many challenges. If it were not for these challenges, we would not have seen as much progress or social mobility in our country. It is through women’s struggles to secure their right to vote and work that we are able to take gender equality for granted. African-Americans never challenged the white establishment to guarantee their rights, you and I would not have been raised colorblind.

Of course, our situation is far from perfect. As we face more chal-

OSAMA ESHERA lenges, we realize more opportunities for development as a community. Just as facing difficulty or scrutiny forces us to grow and learn as individuals, we as a society will only grow when we are forced to overcome our looming difficulties.

We, as individuals, have a responsibility to fuel this process.

The summer after my freshman year, I traveled to Egypt and, while at the airport in Cairo, the customs officer asked if I was Egyptian. I gave him the same answer I gave everyone — “my parents are from Egypt, but I am American.” He fumbled through my papers and sent me on my way.

As I left the airport, I saw a woman dressed in traditional Islamic clothing.

For some reason my mental reaction was “Oh cool! A Muslim!” It wasn’t for another minute that I realized “…oh wait, I’m in Egypt.” I then started to realize how different the culture of Egypt is from my upbringing — in America, I’m part of a religious and ideological minority, but in my parents’ homeland, I became a member of the majority. This change in social standing was quite unsettling.

All of a sudden, it became quite easy to go through life blending into the norm, joining the silent majority.

Because I wasn’t challenged, I had little incentive to speak my mind and work toward change. I could simply enjoy the unfulfilling comfort of the status quo.

Theoretically, I could do the same in the United States. Here — no matter how quiet I am — I still stand out as a member of a minority, who often has to struggle for what others

are simply given. In many cases, if I don’t take advantage of my freedom of thought and expression, then my views will be overlooked and my rights not considered.

In Egypt, I could be as quiet as I want and would lose nothing more than my own voice. I have spent 19 years discovering my unique voice, but — for some reason — I found myself selling out and opting to fade into the background. For the two months I was in Egypt, I lost the advocate in me and failed my personal struggle.

Mother Teresa once said, “If I look at the mass, I will never act.”

Indeed, it is only through struggle that our society bears its fruit. I am proud to be a part of the minority in America, where not acting has never been an option for me.

Osama Eshera is a junior bioengineering major. He can be reached at eshera@umdbk.com.

From the future: A plea for sanity

I

come to you, comrades, with an important story to tell from about 50 years in the future — one that may shock many of you. Our “president” of the future, Rob Gibther, may not want me to tell you this, but I feel warning the people of the past is well worth the risk of being blacklisted. Unfortunately, your greatest fear has come to fruition: The red blanket of terror has finally rained down upon us.

That’s right — America has fallen to communism. And none of you did anything to stop it.

All of a sudden, after working his way up through a string of elected positions, Gibther became president. And, for whatever reason, people loved him. I guess considering a president’s charisma over credentials started with your generation.

You welcomed him to the ruling throne with open arms, urging him to “put back together” the country you had supposedly divided. You sat by idly as the then-speaker of the house all but completely signed over all congressional power to the

presidential position. When he saw the presidency in his grasp, he lunged for it and clamped down his teeth, unmoving.

Soon, he began establishing mandates. All the power of the state governments is gone. In fact, the federal government’s power is gone as well. Everyone pays the same taxes, regardless of their income. But people with more money run the risk of having it reapportioned to those with less. Health care is free, but higher education is not. Abortion is legal — and so is the death penalty.

It seems perfect, right? You all elected a leader who would make both Democrats and Republicans happy, in a sense merging the two parties for the common cause of selecting a president — all because you were so worried about having polar opposites in the two-party system. Gibther presented himself as the perfect solution: The best of both parties. Communism is great in theory too, but its practice is massively flawed — something proven over many years of watching

MARIA ROMAS countries attempt to prove its success as a form of government. He convinced you that this time, things would be different. And now he’s our dictator.

Regardless of everything we’ve tried, we can’t overthrow him. The Supreme Court justices are in his pocket, to the point that they are basically ignoring the Constitution.

And you know that Occupy movement? Well it expanded and never ended. People are constantly camped out in front of government buildings, rioting and protesting.

But instead of griping about being unemployed, they are protesting the lack of recognition for their work. There’s a compilation of Occupiers and Wall Street moguls, brought together in a time of des-

perate need. Everyone is employed at random — and even if one man is doing the work of five, he gets paid the same and will never be promoted. Ideally, people would realize that if ever yone did the same amount of work and helped each other out, life would be great. However, since people are people, this is not the case.

So I’m asking you all genuinely — no, I’m begging you. Please, realize that a bipartisan system is not the worst thing imaginable.

Finding one president who completely fulfills both parties’ ideals equally is not the answer. Focus on problems one step at a time — if one guy is better for an economic crisis, then choose him during the economic crisis. Then, if another candidate is better in foreign policy and you’re still at war, pick him. Prioritize, people. The fate of the future rests on your shoulders.

Maria Romas is a sophomore English and journalism major. She can be reached at romas@umdbk.com.

