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BEACH PARTY

THE TOP TEAM The Terps may have to bump heads with top-ranked UConn

Dream-pop Baltimore duo Beach House plays hometown gig tonight

SPORTS | PAGE 8

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

THE DIAMONDBACK WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009

99TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 106

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Textbook co-op taken off the table As tenure Officials say student, faculty advisory committee will influence UBC policy

BY MARISSA LANG Senior staff writer

Despite assuring students last month a student-run textbook coop would be considered for the University Book Center, officials said they are sticking with the management of a big corporation because of financial concerns.

But a new contract, which is currently being bid on, will implement new measures, such as creating a committee of students and faculty to provide direct input into bookstore operations, which

university officials said will help keep textbook prices down.

Bruce Brewer, the university’s senior procurement officer, said a university-operated bookstore — based on either a traditional or co-op model — had been “considered and investigated,” but officials ultimately decided it is not economically practical in light of the recession and a continual drop in bookstore sales. “[A university-run book store] would require a significant

Please See UBC, Page 3

MONEY-SAVING MEASURES IN UBC CONTRACT Officials say they have laid out new requirements in the University Book Center contract that will save students money on textbooks: Establish a bookstore advisory committee of faculty and students to oversee the bookstore and provide input on UBC policies.

Implement electronic versions of textbooks and buying both bundled and unbundled versions of course materials.

Exclude any student-run non-profit used textbook exchange programs from the contract, therefore encouraging big companies with large stocks of used books to bid on the UBC. Continue to require professors to submit ISBNs early, giving students time to shop around for the best available book price.

vote nears, consensus still far off National group lobbies against post-tenure review in U. Senate

OMG. FML.

BY MARISSA LANG Senior staff writer

Website built around life’s misfortunes gains popularity with students

BY ADELE HAMPTON Staff writer

T

oday, I had drunk sex with a girl that I barely know. I didn’t have a condom and was nervous about getting her pregnant, but she assured me that I could pull out. Right when I was about to pull out, she wrapped her legs around me and yelled, ‘Be my baby’s daddy!’ I couldn’t get out in time. FML.” Everyone has bad days: A failed test, an awkward moment with an ex-boyfriend or exgirlfriend, performing badly at work or being tricked into being someone’s “baby’s daddy” can ruin any 24-hour span. But for countless Internet users around the country — and many students at this university — posting

Please See FML, Page 2

A national organization of university professors is lobbying faculty members to oppose the university’s proposed post-tenure review policy, which will be put to vote in a University Senate KEN HOLUM meeting tomorrow.

The American Associa- UNIV. SENATE CHAIR tion of University Professors — a national organization that issues proposals on advancing academic freedom and defining standards for higher education — has long opposed post-tenure review policies, saying it undermines professors’ academic freedom and independence. But advocates of the post-tenure review proposal argue that many professors will

Please See TENURE, Page 3

Univ. Police find hateful fliers didn’t break the law Univ. organizing summit on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

BY ADELE HAMPTON Staff writer

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM STONE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Professors say Employers expected to hire classics, social fewer graduates than in past change equally Economic recession will make job hunt difficult for college graduates as unemployment rate climbs vital in classroom

BY RICH ABDILL Staff writer

BY TIRZA AUSTIN Staff writer

Given the choice between teaching how to change the world and teaching how the world was made, university professors would pick both.

Although a recent nationwide survey of university faculty found that more would rather encourage social change in their classes than teach students the classics, university professors rejected the dichotomy, saying the two are not mutually exclusive.

Please See STUDY, Page 2

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

The job search for graduating seniors will likely be a difficult one, as employers cut back on new hires in the continuing economic recession.

Employers are predicted to hire 22 percent fewer graduates from this year’s college class than from the last, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The job market has plummeted since last year and is not expected to recover for at least a year, said Edwin Koc, the association’s director for strategic and foundation research.

“It’s down across the board,” he said.

Partly Cloudy/40s

INDEX

“There isn’t a region, there isn’t an industry, there isn’t anywhere that’s not affected.”

The Department of Labor also released a report last week outlining equally grim prospects: National unemployment rose to 8.1 percent in February, with 12.5 million Americans unemployed. That figure is 851,000 more than in January and 5 million more than February of last year.

Unemployment has risen 43.3 percent among 20- to 24-year-olds and now stands at 12.9 percent, with about two million unemployed compared to 1.3 million in February 2008.

The decline is not likely to turn around any

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

Please See JOBS, Page 2 FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

University Police have stopped their investigation of what students called offensive, antiPalestinian fliers that were posted near McKeldin Library last Tuesday after determining no crime had been committed, officials said.

The fliers will be reported as a hate incident to the FBI in end-of-the-year crime statistics because they were offensive to a specific cultural or religious group, said University Police spokesman Paul Dillon. But because they did

Please See FLIERS, Page 3

Students packed a lecture hall in Jimenez Hall on Thursday for one of last week’s Palestinian Solidarity Week events. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

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

www.diamondbackonline.com

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009

WE WANT YOU Story ideas? News tips?

E-mail them to The Diamondback at newsdesk.dbk@gmail.com

NEWSMAKERS

TODAY

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ARYLAND

OVERHEARD

WARHOL, WALLPAPER AND CONTEMPORARY INSTALLATION ART A lecture by Elissa Auther on Andy

JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE Featuring saxophonist Steve Wilson, whose composition “Joyful Noise” will be presented, 7:30-9:30, CSPAC: Kay Theatre

Q+A

Warhol's wallpaper installations and their legacy in contemporary art, 3:45-5:30 p.m., Art-Sociology: 2203

BEST of the BLOGS

SCENE + HEARD

Profs. have mixed opinions on survey Students find online STUDY, from Page 1 The study, done by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that among about 22,000 faculty members nationwide, 57.8 percent said they thought it was important to encourage undergraduate students to become agents of social change, while only 34.7 percent felt it was very important to teach classic works such as Homer’s epic poems or Shakespeare’s plays.

Professors at the university said they have mixed opinions about the survey, but agreed the classics should be expanded on rather than eliminated from the college curriculum. Maynard Mack, an English professor, said social change was rooted in classical ideas.

“Our job is to open as many

doors as we possibly can,” Mack said, adding that professors should “move students toward a larger human awareness” and “experiences of the other” while realizing the complexity of the human experience.

