032408

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GET DOWN WITH THE GOATS

AGENT ORANGE

John Darnielle and The Mountain Goats brought folk-punk to the Black Cat last Saturday

Terps burned by Flynn, Syracuse in season-ending NIT loss

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 9

SPORTS | PAGE 12

THE DIAMONDBACK MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

98TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 106

Minor may Fraternity hazing photos surface Clement: Recent incidents are isolated not get approval BY BEN SLIVNICK Senior staff writer

Students threaten protest over Latino studies minor BY MARK MILIAN Staff writer

Senior Colleen Esper has all the credits she needs to graduate at the end of this semester with a major in sociology and a minor in U.S. Latina/o studies. But she may not receive her minor if the university doesn’t pass the proposal to officially add it in the next few weeks. “I’ve put in the work,” Esper said. “It’s not like I’m asking for a freebie. I earned my minor.” Esper is one of three seniors who have completed all the courses necessary to graduate with the proposed minor, which has been discussed since fall 2005, said Robb Hernandez, who was involved in writing the minor’s initial proposal.

DIGITALLY ALTERED PHOTO COURTESY OF TERP WEEKLY EDITION

Men identified in a Terp Weekly Edition report as Delta Tau Delta fraternity pledges hold butchered pigs’ feet in their mouths during a hazing ritual.

Vice President of Student Affairs Linda Clement yesterday called two hazing violations at the university this year isolated incidents and said the university’s current hazing policy needs no changes. “I don’t really believe that this is a widely recognized practice,” she said. “There are all sorts of stereotypes that exist in the world of the media and the movies, but in general, I really just don’t believe any of that sort of thing is going on here.” Her comments came just over a week after the university revoked the fraternity’s charter for hazing prac-

tices officials say have occurred since spring 2005. Earlier yesterday, the journalism school-sponsored TV show Terp Weekly Edition released new photos showing Delta Tau Delta members force-feeding shirtless pledges what appeared to be pigs’ feet. The Diamondback received the photos with the faces of the fraternity members already blurred, a decision made by members of the class that produces the show, said its advisor, Sue Koppen Katcef. Under university policy, officials don’t investigate hazing unless they are confronted with evidence of it — a policy Clement said is effective enough.

Please See HAZING, Page 2

SLUGGISH START

Please See MINOR, Page 3

ANNAPOLIS HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING

Tuition reform packs little punch As session enters final weeks, bills lose steam BY MEGAN ECKSTEIN Senior staff writer

With just two weeks to go in the state’s legislative session, tuition reform bills seem to be a lost cause. Despite its sponsor’s recent efforts to promote it, a tuition cap bill — which would prevent the University System of Maryland from raising tuition more than 4 percent each year and would force lawmakers to gradually work toward meeting 100 percent of the state’s request for higher education funding — is not on the agenda for a House of Delegates hearing. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s) said lawmakers put tuition reform on the back burner this session ADAM FRIED–THE DIAMONDBACK

Please See TUITION, Page 3

Guard Kristi Toliver (left), forward Laura Harper and the Terps struggled early before putting away No. 16-seed Coppin State in their first-round NCAA Tournament game.

Making it to the big (hacky sack) dance Masked men Footbag tournament held Saturday draws diverse field of competitors BY ERICH WAGNER Staff writer

ADAM FRIED–THE DIAMONDBACK

Senior education and Spanish major Adrienne Dukes performs her footbag routine Saturday in front of onlookers at the Shred for Savvy hacky sack tournament.

Tomorrow’s Weather:

The Terrapin men’s basketball team may have missed the NCAA Tournament, but March Madness still came to the Reckord Armory on Saturday afternoon. Alpha Phi Omega hosted Shred for Savvy, a footbag tournament benefiting a victim of biliary atresia, a rare condition found in infants. One-year-old Savannah Anselmo, a cousin of one of the fraternity’s members, suffers from the disease, and the tournament’s proceeds will help offset the cost of her medical bills. Competitors of all ages came

Mostly Sunny/50s Index:

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . .4

rob 7-Eleven on Knox Road

from as far as Pennsylvania and New York to show off their hacky sack prowess in several events. Players choreographed footbag tricks to music in the freestyle routines. The open circle featured players passing the ball around and performing complex tricks. And there was a volleyball-like footbag game. Newer players were able to participate in a game where the goal was simply to juggle the footbag for as long as possible. Senior Spanish and education major Adrienne Dukes, a member of the fraternity who organized

County police are searching for two men who robbed the 7-Eleven convenience store on Knox Road early Saturday morning, according to police. According to a crime alert sent to students, University Police officers were notified by Prince George’s County Police that two men wearing blue masks and blue latex gloves robbed the store at about 4 a.m. A handgun was pulled out during the

Please See TOURNAMENT, Page 3

Please See ROBBERY, Page 3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Diversions . . . . . . . . .9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . .12

BY BEN WORSLEY Staff writer

www.diamondbackonline.com


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