T

he Diamondback published an editorial cartoon Feb. 27 by Eun Jeon. While I did not find it offensive, I fear it draws some unfair conclusions about atheists and their role in religious conversations, which I’d like to address.

First, I think recognizing religion as inescapable in our society is important. We attend a school where a large portion of the campus is dominated by a chapel, the Hillel House maintains a strong following and Catholic Terps and CRU are highly recognizable student groups. Despite an atheist’s choice not to participate in religion, one can always feel its specter looming nearby. Ignoring religion completely, while admirable to attempt, is impossible, both at this university and in the world at large.

With religion so prevalent, it’s easy to forget that not everyone identifies with one. Jeon’s cartoon spoke specifically to Facebook and an atheist’s issue with no longer having an audience when his Catholic friends gave up Facebook for Lent. Jeon implies that the Catholic friends all posted this information online — a pretty accurate portrayal of reality. So why is it okay for these Catholics to announce their viewpoints to the world, but not for the atheist to voice his? I personally find the amount of religious proselytizing on Facebook infuriating, and blocking and unfriending the worst offenders can’t account for ever ything. These religious outpourings are considered acceptable, yet opposition to them is not.

However, Facebook is just an example, and Jeon still raises an interesting point — albeit in a rather confrontational manner.

She alleges that atheists like to “push [their] opinions down [people’s] throats,” begging the question: Why do atheists care about religion at all? With a largely laissez-faire attitude, I dislike anyone pressing his or her opinions on me. So-called “militant atheism” exists, rallied behind the atheist figurehead of Richard Dawkins. Unfortunately, the rather aggressive name leads to misconceptions about atheists’ purpose. Rather than a faction dedicated to the destruction of religion (as some groups insinuate), militant atheism aims to protect secular society against encroaching religious influences.

“In God We Trust” appears on every piece of currency I own — and it shouldn’t, assuming we believe in freedom of religion.

Militant atheism is a reaction to such encroachment. It does not seek to attack, but merely to defend. Atheists care about religion because religion won’t leave them alone.

Nevertheless, I advocate a conser vative stance when it comes to promoting atheism.

Religion’s less-savor y aspects are aggressive self-promotion.

Missionaries, pamphleteers and the people who stand in front of Hornbake Librar y with a Bible and accuse all college students of being sinners (it happens) are all examples of what atheists should avoid becoming.

Atheists decide on their beliefs through logic and reason — and need to conduct themselves accordingly. Engaging in shouting matches destroys the idea that atheism is different from religion and casts atheists not as those who don’t believe in a god, but those who hate religion.

Because of religion’s importance to so much of the world, this rarely comes off as a positive trait.

I do not believe in a God or any other mystical force. I try not to make too much of it, and I don’t think it’s an intrinsic part of who I am. However, for some people, that is the case, just like how religion can help believers define themselves. Ultimately, if either atheists or believers feel the need to spout their opinions, I think there’s no reason they shouldn’t — as long as they know there’s always going to be someone disagreeing with them.

Andrew Rybczynski is a senior geographic information systems major. He can be reached at rybczyn@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.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 53 Is not renewed 57 Earth Day subj.

1 Nature trails 59 Female vampire 6 Wool-eater 60 Dense fog (hyph.)

10 Kachina 65 Grease job doll maker 66 Chopped cabbage 14 Lusitania sinker 67 Annoy (hyph.)

68 — Sevareid of 15 Diva’s melody the news 16 Mil. school 69 Leaning Tower 17 — cotta site 18 Confederates 70 Everglades wader 19 Simon or 71 Cloy Armstrong 72 L.L.D. holder 20 Ground beef 73 Wake up concoction (2 wds.)

DOWN 22 Traditional 1 Lays saying 2 “Bootnose” 23 Bread spread of hockey 24 Well-bred 26 Mild interjections 3 Matador’s foe 4 A Marx brother 29 To be, to Balzac 5 Fastened 31 Insect resin 6 Kitchen herb 32 Diving bird 7 Sandwich cookie 33 Clock’s front 34 Slushy fruit drink 8 Rome’s river 9 Suffers from 38 “Fish Magic” 10 Disadvantage artist 11 Barracuda 40 Beaded shoe habitat 42 Teen event 12 Hurler Satchel — 43 Finn’s pal 13 Loafed around 46 Gone by 21 Abominable 49 Debt memo Snowman 50 England’s 22 Way, way off Isle of — 25 Brownie 51 Kuwaiti leader 26 Grown acorns 52 Really big tees

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27 Storytelling dance 28 Twist 30 Wed in haste 35 Monaco’s Grand — 36 Lifeguard’s beat

37 39 41 44 45 47 48

Ostrich cousins Telescope part Left (2 wds.)

Movie lioness Deli loaf Incites Rover Ticket giver

53 54 55 56 58

Those femmes Actress — Dern Boundary Banana — “Hasta —, amigo!”