Mack said professors shouldn’t actively push social activism on students, but should instead expand their students’ range of consciousness and knowledge, which will eventually cause some students to engage in social change.

But Doron Levy, a mathematics professor, said causing social change is a worthwhile goal for faculty members. Levy designed a lower-level math class with other faculty members last spring that taught students math through looking at social problems as they relate to biology. He also added that teaching classes from an interdiscipli-

nary mindset has a major impact in encouraging social activism.

“Various perspectives are optimal in how we shift the curriculum that does not give up the classics but teaches them from a modern point of view through integrational changes,” Levy said.

Levy also said a constant academic challenge is keeping material current, and that social change makes classes more relevant for students.

History professor Ira Berlin, who is chairing the university committee charged with developing the general education program that will replace CORE, said he hopes the new program will do both things. Social change, he said, is caused by students “reflecting on who they are and who they want to be.”

He pointed out that ancient

philosophy, American literature and even the music of Bob Marley focuses on social change.

Mark Stewart, the campus sustainability coordinator, said social activism can and should be integrated into previously existing classes. Stewart is trying to create a program to help faculty members incorporate sustainability into their curricula.

“From my perspective, you can approach both at the same time,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of opportunity to talk about sustainability.”

But Stewart ultimately called the decision between teaching traditional material and social issues “a false choice,” saying instead the university needs to “rethink the way we teach the classics.” taustindbk@gmail.com

Students staying confident despite increases in unemployment among 20-to-24-year-olds JOBS, from Page 1 time soon, Koc said, adding that the economic downturn will almost certainly affect next year’s graduating class at least as hard as this year’s.

“The projections are that we won’t see economic growth before spring 2010,” he said. “The best I would hope for the class of 2010 is an outlook that’s only equally as bad as 2009.”

Students at this university are a little better off than some, though. Due to the many federal government offices, the Washington area has been somewhat sheltered

from the recession, meaning local students have easier access to those jobs that need to be filled.

Koc added that the recently-passed stimulus bill could have marginal effect on the job market as a whole, but the only immediately apparent boosts are being predicted in the federal sector and education.

Jobs working for the federal government could be attractive at the university, where the most popular majors are economics, criminology and criminal justice and government and politics — all of which can lead to

careers in Washington.

Even so, employer attendance at Tuesday’s criminology and criminal justice job fair was down about 10 percent from last year, said senior criminology and criminal justice major Robert Huekler, who is president of the Criminal Justice Student Association and an organizer of the fair.

Some students remain confident, believing opportunities are there for those who work hard, said senior marketing major Caitlin Webster.

“I’ve been to a few of the job fairs, but I don’t really have any leads,” she said. “I know

people that are real go-getters that go to a lot of networking events and have jobs lined up even at the junior level.”

Junior marketing and supply chain management major Alex Gorman said his plan is simply to keep trying.

“I’m just looking to get an internship with someone who can give me a job opportunity in the next few years,” he said. “I can see how finance majors might be freaking out and trying to pick up another major, but given my major and what I want to do, I’m just trying to stay the course.” abdilldbk@gmail.com

gripes therapeutic FML, from Page 1 and reading short anecdotes about their daily misadventures such as the one above on the website fmylife.com is one way to commiserate with others who are just as unfortunate.

F--- My Life is the growing-inpopularity brainchild of Maxime Valette, a consultant and web developer who launched the website in his native France in January 2008. An English version of the website was created this January and receives about 800,000 hits a day.

“The idea is that s--- happens to us all,” Alan Holding, a website moderator and spokesman, wrote in an e-mail. “Sharing the crapness of whatever happened to you during the day can have some therapeutic value, especially when you consider the amount of people who can interact with you, feel your pain or take the piss out of your mishap.”

A group of administrators moderate the site, validating all anecdotes and checking for duplicate posts. Stories must start with “Today” and end in “FML.” Once the moderators approve the anecdote, it is posted to the main page. Visitors can then vote two different ways: “I agree, your life is f---ed,” or “you deserve that one.” These votes determine which stories are top FML or flop FML. “It really makes me feel better about my own life,” sophomore accounting and finance major Esther Blinkoff said. “Some of these stories are so horrible, and the best part is when people say, ‘You deserved it,’ or ‘I agree, your life is f---ed.’ It’s just become something that everybody knows about and talks about.”

Visitors can also become members of F--- My Life and can create a profile, save and share anec-

dotes on other social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and personalize their comments with pictures.

Sophomore African-American studies major Andrew Perrin is a F--- My Life reader who not only checks it regularly but also attempted to post his own tale of woe on the website. Before going to class one day, Perrin bid on a Playstation 3 on eBay; when he returned from class, he read an email from eBay saying he had won the item for $250.

“I was excited for a minute,” he said, “but then I saw that I had an e-mail saying that the seller wanted to cancel the transaction because his house was broken into a few days ago. The PS3 he was selling was gone.”

While Perrin’s submission did not make it through the editing process and never ended up on the website, he still reads F--- My Life often, he said.

“I think one post is enough,” he said. “It is more fun reading than posting.”

Though nothing has been finalized, Valette and his team are bouncing around ideas for a slew of different features. Last month a survey was posted to gauge readers’ thoughts on new options, such as posting the gender of each story’s subjects. Administrators will act based on the feedback they receive, Holding said.

“As for the future, we don’t really know, we’re just taking the time to make the most of the ‘here and now,’ and enjoying the thousands of new stories we get every day,” Holding wrote. “It’s pretty amazing to realize that no matter what country you live in, there’s always something in the stories you can relate to. The same s--happens to all of us all over the world!” hamptondbk@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

Senate chair unsure which way vote will go TENURE, from Page 1 see pay increases under the proposal and that disciplinary measures would only be taken in extreme cases, such as after a faculty member is twice found to be under-performing. Ultimately, they say, this would lead to better faculty for the university.

“Tenure protects academic freedom, the ability to speak out critically and allows [a professor] to teach as he or she deems appropriate,” AAUP Senior Program Officer Robert Kreiser said. “If a faculty member speaks out against the president of a university, [tenure] protects them against retaliation; if they want to study stem cell research at a time when the government is expressing hostility against that kind of research, it protects them from that, too. It’s an assurance of procedural protections.”

The AAUP argued in a statement they e-mailed to university faculty that the biggest problem in the university’s post-tenure proposal lies in the possibility of punishing professors found to be performing at sub-par levels through salary decreases. Kreiser said giving a review board the power to manipulate a tenured faculty member’s salary could lead to unethical practices, such as decreasing one’s salary in order to force them to resign.

“It’s the one or two weak performers that need the most attention,” said English professor Adele Berlin, who chaired the university senate’s PostTenure Review Task Force.

“Nearly 95 percent of faculty will be at or above the set level of expectation.”

Senate Chair Ken Holum said the controversial issue has caused a lot of unease and outrage among

some faculty members, while other members of the university community, including students, seem to support the measure.

“This impacts everyone,” Holum said. “On the one hand, tenure is vital to freedom of thought and expression, and gives professors the freedom they need to undertake research projects without conforming to the beliefs of one’s chair or dean.

On the other, this impacts students directly, because students might naturally feel that there are some faculty members who perform very badly in the classroom and should be held accountable for that.”

Holum, who will preside over the policy debate at the University Senate meeting tomorrow, said the vote could go either way.

“There’s no way of knowing which way this vote will go,” Holum said.

University President Dan Mote will take the results of the vote into consideration when deciding on whether to implement such a policy, he said, and would not go above the senate’s head and implement an unpopular policy.

Holum added that though the AAUP has expressed concern about the policy proposal, he believes the policy is sound and adheres to the organization’s policy guidelines.

“The general tone of the AAUP toward any kind of post-tenure review is rather negative,” said Holum, who is a tenured professor and a member of the AAUP. “They’re uncomfortable with it, and that’s true of quite a few faculty members, too. But I don’t feel threatened, and I’m sure a lot of other people don’t, either.”

According to a 2007 Zogby poll, 65.3 percent of respondents agreed that “a professor who does

not have tenure is more motivated to do a good job than one who does have tenure.” These results, Kreiser said, speak to a long-standing public assumption that tenure provides protection for professors who are ineffective teachers and unproductive scholars.

Kreiser, who is also an adjunct history professor at George Mason University, said tenure is not taken lightly by faculty members and shouldn’t be negated by an annual review process that would threaten professors’ academic freedom and job security.

“Our concern is, to the extent that it is envisioned at the University of Maryland, it seems like there is an excessive amount of bureaucratic busy work for faculty members in order to weed out those few faculty members who are deficient,” Kreiser said.

POST-TENURE REVIEW: PROS AND CONS PROS: Tenured professors who are performing at subpar levels will be held accountable.

Tenured professors who are performing above expectations will be rewarded accordingly, including with salary increases.

CONS: The threat of disciplinary actions undermines professors’ job security.

The policy does not lay out exact numbers or explicit standards, but rather leaves it up to each college to decide, which could lead to inconsistency.

langdbk@gmail.com

Solidarity Week organizers SDS wants used book exchange hope summit is a success UBC, from Page 1

FLIERS, from Page 1 not incite violence or pose a threat, they could not be considered a crime, he added.

Police launched an investigation after being contacted by university President Dan Mote last week, Dillon said. He said police interviewed students, read complaint e-mails and reviewed surveillance video, but determined posting the fliers did not break the law.

“Basically, these fliers were free speech,” Dillon said. “Plain and simple.”

The fliers were hung in response to last week’s Palestinian Solidarity Week, a series of events meant to present the Palestinian side of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Organizers said they met opposition for their cause even before the week began when posters advertising the events were torn down.

Students involved with Pales-

“There is a difference between free speech and hate speech.”

SANA JAVED PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY WEEK ORGANIZER

tinian Solidarity Week said they were taken aback by the amount of hate the fliers emitted, even if they weren’t against the law.

“There is a difference between free speech and hate speech,” said government and politics and Spanish language and literature major Sana Javed, who helped to organize Palestinian Solidarity Week. “They were an irrelevant commentary on Islam, but we were talking about politics.”

In the aftermath of the fliers, university officials want to create

a campus-wide dialogue about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Gretchen Metzelaars, director of the Stamp Student Union.

The week after spring break, student leaders will meet to plan a summit, which is tentatively scheduled for April. Students will be invited to the summit to speak freely about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Metzelaars said.

Organizers of Palestinian Solidarity Week said they were disappointed with the conclusion of the police investigation but plan to work closely with the university to ensure the summit is productive.

“That’d be good so everyone is on the same page,” Javed said. “We’re definitely going to follow up with the university officials to make sure it’s not put on the back burner ... because this is a big deal. We want a campus of tolerance.” hamptondbk@gmail.com

investment by the university,” Brewer said, noting that up to $5 million would be needed to fund “start-up costs” such as equipment, a bookstore technology system and training, as well as the entire inventory, which he said would have to be bought “up front.”

“Given the current financial status, this was not financially feasible,” he said.

Brewer declined to say how many bids have been received for the contract so far. The current agreement the university has with Barnes & Noble expires in May. Since 2003, UBC’s annual sales of new textbooks have declined by $1.6 million, according to figures outlined in the university’s UBC contract proposal guidelines. But revenue from the sales of used textbooks has increased by about $500,000, underlining what students and administrators recognize is a growing need for cheaper textbook alternatives.

“Students have consistently informed us that they want access to lower-priced used textbooks in-

stead of paying new textbook costs,” Brewer wrote later in an email. “Established bookstore companies have greater access to the used textbook market through textbook wholesalers than a single, stand-alone campus operation.”

In response to student concerns, Brewer said the university has identified nine specific requirements in the university’s contract proposal to help keep textbook costs down.

Among some of the newer contract stipulations are alternatives to current practices, including employing “creative methods of textbook delivery,” such as purchasing electronic versions of textbooks, when available, and establishing a “Bookstore Advisory Committee.”

Under the new contract, a Bookstore Advisory Committee, consisting of students and faculty members appointed by university governing groups such as the Student Government Association, University Senate and Graduate Student Government, will provide direct input and oversight of bookstore policies and programs.

But students, many of whom

say they are “extremely dissatisfied” with the way UBC is being run under the Barnes & Noble corporation, hope to still persuade university officials to consider housing a “used book exchange” under UBC’s roof.

“People are really dissatisfied with the way the bookstore is run right now,” freshman government and politics major and member of Students for a Democratic Society Richard Baker said. “They’re upset with book prices, they’re upset with the detachment of the bookstore — some faculty won’t even step foot in there. What we want to do is create a model that will help students.”