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Toward sunrise Amazon source Poet’s twilights Nerve network Masseuse employer

orn today, you work well with people and have a knack for bringing out the best in all those around you — though you are prone to bouts of self-doubt and depression. These periods do not usually last long, but their effects on your psyche may last much longer. As a result, you may harbor secret insecurities that you try to keep hidden from others as best you can. Despite any success you enjoy — and you are likely to enjoy many — you always feel as though you are not doing quite enough, or doing it well enough. This, of course, is just your mind playing with you.

B

You like to present yourself well, and you always strive to learn about fashion, manners and current tastes so that you appear to be as modern as possible, and knowledgeable of current trends and fads. You are usually most comfortable, however, with things that are most familiar.

Also born on this date are: Jeff “Ja Rule”Atkins, rapper;Tony Robbins, motivational speaker; Gretchen Christopher, singer; Jack Lousma, space shuttle astronaut; Dinah Shore, singer; Jimmy Dorsey, bandleader; Herman Hollerith, inventor.

middle of something big today — but your ultimate role will only be a supporting one.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — Your schedule may keep you and a loved one apart for most of the week. It may be time to get creative and to think outside the box.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may be chasing something that cannot be caught today. It’s time to focus your energies on goals that can be clearly defined.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You’ll have to step in and do what someone else has been doing — and though you don’t know it yet, you can do it better.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You may find yourself in an uncomfortable position simply because someone else didn’t listen to your initial objections. Do your best.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You may have to make small adjustments in timing or tactics throughout the day. Complications feed your native creativity.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — What you see is very definitely not what you get today. You’ll want to look beneath the surface and behind the scenes.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — A little speculation may be necessary today in order for you to fill the holes resulting from a lack of pertinent information.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — A way out may not be readily available to you today, but you are very good at making the best of situations that are by no means perfect.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You will have cause to remember one or two life lessons you learned when you were very young. Not much has changed, has it?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You don’t want anyone else to take the blame for any mistakes made today. If all goes well, many will be getting the credit.

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6

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE:

Diversions

D.C. INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL “The aim is for filmmakers, who do not necessarily represent financially, to have the same voice on the Hill that the rest of Hollywood does.” — Festival Director Deirdre Evans-Pritchard, as interviewed by Hilary Weissman For the full story, just click the Diversions tab at: WWW.DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

COLUMN | THE PARTY CORRESPONDENT

DISPATCHES FROM THE HOMEFRONT: Or, how to throw your own party and be the envy of your friends JACK SLATTERY

Right now, you’re probably asking yourself, “Wow, Jack, all of these parties sound plus dope and really excellent and stuff, but how can I have a party of my very own?” I can hear you asking yourself that. You are saying it out loud.

Well, now it’s not even a problem, because I am going to give you a comprehensive guide to throwing your very own cool college party! Based on real-life experiences! I know how excited you are, but relax.

So, it’s the night of your big party. Everyone’s been looking forward to it all week, and there is great rapport going on the Facebook event page.

What to do first? I say, clean your house. It is important to have a clean house so that when people enter they can look around, nod slowly and inwardly note their surprise at the disciplined, conscientious way you maintain your living space. It is not what they expected, and it is a good way to prepare your guests for the many surprises and delights that await them.

It is especially important to clean your room, for the purposes of what I’ll discreetly refer to as “ladytimes.” When potential ladies see that your room is swept and well-lit, they just might think to them-

selves, “Wow, this domicile is so swept and well-lit!

Maybe it will be a great place to do that sex thing I like so much.” You’re welcome.

Oh no! The guests are arriving! What will you serve them? Any sensible host knows to include a friendly reminder of BYOB, but to not have at least something to put on the table wouldn’t be very civilized. A dependable staple — and probably my single greatest contribution to the human race — is a beverage I like to call “Party Drink.”

Take a vase and fill it with about half a handle of bourbon. Add a liter of Mountain Dew (skateboard fuel), and add bitters and orange juice for taste. Serve with a turkey baster. Your guests will be begging for the recipe, but just give them the old wink-and-giggle.

Is that not a technique we’ve covered yet?

And honestly, that pretty much sums it up. I took about 400 words to basically tell you that the key to a great party is letting people into your house and giving them alcohol — a Dionysian rite as old as time (are you guys liking all these references to antiquity this column has been making?).

And the proof is in the proverbial pudding. At my last party, the positive feedback was astonishing.

“Great party,” said Matthew Hagerty, a junior theater major. “I liked that there was beer.”

I promise you, dear reader, if you follow my instructions, someone will be saying that about your party very soon.

MOVIE THEATER REVIEW: SAMUEL C. JOHNSON IMAX THEATER The Smithsonian museums in Washington have a monopoly on the region’s large, awesome theater screens. It’s a shame, then, that the Airbus Theater in Virginia is so lacking as a movie theater.

Fortunately, the Smithsonian’s other IMAX blockbuster movie theater, the Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater in the National Museum of Natural History, is a vastly superior cineplex.

Crucially, Johnson features a concession stand. Really, what’s a movie theater without awful, greasy popcorn and carbonated drinks?