Members of SDS have been circulating petitions in an attempt to gain momentum for a “free used book exchange” to be housed in UBC, where students could come to exchange their used textbooks for other used textbooks — much like a barter system.

But Brewer said any studentrun non-profit used textbook exchange program would be excluded from the contract.

langdbk@gmail.com

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009

THE DIAMONDBACK

Opinion

STEVEN OVERLY

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

EDITOR IN CHIEF

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MARDY SHUALY

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OPINION EDITOR

Staff Editorial

Guest Column

Small steps first

Pave the bridges with truth

I

don’t know what a senator does in the SGA,” a junior physics major admits in his rules. And unlike professors, they don’t have the benefit of learning from peers who application to run for the University Senate. “I am trying to make a difference at have seen university policy evolve over generations. Yet there’s no single webpage on the university’s website that explains how proposals move from the senate to the this university, so I figured I should get involved somehow.”

Aside from his confusion on terminology — the Student Government Associa- president to the Board of Regents before they become policy. There’s no information tion is a student advocacy body, while the senate creates university policy — the junior session to teach aspiring senators about their duties.

The campaigning period itself provides an opportunity to educate the rest of the stuis indicative of all that’s right and wrong about students looking to get involved in campus politics. One of 175 students running for the senate this year, the junior seeks dent body. Right now, most senate campaigns seem limited to a Facebook group. But change and seems willing to work for it. Last year, only 59 students ran, and two seats even if that’s enough to win a less-than-coveted seat to represent the education college, campaigning is a chance to do more than win votes. It’s a chance to remained unfilled for the entire term. The sudden surge of appliintroduce the entire campus to the senate. Any student can propose cants represents a chance to provide undergraduate students with a a policy to the senate. Any student can talk at a meeting. Learning more influential role in the university’s system of shared governance.

The university has a re- about the senate is more than voter education because any student who understands the body can work toward changing university But to be effective, students will have to understand how the unisponsibility to educate policy. And with that spirit, we’d like to see the university and the versity works and what it is they’re seeking to change. This one junior clearly has little idea. There are dozens of other hopefuls who future student leaders. candidates themselves treat the elections seriously. Administrators should send out more than one e-mail reminding students to vote. call to keep down tuition, fight for the Purple Line and represent their colleges’ specific interests — but despite a passing knowledge of the issues, even They should put up yard signs. Students should be covering the sidewalks in chalk.

At the end of the 1969-1970 school year, there was widespread unrest among stuthese student have also missed the point of the senate. The senate is responsible for presenting detailed and concrete policy proposals to the president; it’s not enough to dents that sparked a series of riots. At the end of the year, 7,000 students and 500 facsimply scrounge up a list of the hot issues of the day. It’d be easy to blame eager stu- ulty members gathered in the Cole Field House to propose a series of reforms, includdents for blindly wandering into the labyrinth of campus politics, but it’d also be un- ing student representation in the senate. At the time, the gesture recognized that student representation was essential to the university’s operations. And it obviously still productive and wrong.

University leaders across the board — the senate, the president’s office and espe- is. We don’t expect there to be 7,000 students at the next senate meeting, but we becially student leaders — bear a responsibility for educating the student body on how lieve they can develop a critical mass over time. Big changes start small. You don’t university policy is crafted. Students can’t change the game unless they know the need to start a riot — just hand out a flier and a lollipop.

Our View

Editorial Cartoon: Jenna Brager

Cambodia: Pride and compassion

I

t’s no secret that wearing intentionally ripped jeans is really a microcosmic manifestation of a person’s latent middle-class guilt for being able to afford jeans in the first place. I think that’s been pretty much agreed upon by the contemporary pop culture scholarly community. While I’ve never subscribed to this hobo-chic sensibility, the sentiment has certainly plagued me lately. I’m writing this column from an Internet café in Cambodia, and I’m sure it goes without saying that this country is pretty down in the dumps. Even as wellread (translation: well Wikipedia-ed) as I consider myself to be, I really wasn’t prepared to encounter this level of poverty.

It’s the first time I’ve ever experienced something I could honestly describe as gut-wrenching. Little kids approach you at restaurants and beg for the rest of your sandwich, and when you walk down the main thoroughfare of the capital city,

ESTI

FRISCHLING

there are babies literally sleeping in the street. The slums along the roads are surrounded by moats filled with more trash than their inhabitants could possibly have generated on their limited means, and there are people everywhere missing limbs. All the while, I’m staring out the window of a bus, wistfully listening to depressing music on my iPod (trying to justify the fact that I can even afford an iPod) and consciously not complaining about the glaring lack of air conditioning.

To make my financially fueled guilt complex even more complex, a huge part

of traveling in Cambodia is simply trying not to get ripped off. As soon as I crossed the border, the actual government of Cambodia sold me a visa for a hugely inflated price and told me that if I didn’t like it, I was welcome to walk back over to Thailand. Afterward, a man charged me $10 for what he promised would be a 20-minute ride in his “cab” to the bus station, which was really only a block away.

And you thought tricks were just for kids.

This whole Khmer-traveler dynamic is quite frustrating, but to put it bluntly, they need the money more than we do. So do you just blindly get ripped off and taken for a ride by some mean old fruit lady who sends her little kids off to beg instead of to school? Or alternatively, with the pride of “stupid Americans” everywhere hinging on your bargaining ability, do you haggle down to the last quarter with someone who would genuinely notice if they lost a quarter?

I’m not writing advice anymore, so I’ll be the first to tell you — I have no f---ing clue. Personally, I handled it by stealthily sneaking ice cream to child beggars when their parents were forcibly peddling drugs to innocent passersby. Unfortunately, in my lifetime, there probably won’t come a time when children aren’t forced to work in Southeast Asia, or their agrarian society can yield sustaining amounts of income. Instead of stewing in guilt or donating all of my hard-earned bankroll from The Diamondback, as cheesy as this sounds, sometimes you really do have to settle for a child’s chocolate-covered smile ... and, of course, take a prominent role in your campus’ activism community and so on and so forth.

Esti Frischling is a sophomore studio art major writing this semester from Thailand. She can be reached at estidbk@gmail.com.