The prices at Johnson are a bit out of whack. Soda and popcorn are only in small sizes but cost about as much as in other movie theaters. This is mitigated by the sheer classiness of the junk food served. Popcorn is good if a little stale but, more importantly, comes in a jaunty, retro-chic box. The novelty is easily worth the reduction in quantity.

Alcohol is also available, should the need to pre-game Transformers in IMAX arise.

The monolithic IMAX screen at the heart of the theater is about as big, if not bigger, than the one in Airbus. The sound system is just as deafening. The projector system, however, is capable of presenting 3-D movies, expanding the range of movies capable of being presented.

There are really only two, maybe three, major problems with the theater. Why is the theater named after Samuel C. Johnson when the opportunity to name an IMAX theater after Samuel L. Jackson was staring the theater operators in the face? Sure, Samuel Johnson might’ve donated some stuff to the Smithsonian, but c’mon.

OK, so there are only two issues with the theater that aren’t completely vacuous. Johnson, puzzlingly, shows mainly second-run IMAX movies. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol came to the theater about a month after it opened at Airbus Theater. Ditto for Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Johnson is also ridiculously unfriendly to people who enjoy polluting the environment, i.e. drivers. Parking is scarce and expensive, and traffic is generally awful.

But, if you’re willing to abandon your hedonist ways and hop on the Metro, Johnson becomes a much better experience. The theater is within spitting distance of stops on all major lines of the Metro.

— Warren Zhang

ADDITIONAL THEATER INFO Tickets: Regular - $15 Popcorn: $3 Bottled soda: $3 Transportation: Limited parking available along the street. Within walking distance of Smithsonian, Archives-Navy Memorial and Gallery Place Metro stations.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITYSEEKR.COM

diversions@umdbk.com

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EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

NEED MONEY? Conferences & Visitor Services is seeking highly motivated students for various summer positions. Great pay & FREE campus housing for full time summer employees. Visit www.cvs.umd.edu/employment for job descriptions and application.

EOE.

CAMP COUNSELOR – SUMMER DAY CAMP. Summer Camp Counselors needed at Valley Mill Camp in Darnestown, MD for a fun-filled summer with children in the woodsy outdoors. Specialists also needed in swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, gymnastics, horseback riding, soccer, basketball, archery and air rifle. CDL desirable.

Training provided starting now. June 9August 18.

Apply online: www.valleymill.com. 301-948-0220.

Looking for Event Planner

EMPLOYMENT Campus Representative Wanted

Also looking for marketers and entrepreneurs. Must be outgoing, trustworthy and punctual. Also able to build partnerships with businesses and professional sports teams. Email resume to tbranthover@comcast.net or visit bravedave.org.

To help develop BoxMyDorm at UMD. We provide students summer storage services. Rep will help promote us on campus. Pay: Min. $1,000 + sales incentives.

Tara.chila@boxmydorm.com or 800-626-1257

An awesome summer job in Maine! If you’re looking to spend this summer outdoors, have fun while you work, and make lifelong friends, then look no further. CAMP MATAPONI, a children’s summer camp, has positions available in Land Sports (lacrosse, soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, field hockey), Waterfront (sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, life guarding, WSI, boat drivers), Ropes Course, Tennis, Horseback Riding, Arts & Crafts, Theater, Dance, Gymnastics, Video, Photography, Nurses, Maintenance, Cooking and more. Top salaries plus room/board & travel provided. Call us today, 561-748-3684 or apply online at www.campmataponi.com.

FOR RENT

Personal Trainers and Fitness Enthusiasts Wanted!

BodySmith Training Gym in DC is seeking talented trainers/receptionists for p/t and f/t positions. Great pay and benefits for full time employees!

Email Shane: shane@bodysmithdc.com

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM. Paid survey takers needed in College Park. 100% free to join! Click on surveys.

Home Office Administrator 1-2 days/wk. Maintain bookkeeping system, process paperwork for apartment building and social work practice.

Work located: employer’s home office in Takoma Park. Pay: $15/hour.

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

Training available.

1-800-965-6520 x116.

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN NEEDED for Am/Pm Shifts and Saturdays for Computerized Veterinary Hospital Near Hyattsville on Rt 1. Great for Animal Science Students.

Fax 301-864-4916 or Email Brentwoodanimalhospital@hotmail.com

Camp Counselors Male & female needed for great overnight camps in the mountains of PA. Have fun while working with children outdoors.

Teach/assist with A&C, Aquatics, Media, Music, Outdoor Rec, Tennis & more. Office, Nanny, Kitchen positions available. Apply online at www.pineforestcamp.com.

Perfect Morning Job Paraplegic doctor needs morning aide at home in Chevy Chase.

Monday-Friday 6:30 am-9 am.

Nursing or PT experience preferred but not required.

Please call 202-872-8109.

CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP. Great Pay, Flexible Hours!

Near Bethesda Metro. $13/hour. PT or FT. Email resume: bethesdafinancialfirm@gmail.com.

• Are 18-50 years of age • Are not pregnant or breast-feeding • Have never had or been vaccinated against dengue, yellow fever, or Japanese encephalitis • Available to participate in a 12 month study Please contact the Clinical Trials Center for more information about the “TVDV” study. Volunteers will receive a free medical evaluation and financial compensation.

1-866-856-3259 (toll free) or 301-319-9320/9335 www.clinicaltrials.army.mil

College Park – basement efficiency. Single occupant. Kitchen, 1 bedroom, bath. Utilities, internet, cable included. Lease. $750/month.

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Basement room for rent. Private bathroom.

Laundry & kitchen privileges. Free cable and Wi-Fi. Utilities included. Access to recreation room. $1000/month. Call 301-439-4781.

HOUSES FOR RENT – Rhode Island Ave., 37th Ave. Available August 2012. Call Bill at 443-745-7090.

Large, luxury seven bedroom house. $2995.

Close campus. umhouse2011@yahoo.com; 240-281-3802.

HOUSES FOR RENT. Go to cphouse4rent.com.

FOR RENT

SERVICES

Looking for Housing in Spring ‘12?

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FAX SERVICE

Branching Out A Student’s Guide to Off-Campus Housing is available in the Office of Off-Campus Housing in Stamp

ROOMMATES House mature females – private room. One half mile off campus. Shuttle front door. $310/mo. 703-509-7508.

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

Diamondback Business Office

WANTED

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

NATIVE SPANISH SPEAKERS NEEDED: Spanish/English speakers needed to read and record sentences in English for research study. Seeking male college students ages 18-30 with Spanish accent. Participation time: ~2-3 hours; $20/hour. Contact Chris, Erin, or Hannah (301-405-7454; hearingresearch@umd.edu).

College student from Bowie State looking to house-sit, lease, sublease, or rent room in College Park from Friday, March 16 to the 25th.

Prices are negotiable.

Call 240-898-8746 or email trent-sullivan@hotmail.com.

MISCELLANEOUS

NEED MONEY FOR RENT? You can find a job in the Diamondback Classifieds!

STUDENT MEMBER

VOLUNTEERS The Naval Medical Research Center and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are seeking healthy adult volunteers, male and female, to participate in a dengue vaccine research study who:

Fantastic house – 1 block from campus.

Backyard encircled by trees. $3000/month (will rent by room). Early signing bonus plus one month free. Available immediately. Dr. Kruger: 301-408-4801.

BY FAX: 301-314-8358

NEEDED

WANTED FOR STUDENT PUBLICATIONS' BOARD

D! E D N E T X E E N I L D A DE Maryland Media, Inc., publishing board for the Diamondback, Eclipse, Terrapin, and Mitzpeh, has openings on its board of directors for two full-time students.

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, 2012. 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 Wednesday, March 7th at noon.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

HISTORY from page 1

Mohammad Afshar, center, received approval from the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners yesterday for a beer, wine and liquor license for a new bar at the location of the now-defunct Santa Fe Café. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

LIQUOR from page 1 which they would seek approval from Prince George’s County Police on a security plan for the venue.

However, Board of License Commissioner Chairman Franklin Jackson said hammering out a security plan could prove to be a difficult task at “a location that gave some problems to College Park in the past.”

“With the entertainment license, that security plan is very substantial,” Jackson said. “You’re going to have to make this viable.”

The owners met with county police last month and received their support, Salomeh Afshar said, and plan to reach out to University Police to gauge their concerns as well.

“The plan is written up, we

just have to get [county police] approval on it,” she said. “It’s nothing that would really hinder us from opening. ... When we were discussing the security plan, they seemed confident that we knew what we were doing.”

She said they are focused on “gutting” the property, which has remained stagnant since its May 2010 closing. They will also install a sprinkler system and make more than $800,000 worth of renovations to bring the property up to code, as mandated by the College Park City Council in the property use agreement.

Salomeh Afshar said construction crews are prepared to scramble in hopes of an April opening.

“Now that the liquor license is in place, there’s more of a rush to get it together,” she said. “You don’t want to put your money somewhere and then wait six months — you

want to open your doors.”

Once the co-owners acquire the entertainment license, they said they plan to bring in both loyal Washington bands — the Afshars owned a Georgetown bar called Saloun before increasing rent forced them to close in October — and local bands.

“Any type of live music, we’re very supportive of that — that’s, like, our specialty,” she said.

As a 2001 graduate of this university, Salomeh Afshar said upon returning to the city, she was “highly disappointed” with the bar scene, recalling fond memories of nights at Santa Fe Café during her college years.

“When I went to Maryland, that was the place we frequented the most,” she said, adding the venue can appeal to a wide range of customers.

“Our place is a nice place that everybody can go to —

“Our place is a nice place that everybody can go to — good food, good music.”

SALOMEH AFSHAR TERRAPIN TURF CO-OWNER

good food, good music. Just something for everybody,” she said.

Some students, such as senior civil engineering major Christena Neshawat, said they were excited to visit the site again as part of downtown’s nightlife.