Food trucks: A New Jersey watering hole needed here

W

hen I told my friends and roommates I was going to Rutgers University with my a cappella group last weekend, they each gave me the same response: “Why would you ever go to New Jersey?” I hadn’t previously spent any significant time in the Garden State, but I assumed there had to be something redeeming about it other than that silly movie from five years ago. It turned out to be, of all things, a sandwich.

After the competition was over, our host, who was in an a cappella group at Rutgers, offered us one tip. “Before you leave,” he said, “you have to go to the grease trucks.” The name is self-explanatory: These are trucks that sell very unhealthy food, and they are a Rutgers legend, as well. We found the grease trucks arranged in a little circle in an otherwise forlorn faculty parking lot near the center of the school’s College Avenue campus.

The place was mobbed by students at

1 a.m., drunk and hungry for sandwiches with names such as “Fat Bitch.” Picnic tables were set up for eating, and an adjacent bus stop brought in a constant stream of kids going to and from the fraternity parties a block away. I hadn’t even ordered a sandwich before I thought to myself: This belongs in College Park.

It wasn’t just the food they serve — socalled “fat” sandwiches containing various combinations of chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, French fries and sauces — or the fact that all this can be had (with a drink) for roughly $6, a price that would give the weekend buffet at Panda a run for its money. It was the feeling I had walking around the grease trucks. The grease trucks were Rutgers’ town square, a marketplace for midnight munchies, a very simple measure that turns an otherwise unassuming parking lot into a makeshift gathering place for college students.

You can already go to a food truck in

DAN

REED this area. Just five minutes west of the campus, you can buy pupusas — small, pancake-like patties made of corn dough and stuffed with meat or cheese — from trucks lining the streets of Langley Park.

Aimed at the large Latino community in that neighborhood, the pupusa trucks are a cheap, easy way for people to start a business and for busy people to get a fast meal within walking distance of their homes or workplaces.

I can only imagine how much “grease trucks” or something like them in College Park could revolutionize the way students hang out in their downtown. A grouping of food trucks could appear on

any of the main downtown parking lots: behind the Maryland Book Exchange, next to Santa Fe Cafe on Knox Road, next to Applebee’s or — the biggest one of them all — the College Park Shopping Center at Route 1 and Knox Road. Almost always congested with both cars and people, this parking lot is our town’s de facto town square, a place everyone’s been at one point while running errands or after drinks.

It’s so popular, in fact, that the city has erected a “no loitering” sign in the lot.

But we shouldn’t be trying to steer people away from the places where they naturally congregate. Instead, we should be making them as hospitable as possible.

While a sandwich truck does not a town square make, it’s definitely a start to making downtown College Park a better place to be.

Dan Reed is a senior architecture and English major. He can be reached at reeddbk@gmail.com.

POLICY: The signed letters, columns and cartoon represent only 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.

MEHREEN RASHEED I was honestly a little disappointed to read Julie France’s March 9 column, “Building bridges or reinforcing walls.”

It is unfortunate that there are students who reacted so negatively to Palestinian Solidarity Week, which was intended as an event to promote consciousness of the less publicized side of the conflict to reach greater understanding.

Palestinian Solidarity Week was indeed about building bridges, but there can’t be any bridge building or dialoguing until there is complete understanding both sides, without which we’d be building a “bridge to nowhere.”

If anyone was actually willing to listen to Alison Weir’s speech last Thursday, they would have heard the irrefutable fact that the Israeli point of view is greatly overrepresented in our news media. Palestinian Solidarity Week’s sponsors and organizers certainly called for open dialogue, but I reiterate — this is not possible without events such as “The Palestinian Massacre Will Not be Televised!” or organizations such as If Americans Knew to educate us about the issues we simply do not hear about in mainstream news.

Weir did not challenge Israel’s right to exist or to defend its people. She very simply quoted the Geneva Conventions stating the rights of the Palestinians by international law — not some agenda of her own. Anyone who was there would not have been able to ignore the chilling statistics and research, or the heartbreaking stories that made indisputably clear the injustice of the Palestinian suffering.

Never did she say Israeli suffering wasn’t important; in fact, she made clear it is a nonpartisan, human issue.

But the title of the week makes it clear — this was Palestinian Solidarity Week.

The focus was not on the victims in Israel, which are quantitatively a fraction of the Palestinians’. And I dare anyone to call that biased after they visit www.ifamericansknew.org and see for themselves the research that proves how much attention the Israeli side receives in comparison. Palestinian Solidarity Week was a small but significant step to try and even out this imbalance and to work together to achieve justice.

But the point stands. If Israeli supporters felt ignored last week, they should perhaps take comfort in the fact that for U.S. citizens, every week is Israeli Solidarity Week: Every tax dollar, every tuition check, our media and even our president support you. And so do I, but only to the extent internationally recognized human rights and justice for all people are protected (making it, sadly, a theoretical support).

However, I would hope those of you who did not necessarily identify with our cause would at least open your minds enough to listen and hear the reality (for you cannot disagree with reality) of the humanitarian crisis, which is everyone’s problem, whether your politics be one-state solution, twostate solution or the back-to-Narnia movement.

If Weir’s speech made you uncomfortable, you will be hard-pressed to find someone who will apologize to you for her stating the facts. I understand it is not always an easy thing to hear, and you may not always like it, but it is the truth.

Now, however, is not the time to gripe about the audacity of some college students who drew attention to a humanitarian crisis for one week. Now we must move forward. We must acknowledge the suffering and injustice where it exists, and work together to right it.

Because in the end, we are not Israelis, Palestinians or Narnians — we are humans.

Mehreen Rasheed is a freshman journalism major. She can be reached at mrasheed@umd.edu.

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion.dbk@gmail.com. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and nighttime phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to 600 words.

Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 56 Actress 50 De Gaulle’s hat 43 Blurred 33 Kitten’s pleas 59 Like Mr. Hyde 1 — strip Madeline — 45 Took the edge off 51 With, to monsieur 35 Nose-bag bit 60 Running wild 6 Foster a felon 57 Coup d’— 52 Formal obser46 Tied up the 38 Cheap hotels 61 Gaucho’s rope 10 Bland 58 Rather and vance phone 39 — Gatos, Calif.