“Fe was the first bar I went to, ever,” she said. “It’d definitely be cool to go back there and see if it’s changed.” foley@umdbk.com

movements instigated by one individual prevailed over the evening.

“A lot of things we’re proud of today in society and in our culture are about the power of the single idea, and I hope the audience really got that,” said Femi Sokoya, the vice president of Alpha Phi Alpha, which sponsored the event.

Five students also competed in an oratorical contest and spoke about the importance of civil disobedience to spark social change, as evidenced by the Civil Rights Movement. The winner, sophomore mechanical engineering major Abisola Kusimo, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for her speech, where she challenged complacent college students to stand up and

help make their own dreams become reality.

“The whole idea of civil disobedience and the fact that you have to fight for what you believe in, and that life is a struggle,” Kusimo said after the event. “I think this [event] is something we should definitely continue to do on campus because it made ever ybody feel more empowered.

We came together to promote what we are capable of.”

By the end of the night, several attendees said they appreciated the opportunity to join together to celebrate their culture.

“All the culture that is uniquely ours, that we have given to this world, has been shown in this evening,” said Herman Mason, the event’s keynote speaker and national president of Alpha Phi Alpha. news@umdbk.com

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

www.diamondbackonline.com

APARTMENT LOCATOR PAGES Pages 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12

8

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

FOLLOW @THEDBK on Twitter

University President Wallace Loh, right, and officials from China announced yesterday the creation of the Joint Center on Climate and Earth System Science, a collaboration to track and predict the global impact of climate change. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

CLIMATE from page 1

Science, and it is an additional step to further strengthen academic ties between this university and China, Loh said.

“This is really a wonderful occasion,” Loh said at the ceremony held in the Samuel Riggs Alumni Center. “This is a ver y impor tant moment in the histor y of our two countries.”

While this university and

China have already been collaborating their research on global climate issues, this announcement formalizes the partnership that stemmed from a seven-day tour of China that Loh and Gov. Martin O’Malley took in June, according to BSOS communications associate director Andrew Roberts.

He met with high-ranking officials in science and higher education in an effort to promote this university’s relationship with the countr y — one that will extend beyond just this joint venture with

Beijing Normal University, Loh said.

Currently, this university has an exchange program between faculty, staff and researchers from both this university and Beijing Normal University, according to Loh. In the future, the center will expand this program to include other institutions in China, a countr y that Loh said he sees as crucial in the coming years.

“I think this is the most important strategic partnership for the United States in the 21st centur y,” he said.

APARTMENT LOCATOR PAGES Pages 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12

BSOS Dean John Townshend stated in a press release that this university is experienced in research pertaining to global climate change, furthering the importance of increased collaboration with China.

The university already uses satellite imaging to measure land cover and other aspects of global change, aggregate data and show how these changes affect the environment, Townshend said.

“Beijing Normal’s expertise ser ves as an excellent complement to our strengths,

Officials from this university and Beijing Normal University spoke yesterday at a ceremony at the Samuel Riggs Alumni Center. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

as evidenced by our successful collaborations over the past several years,” he stated in a press release.

Beijing Normal University’s researchers come not just from China, but many other nations, Loh said, indicating that this partnership is an important first step in bringing researchers from several countries to address pressing scientific issues,

such as the global climate.

“Global climate change is one of the major issues of the 21st centur y,” he said. “It’s going to effect agriculture, it’s going to effect level of the sea water, it’s going to have enormous impact upon quality of life, and we need to bring in the best minds from all over the world.” bach@umdbk.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

9

SOFTBALL | NOTEBOOK

After Terps’ strong start, No. 2 Crimson Tide awaits this week Team plays five games in Tuscaloosa this weekend; Bad losses to Wright State, St. John’s standing out

BY JASON BENSCHER Staff writer

Pitcher Kendra Knight, No. 10, has been a key performer so far for the Terps, who have won 10 of their first 12 games this season. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

The Terrapins softball team’s season is young, but the precedent has been set: The Terps want to take their fast start and turn it into an ACC title.

“We are sitting at 10-2 … but the girls are not happy with it,” coach Laura Watten said Sunday. “They would rather be at 12-0.”

They’re not pleased with 10-2 because this team, in particular, expects more of itself.

After two victories over ranked teams in the season’s opening weekend, the players began dreaming big and haven’t stopped.

“For sure,” said catcher Shannon Bustillos, her confidence unmistakable. “It prepares us for the ACC.” For now, however, the Terps will have to settle for a trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., this weekend against the No. 2 Crimson Tide.

“It’s just like any other game. We don’t look at that kind of stuff because we’re not that kind of team,” infielder Nikki Maier said of playing Alabama. “We’re that good.”

To follow Maier’s lead and treat the nation’s second-best team as any other is to ignore external pressures. If the Terps can do that, those ACC title dreams might not prove so far-fetched.

“It makes us feel good to be in this place,” Watten said.

“But we’ve still got a long way to go.”

GLARING LOSSES The Terps have tallied some impressive wins in their first 12 games, with more opportunities to do it again coming this weekend.