62 Seeger or 14 Pablo’s girl Marino 54 Bombay nanny 47 High mountain 40 Vitality Sampras 15 Despot who fid55 Give a ticket 49 Free play 42 Quick lunch 63 Hang open dled 64 — Hawke of films 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 16 Chocolate cookie 65 Kept cold 17 Yellowstone sight 66 Lose leaves 14 15 16 18 Stuck-up 67 Dings a door 19 Lobster order 17 18 19 20 Plots (2 wds.)

DOWN 20 21 22 22 Part of MIT 1 Urban transport 23 Van Gogh’s 2 Skip past 23 24 25 medium 3 Japanese soup 24 Bob Hope 4 Mr. Stravinksy 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 sponsor 5 Gorges 26 Says yes 6 Blacksmiths’ 34 35 36 30 Very heavy metal need 37 38 39 40 34 Lomond and Ness 7 Chili ingredients 35 Bad sign 8 Buffalo’s lake 41 42 43 36 I-90 9 Cuts for friars 37 What we have 10 Kind of detector 44 45 46 47 38 Book jacket parts 11 Where Tabriz is 40 Turn down 12 Luau attire 48 49 41 Consume 13 Pinhead 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 42 Soak up moisture 21 Illuminated 43 Tendon 25 — Quentin 59 60 61 44 Wastes time 26 Not silently 46 Complains 27 March composer 62 63 64 48 Ms. Hagen of 28 Propeller type films 29 Codgers’ queries 65 66 67 49 Red-tag event 30 Safe caller 50 A Marx 31 Curie daughter © 2009 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE 53 Went camping 32 Unmitigated

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved: R O S A

O R C A

P A R A L E G A L

ER R T E A A P J RE A A I RS CO RCE AG I E N ME D RU E E CUK SOB E S T A T UE S A RMOR DE E P S P A ANN E AG T D S SWE

ACED ODD B A S E PRO E T S T RE AM D E ER I E D I S B AND P A S T A AME S W I T P E E P I NE E S HA L T S R B A L L OT TORSO A H A B WA N CE OP I NE ER RE E K S DE S PRA T

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orn today, you may constantly be torn between the contentment of home and the allure of the big, bad world — and as a result you may leave home time and again in search of the kind of wisdom and excitement you think can only belong to a world traveler. You are mistaken, of course, if you think you can’t have those things at home; but, surely there are other reasons to unfurl your sails and see the world. You can enjoy both a satisfying home life with family and friends as well as the solitary discovery of the wanderer. Why choose only one?

B

You know how to plan well, get things done, and move on to the next assignment with a minimum of fuss. Indeed, you may go about your business with such a quiet dedication that others feel you are not dedicated at all — but the fact is that you’re not the kind who has to draw attention to himself or herself.

Also born on this date are: Dorothy Gish, actress; Rupert Murdoch, media tycoon; Bobby McFerrin, vocalist; Lawrence Welk, bandleader; Sam Donaldson, TV 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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12 PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Your enthusiasm is likely to be unmatched, at least early in the day. Later on, a few unexpected details may slow you down a bit.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Your companionship is likely to be

sought out — but there may be an underlying reason that not everyone is talking about.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — A cautious approach is advised, but this doesn’t mean you should turn away from the unknown. Just approach it carefully, knowingly.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — It’s a good day to examine your own weaknesses — as you see them.

What you think about yourself is more important than another’s opinion.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You’re not about to steal the spotlight from another, but if it does shine on you, you’ll be prepared to give a top-notch performance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Don’t become defensive or overly possessive, especially when you sense that public opinion isn’t going your way.

truly deserve.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — The simplest things can make the biggest difference to you as you work to solve a problem that has been months in the making.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — The challenge you face is not entirely unexpected — but how you find a solution is likely to surprise everyone.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Focus on health and nutrition.

You may not have been treating yourself as well as you should have lately. Work has suffered.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — If you’ve been saving money, make a specific, detailed plan about what to do with it. If not — why not?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — That which is most important to you is worth defending. You may not want to risk it all, but certainly the stakes are high.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You must be straightforward and unflinching if you expect others to give you the credibility you

Copyright 2009, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE:

Diversions

INTERVIEW: THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES “Instead of screamo, it’s yello, because I don’t scream,” Snere said, referring to some of the various corners journalists have put him in. “I feel like people take things out of context really easily. It doesn’t bother us, it’s just frustrating.”

— Steve Snere, as interviewed by Reese Higgins For the full interview, just click the Diversions tab at:

INTERVIEW | BEACH HOUSE

hoff theater highlights I LOVE YOU, MAN Paul Rudd and Jason Segel co-starring in a movie should make any Judd Apatow fan happy, though he had nothing to do with this project. I Love You, Man screens tonight for free at the Hoff, allowing you to judge the bromantic comedy before it comes out next week. We’ll have our review tomorrow.

SHOWTIMES: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.; free

HAIRSPRAY Before Hairspray was retooled as a marketable motion picture and a stage show, it was one of John Waters’ tamer cult classics. Divine, Ricki Lake, Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry star in the Baltimore-set film. The story of Tracy Turnblad makes bold racial statements and is a campy delight.

SHOWTIMES: Tomorrow, 5 p.m.; free

TRANSFORMERS Can’t wait for this summer’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? Then get your Optimus Prime on and relive the original 2007 blockbuster in all its big-screen glory. Sure, Transformers had some plot issues (holes and a convoluted story will do that), but it is visually stunning, and it did introduce the world to the hotness that is Megan Fox. Did we mention it was visually stunning?

SHOWTIMES: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.; free

BALTIMORE DREAMIN’ Beach House vocalist/organist discusses recording with Grizzly Bear

BY REESE HIGGINS Staff writer

B

each House is not a band you typically associate with wild spring flings in Cancun. Beach House is, however, the band that comes to mind when you think of ambient alt-pop from Baltimore.

The dreamy-sounding duo will be playing to a home crowd tonight at Sonar, their last date before they head to Texas to play concerts that include showcases at the South

by Southwest Festival. The mini-tour based around SXSW is small enough to nearly qualify as a break for the band, after an eventful 2008.

“2008 was a busy year for us, on tour for approximately almost 6 months this year,” singer and organist Victoria Legrand said in an e-mail interview. “Used to Be was a burst of energy for us during the summer. We were inspired.

And then we continued touring brutally.”

The band released its second fulllength album, Devotion, to mostly positive reviews last February and put out the Used to Be 7-inch LP in October.