They’ve registered votes in

CAROLINA from page 12 “We know what we’re getting into,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “My thing is that we continue to fight, continue to compete, continue to get better until some committee says we’re not playing anymore.

Until that happens, that’s all I care about.”

At this point, the Terps’ only realistic shot at the NCAA Tournament would be through an automatic bid — namely, an ACC Tournament title. With two regular-season games left, they’re fighting for a shot to play in any postseason whatsoever. Saturday’s loss to Georgia Tech, which had won just twice in the previous 16 games, certainly put those hopes in jeopardy.

Tonight, the Terps face a team that just doesn’t lose that often. The six ACC wins North Carolina has at home have been

the top 25 the past two weeks, and they were the third team out in Monday’s edition.

Two hiccups — and surprising ones, to say the least — have prevented a 12-0 start, however, and serve as startling reality checks.

The Terps lost, 8-0, to Wright State on Feb. 18 and 11-3 to St. John’s on Feb. 25.

Both games came in the midst of otherwise spotless weekends in Florida, including victories over the Nos. 11 and 22 teams at the time.

The Red Storm is 2-10 this season, while the Raiders were 3-4 before beating the Terps.

For a 10-2 Terps team looking to establish its place in softball’s upper echelon, those defeats stick out like a neon sign.

“It was a game we can learn a lot from,” Watten said of the loss to St. John’s. “I feel like they rebounded pretty well.”

To Watten, the games are meant to be learning experiences and nothing more.

Dwelling on them without a takeaway might prove to hurt the Terps more than the losses already did, and the team said it’s already learned to leave those distractions in the past.

“As a team, I think we ran out of gas a little bit,” Bustillos said. “But we take what we do, and how we fail, and we learn from it the next day.”

EARLY ACE While no one player can claim complete responsibility for a team’s accomplishments, pitcher Kendra Knight certainly has a large stake in the Terps’ this season.

Knight is the staff’s clear ace with a 7-0 record thus far. She took down Michigan and Kentucky, both ranked at the time,

by an average of more than 19 points. If the Terps want to have any chance of pulling out the upset, Turgeon said, they’ll need to rebound and play transition defense better.

The Tar Heels boast a plus11.4 rebounding margin, a statistic Turgeon called “unbelievable.” Three of their five starters are 6-foot-7 or taller.

“A lot of people think that big, strong guys are good rebounders, but to me, the best rebounders are those with speed,” Turgeon said. “They have that, too.”

Turgeon pointed to the Terps’ loss in the battle on the boards as the reason for their eventual deficit on the scoreboard against the Tar Heels earlier this month. During a three-minute stretch late in the second half when the Terps came within one, the Tar Heels scored six points off offensive rebounds. They had six offensive rebounds in the final five minutes of the game alone,

and earned the win in all four Terps victories in Kissimmee, Fla., last weekend.

“Most softball programs have that one strong pitcher that they’re built around,” Watten said. “She wants to be holding the ball, and she will be.”

For her sterling performance in the season’s opening week, Knight was named ACC Pitcher of the Week. It was the first time the senior had received the award since 2010.

For the Terps, it isn’t a question of whether they will ride Knight’s right arm this season, but how far it can take them.

“Kendra has been a big part of our staff. She’s going to take us far,” Bustillos said.

“But we have Kaitlyn to come in and help us out too.”

Knight’s potential successor, freshman Kaitlyn Schmeiser, has been up and down since the season’s start.

She has the team’s only losses this season, but also secured a 2-1 win in last weekend’s finale with a five-out save over Marshall.

“If we keep [Schmeiser] on point and on track and she balances things out, she’ll be able to help save Kendra’s arm a little bit and give her a break here and there,” Watten said.

The development of the Terps’ one-two punch in Knight and Schmeiser should rank among this season’s more intriguing storylines.

And while the latter learns to pair consistency with her considerable talent, the Terps have the former to guide her to success.

“Kendra’s a great pitcher and teammate,” Maier said.

“She’s definitely someone you want to be behind when she’s on the mound.” benscher@umdbk.com

finally pulling away after a slow start in Comcast Center.

“You just have to box out and play hard,” guard Nick Faust said. “I believe that rebounding is mental; you just have to box out and go get it. It’s whether you want it or not.”

Turgeon just wants to see if his team can show that effort.

“It’s amazing because that’s all we talk about going in — transition defense and boxing out — starting [Monday],” Turgeon said. “My hope is that every time a shot goes up, we can at least box out a body. If they get it, so be it. We’ll shake their hands afterward and say, “Maybe you’re a little better than we are right now.’”

For a team limping toward the end of the season, maybe that’s all it can hope for.

“This is a great opportunity to try to prove people wrong,” Faust said. “That’s all we can do, play our hardest.” ceckard@umdbk.com

NO MORE ECLI PSE! No one has applied to be Editor-in-Chief of Eclipse, the Black Student Newspaper.

No Editor – No Eclipse!

We will extend the deadline for applications until Wednesday, March 7th.

Applications can be picked up in the Diamondback Business Office, 3136 South Campus Dining Hall, 9:30am-4:30pm.