The tour in support of Devotion immediately began to take its toll on the band.

“There’s not much you can do as an individual because [touring] is highly destructive for the individual body,” Legrand said. “Just pack your suitcase and go. And try to be good the first week. It’s never the same. The planning of logistics start early, but the mind planning is always unprepared!”

With the release of its self-titled debut in 2006, Beach House toured as just Legrand and guitarist/keyboardist Alex Scally. But since Devotion, the band has added to its live performance.

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arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

“Since February of 2008, we’ve been playing live shows with a drummer,” Legrand said. “It has given a new energy, which is great. We also started having a projectionist at a few of the shows. The set up is always Alex and me and our two amps, pedals, magic mystery and then the drummer.”

Legrand said the band is looking forward to debuting a couple of songs at SXSW, though Legrand and Scally are unsure of their next album’s release date.

“We’ve been writing and recording for ourselves, but nothing anyone should hear,” Legrand said. “We are a work very much in progress.”

While not exactly Beach House, Legrand will be featured on new material by Brooklyn indie band Grizzly Bear. She sang on some of the tracks on Grizzly Bear’s forthcoming LP, Veckatimest, due May 26. “[Grizzly Bear] kindly asked me, Victoria, to do a vocal on it,”Legrand said. “I was extremely flattered, and of course wanted to do it immediately. I think they are all so kind and genuine. … They were very relaxed and fun to hang out with [on tour about two years ago]. Very generous gentlemen. Hard workers that know how to party. Haha! No, but we had a great time with them, and that was the beginning.”

When Beach House is not touring, the members call Baltimore their home.

“It’s a supportive community,” Legrand said. “It’s a haven. It’s cheaper than most, but probably not forever. We haven’t written our ode to Baltimore quite yet.”

“Most people will say it’s almost more intense playing for your family than for a stranger,” Legrand said of tonight’s show. “I guess it’s kind of like that playing in Baltimore.”

Beach House will play at Sonar tonight.

Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $12. rhiggins@umd.edu

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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8

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009

AP College Men’s Basketball Poll Top 10

Sports

School

Record

1. North Carolina 2. Pittsburgh 3. Connecticut 4. Memphis 5. Louisville

(27-3) (28-3) (27-3) (28-3) (25-5)

Prev. School 2 3 1 5 6

6. Oklahoma 7. Michigan State 8. Wake Forest 9. Duke 10. Villanova

Record

Prev.

(27-4) (25-5) (24-5) (25-6) (25-6)

4 8 10 7 11

The dominant one No. 1 Connecticut has run through all opposition this year Amanda Spinnenweber is one of seven Terps with five goals or more, a big reason the Terps have won their first four games. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

BY AARON KRAUT

Diverse attack leads No. 2 women’s lacrosse

Women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese isn’t denying that No. 1 and undefeated Connecticut has been the measuring stick for all women’s basketball teams this season.

The Huskies (33-0) have dominated the nation, outscoring opponents by an average of 31.5 points per game. Their impressive resumé includes a 30-point win at then-No. 2 North Carolina in January, a team Frese’s Terrapins outlasted for a 9584 victory in the ACC Tournament semifinal Saturday.

With the No. 4 Terps (28-4, 12-2 ACC) coming off an ACC Tournament championship, riding a 12-game winning streak and likely to receive a No. 1 seed when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced Monday, comparisons between the Terps and Huskies are inevitable.

“No one has found a way to be able to beat them,” Frese said. “They’ve shown the consistency over the course of the year. You continue to watch and continue to look for areas of weakness.”

Frese said she planned on watching the Huskies take on No. 5 Louisville, coached by former Terp assistant coach Jeff Walz, in last night’s Big East championship game. Connecticut thumped the Cardinals 75-36 on ESPN. “You always think about it,” Frese said of a potential Terp-Huskies matchup.

“You hope you’re fortunate enough to be in that position. We don’t look so far out ahead. You just pick one game at a time.”

Mechelle Voepel, a women’s basketball writer for ESPN.com, believes the Terps are one of a small group of teams that could end Connecticut’s undefeated run.

With two players as talented as All-ACC first-teamers Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver, the Terps will have a chance against anyone, Voepel said.

The analyst even wrote an article in which she created the “Maryhoma Soonerps,” a fictional combination of players from the Terps and No. 2 Oklahoma, as a super-team formed to compete with Connecticut.

“That has piqued a lot of peoples’ interest,” Voepel said. “The way that Maryland has played so well in the last few weeks, are they the team that has the best chance of derailing UConn? And UConn is a really, really good team.”

The Huskies and Terps have some similarities. Both teams are built around high-scoring 5-foot-7 point guards and versatile small forwards.

Connecticut features guard Renee Montgomery and forward Maya Moore,

Five Terps have double-digit point totals

BY KATE YANCHULIS Staff writer

Entering last Friday’s game at Virginia, Sarah Mollison led the Terrapin women’s lacrosse team in assists, feeding the ball to her teammates more often than she went to the net.

But with Cavalier defenders shadowing the Terps’ top finishers, the attacker took the responsibilities upon herself, scoring a career-high six goals on seven shots in the 17-11 win.

That is how the Terp offense has worked all season. When opponents cover one player, another steps up and takes control. The No. 2 Terps (4-0, 2-0 ACC) have had a different scoring leader in each game so far.

“That’s what we’re going for,” coach Cathy Reese said. “I think at any time on the field, any of our seven attackers can score. That’s what’s going to carry us through the season. It’s not like a one-man show.

It’s a team effort.”

Opponents cannot just focus energy on one, two or even three Terps, as the team has a scoring arsenal eight players deep. After four games, five players already have double-digit point totals.

Today at 3:45 p.m., No. 8 Georgetown (3-1) will try to foil the Terps’ potent attack. But as other teams have found, deciding who to defend is not an easy task.

Against Virginia, midfielder Laura Merrifield, who led the Terps with a career-high five goals against Duke the week before, found herself tightly guarded by the Cavaliers and managed only one shot and no goals.

But the focus on Merrifield opened opportunities for other Terps. Six of her teammates found the back of the net, including freshman midfielder Karri Ellen John-

son, whose four goals brought her season total to a team-high 16.

“None of our opponents can pinpoint one of our players, because we’re all a threat,” Johnson said.

“We don’t have to look to one player or rely on one player because all of us are capable of scoring.”