ECLIPSE 1968-2012

R.I.P.

10

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

NOTEBOOK from page 12

five of their first since games was 1987, but the rest of that particular season isn’t worth repeating. After going 5-1, the Terps finished the year with a 15-24-1 mark — something Bakich would like to avoid.

Before the season started, he

talked about how what validates the development of his program is not moral victories but on-field victories. So though five wins in six games to start the year might seem like a big deal to a successstarved program, Bakich knows there’s more ahead.

“I know everybody’s excited because it hasn’t been done before,” Bakich said. “But to be

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honest, this is exactly where we expect to be.”

WHITE’S EMERGENCE Even after early-season struggles, center fielder Charlie White remained in the leadoff spot for the Terps. The team’s leading hitter in 2011, White’s reliable production was nowhere to be found after he posted an 0-for-15 mark through Saturday morning’s game against Western Carolina.

All that changed against Purdue and East Carolina last weekend, when White went 5for-8 and scored two runs and had an RBI. “Charlie White’s a good hitter,” Bakich said. “It was just a matter of time. Baseball is a game of peaks and valleys, and it just so happens that he started the season in a little bit

DEFENSE HOLDING UP Pitcher Brett Harman admitted he didn’t have his best game Sunday against East Carolina. The senior, making his second start since returning

“When one guy is down, everyone picks each other up.”

BRETT HARMAN TERRAPINS BASEBALL PITCHER

from Tommy John surgery, pitched five innings and allowed one unearned run on five hits. He struck out four, but allowed the leadoff batter to reach in four of his five innings.

As happened in his first start against UCLA, however, the defense came to Harman’s aid, keeping the Terps in the game, paving the way for their ninthinning heroics and, in Harman’s view, pointing to something greater about the Terps.

“That’s the sign of a good team, and that’s what this team has been doing great,” Harman said. “When one guy is down, everyone picks each other up, and that’s been a large part of our success this year. I think the defense played unbelievable in terms of amazing plays and it kept us in the game.”

Though the Terps committed four errors over their past two games against Purdue and East Carolina, Bakich still sees the strengths of this Terps team as its pitching and defense.

“A couple of those errors were just flukes,” Bakich said.

“They were just little things that could get cleaned up just with some practice time this week. I’m actually very pleased with the defensive performance we’ve gotten.” dgallen@umdbk.com

Pages 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12

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of a valley but then got right back on top again. We have all the confidence in the world in Charlie and that’s why we continue to hit him in the leadoff spot, because we knew it was only a matter of time before he would break out.”

White hit .304 in 2011 with 30 runs scored and 11 doubles. He scored two runs in the series at then-No. 14 UCLA after getting on base through walks and errors, but his production at the plate is especially valuable to a team that will have to generate runs against ACC pitching as the season wears on.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Sports

Seeding scenarios Where might the Terrapins women’s basketball team end up in the NCAA Tournament? Go to TerrapinTrail.com.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

With hope slipping, Terps head to N.C.

Tar Heels present much stiffer test for Terps than GT

BASEBALL | NOTEBOOK

Terps break into several top-25 polls

BY CHRIS ECKARD

BY DANIEL GALLEN

Senior staff writer

Staff writer

A smattering of fans dotted Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday for a game that meant little to the national college basketball landscape. The floor, covered with Atlanta Hawks logos, didn’t belong to the team calling it home for the afternoon.

An atmosphere and opponent — a Georgia Tech team at the bottom of the ACC standings — had seemingly aligned for a rare Terps road victory. It didn’t happen.

Tonight, the Terps (16-12, 6-8 ACC) play away from College Park again. Only this time, they face a starkly different atmosphere — a jam-packed Dean Dome (capacity: 21,750) on Senior Night — and opponent — an ACC-leading, No. 6 North Carolina side.

It’s the same Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC) squad the Terps led by as many as nine in the second half of their Feb. 4 meeting, but also the same one that boasts an 18-1 record at home. Their lone loss at home came against Duke only after a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

see CAROLINA, page 9

The Terrapins baseball team is off to its best start in 25 years.

Just try telling coach Erik Bakich that it matters.

“We expect to break a lot of records in this program, so I don’t really care how good the start is,” Bakich said Sunday night of his 5-1 Terps. “We are taking the approach that we haven’t done anything yet. We are still unproven and it’s a long season. It’s a long season, and it’s good to start out on a high note, but this is a level that we expect to play at.”

The nation has noticed. The Terps debuted in three national rankings this week, placing No. 16 in the ESPN Power Rankings, No. 20 in the Perfect Game USA Top 50 and No. 27 in the Collegiate Baseball News Top 30. The Terps also own four victories over teams in the Perfect Game USA Top 50 (Purdue, East Carolina and two against UCLA).

The last time the Terps won Guard Terrell Stoglin loses control of the ball as he drives to the basket during the Terps’ first meeting with North Carolina, an 83-74 Tar Heels win. The two teams play again tonight in Chapel Hill. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

see NOTEBOOK, page 11

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