The fact that star midfielder Caitlyn McFadden, one of only two returning offensive starters, does not lead the team in goals or points only emphasizes the Terps’ offensive depth.

The All-American has not had an off year, notching a career-high seven goals against Massachusetts and holding the second-highest goal total on the team. But because of her accomplishments, she is often guarded by top defenders, which limits her chances to score.

Still, she said she never worries, because she knows her teammates will step up.

“Everyone can contribute. We can score from anywhere,” McFadden said. “Everyone out there can create plays. That’s what makes our team so dangerous.”

Even the defense is getting into the act. Defender Karissa Taylor had never scored before this season, but she had a goal in each of the first two games. Eight players have recorded their career-high singlegame goal totals this season.

The Terps are confident, though, that their scoring will hold up through the Georgetown match and the rest of the season.

“We’re just so dynamic,” Mollison said. “We can attack from all areas, and anyone can attack. Everyone’s dangerous. I don’t think any team can cover us all, so it’s going to be exciting for the rest of the season.

We’re going to go all the way.” kyanchulisdbk@gmail.com

Senior staff writer

Connecticut has dominated opponents on both ends, led by Maya Moore (right), the leading contender for National Player of the Year. COURTESY OF THE DAILY TARGUM

who came into last night’s game averaging 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

The Terps boast ACC player of the year Toliver and Coleman, who recorded 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in the Terps’ ACC Championship win against Duke on Sunday.

Connecticut’s on-paper advantage comes in the post, where 6-foot-4 center Tina Charles is averaging 16 points per game on 60.3 percent shooting. Terp center Lynetta Kizer and forward Dee Liles have shown the ability to take over games this season, but both will be experiencing their first NCAA Tournament action over the next month.

“It’s been difficult to gauge what some of [Connecticut’s] weaknesses are because they mask them so well,” Voepel said. “Player to player, UConn would have the edge as the overall team. But Maryland has so much talent, and they’ve been playing so well as a team.”

The Terps do hold a significant statistical advantage in 3-point shooting, averaging 41 percent compared to Connecticut’s 36.6 percent. But the Huskies rarely need to rely on long-range shooting with their

TERRAPIN MEN’S LACROSSE NOTEBOOK

All-senior midfield getting noticed

BY MICHAEL KATZ Staff writer

Considering the talent and experience present, the Terrapin men’s lacrosse team’s starting midfield was a bit overlooked at the beginning of the year. It was a reasonable oversight given the surprising success of the Terps’ all-freshman attack unit last season.

Now, after a strong start, the Terps’ all-senior first midfield of Dan Groot, Jeff Reynolds and Jeremy Sieverts has drawn the attention of opponents. And after the Terps’ 9-7 win at Towson on Saturday — in which the first line was held to a combined two points — Tiger coach Tony Seaman said the game plan was to take the unit out of the equation.

But with so much firepower on offense, opponents might find this approach just as unkind. With the midfield shut down, four Terp attackmen picked up the slack and divvied up the nine scores.

“Especially with the success we had in the Georgetown game, before that people probably weren’t as worried about the midfield as they were the attack,” Groot said. “But now that we’ve had some success early, it helps that they’ll key on us more so than the attackmen, and it will open up stuff for the attack.”

A CROWDED ATTACK The Terps’ attack was already a strength heading into the season, but that didn’t stop them from adding heralded transfer attackman Will Yeatman. And while his presence

added another weapon to the offensive arsenal, it also raised questions about how he would be integrated into the offense.

So far Yeatman, Ryan Young and Grant Catalino have seen the majority of the minutes, while Travis Reed works his way back from offseason surgery. Reed has seen most of his minutes on the man-up unit, where his sharp shooting skills are at a premium.

“The attack is meshing, but I think we still have a long way to go,” coach Dave Cottle said. “I don’t think we’ve figured out the minutes of the attack, the roles of the attack. We still have some questions up in the air about that.”

Pleased with the progress thus far, Cottle isn’t done tinkering. He proved his patience last season when he allowed goalies Jason Carter and Brian Phipps to rotate starts, in what amounted to a season-long tryout that is still in effect.

As Reed works his way back into game shape, expect the Terps to find space for all four attackmen on offense. It’s still unclear how exactly that will play out, but both Young and Reed had success against short sticks last season. With that said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see one or both running with an offensive midfield group at some point.

SHARP SHOOTING Though it sure seems like it, Young does not score every time he shoots. But sniping at a 75 percent clip (9-of-12), he has come about as close as you can.

The success is a bit surpris-

Jeremy Sieverts and the rest of the Terps’ top midfield line were targeted by Towson entering last Saturday’s game. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

ing after a freshman campaign where he converted on just 21.4 percent of his opportunities.

“I thought last year, he turned a 20-goal season into a nine-goal season,” Cottle said, referring to Young’s missed scoring opportunities. “Well, this year, he’s probably turned a four-goal season into a ninegoal season. But no, Ryan is shooting shots that give him a chance. He’s not hitting the goalie; he’s making the goalie make saves.”

Cottle said Young is reaping the benefits from a fall spent working on his shot. But in his appraisal, the sophomore attackman has matured, which may have as much to do with the success.

“I’ve been taking smarter shots and playing more within the system,” Young said. “Also, half the reason why my shoot-

Attackman Ryan Young has made nine of his 12 shot attempts this season, a 75 percent clip. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

ing percentage has gone up is how well [my teammates] have been playing, where they’ve been giving me easy looks.” mkatzdbk@gmail.com

ability to score in the paint.

In last night’s game against Louisville, coach Geno Auriemma’s team easily found cutters in the lane and stifled the Cardinals’ half-court offense.

Voepel said she doesn’t think this year’s Huskies are as good as the 2002 undefeated national championship version that went 39-0 and featured current WNBA stars Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Swin Cash. But according to analysts, Connecticut will be the hands-down favorite in this year’s NCAA Tournament, as they go against a thinner field of true contenders.

“They’ve been almost as dominant,” Voepel said. “The nation overall was better in 2002 in respect to having more teams that could potentially challenge the No. 1. I do think [Maryland] is one of a small handful that people are thinking could challenge them.”

If the Terps are going to win their second national championship in four seasons in St. Louis on April 7, challenging and beating the powerful Huskies might be necessary. akrautdbk@gmail.com