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FULL CIRCLE KID AROUND

Friday, March 30, 2012

After detour at PSU, Gribbin back in Md.

Boy is a well-told coming-of-age story

SPORTS | PAGE 8

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

THE DIAMONDBACK Our 102ND Year, No. 116

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Police to increase Sexual assault discussed at forum crosswalk patrols At University Senate Campus Affairs Committee forum, attendees highlight univ. workplace abuse issues that have arisen in past year

Students struck by truck Sunday crossed street illegally, police say

BY ERIN EGAN Senior staff writer

The two student pedestrians who were struck by a black pickup truck on Knox Road Sunday night walked in the middle of the road without using a crosswalk, according to police.

Officers did not cite the students at the scene of the accident that sent one student to the hospital for minor injuries, said Maj. Robert Brewer, Prince George’s County Police Department’s District 1 Commander.

County police are beginning to enforce crosswalk laws in several county locations, and officers set up six specific enforcement areas Tuesday, including locations on University Boulevard and Greenbelt Road.

However, officers are not required to write citations for

crossing outside of a crosswalk and use their discretion in deciding if a citation is warranted, he said. The fine levied depends on the circumstances, said University Police spokesman Capt.

Marc Limansky.

“If people suffer, like in this case, we’re compassionate, but that’s not everyone’s mentality,” Brewer said. “We don’t mandate it.”

University Police officers also ticket pedestrians who do not use the campus’ crosswalks on a case-by-case basis, according to Limansky.

“Officers, on occasion, will enforce a violation of pedestrian-related traffic law,” Limansky said. “These are usually circumstances where the violation was grossly negligent and may have contributed to a collision.”

If a car hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk, he said, officers

BY LAUREN KIRKWOOD Staff writer

Several university officials, including University Police Chief David Mitchell (left) led last night’s safety forum. ALEXIS JENKINS/FOR THE DIAMONDBACK

After the Penn State sex abuse scandal emerged last fall, university officials said it became obvious that sexual assault and harassment should be the topic for the campus’ annual safety forum.

During the forum hosted by the University Senate Campus Affairs Committee, a panel of officials discussed the services available to victims of sexual assault and harassment to help them heal from their experiences and the options they have for legal actions their offenders. The event — which featured University Police Chief David Mitchell, Campus Compliance Officer Roger Candelaria, Director of Student Conduct Andrea Goodwin, Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program Coordinator Allison Bennett and campus counselor Sarah Mebane — is the basis for a campus safety report that will be presented to the Senate Executive Committee.

But during the question-and-answer segment, the subject turned to what several attendees said is an ongoing example of abuse and harassment on the campus. Last year, allegations of sexual abuse and harassment in Facilities Management and Residential Facilities surfaced, which several employees of those departments said have not yet disappeared.

Tim Baldauf-Lenschen, a member of Justice at Maryland — a student group formed to advocate for better treatment of campus workers — told the panel a zero-tolerance policy for abuse needs to be implemented to prevent sexual assault and harassment before it occurs. Black Staff and Faculty Association President Solomon Comissiong also addressed the crowd to describe how he has met with more than 20 women on university staff with stories of abuse.

Although Campus Affairs Committee chairwoman Marcy Marinelli said the topic of the forum was coincidental

see SAFETY, page 3

see CROSSWALKS, page 2

SERIOUS ON SYRIA UMB officials speak to students about health care profession options

Muslims Without Borders holds week of events

Panel held to inform community on strategic partnership with UMB

BY REBECCA LURYE Senior staff writer

In the first tangible initiative of this university’s collaborative partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, health professionals from UMB spoke to a small crowd of students last night about the educational and career options students have in the health care profession.

About 30 university students in the Biosciences Research Building attended the first university-hosted health care panel, which university officials plan to hold annually to strengthen its strategic alliance with UMB that the General Assembly and the Board of Regents — the 17-member governing board of the University System of Maryland — approved this semester.

“We have big ideas, big dreams, and in some ways this is kind of the kickoff event, the first leadoff event

BY QUINN KELLEY Staff writer

More than 1,200 green and white flags dotted Hornbake Plaza this week — each representing a dozen lives lost in the Syrian revolution — in an effort to call students’ attention to the ongoing violence.

Members of Muslims Without Borders held a series of events on the campus as part of Stand for Syria Week to inspire more people to support Syrian citizens as the government continues to fire against rebel forces.

Mohammed Kemal, the chapter’s Student Government Association liaison, said many students are concerned about human rights violations in Syria — but only once they are aware of the problem.

A few weeks ago, members of the organization asked students to sign a white board if they supported the Syrian citizens; of the 400 people who signed, about 75 percent said they initially were unaware of the issue before the members explained it, Kemal said.

“People want to do this. People want to help,” he said. “People do want to make a change — you have to reach out to them and let them know.”

The violence began last year after Syrian citizens protested the reported torture of 14 students.

As protests spread across the country, Syrian

for students in this new collaboration,” said Undergraduate studies Dean Donna Hamilton.

Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Flavius Lilly said the progress being made daily in the health care industry provides students with even more opportunities to pursue careers in a variety of health fields.

“The vision of interprofessional health teams is really beginning to take shape at the University of Maryland and the Medical Center, and it’s beginning to be integrated into practice,” he said.

Nursing school professor Cynthia Renn presented students with information about research in UMB’s Center for Pain Studies, an NIH-funded collaborative center, including a study researchers hope will point to key moments in patients’ treatment where physicians can prevent or

see SYRIA, page 2

see HEALTH, page 3 CHELSEA DIRECTOR/THE DIAMONDBACK

Recently opened restaurants still seeing business Despite city’s high turnover rate, some owners finding success

BY ZAINAB MUDALLAL For The Diamondback

Pho Thom recently opened on Route 1, along with several other businesses. It has been “always crowded,” despite the competition. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

Rain/60s

While a number of local businesses shuttered their doors over the past year, the owners of three newly opened restaurants in the city said they are optimistic their eateries will survive the ongoing competition and turnover.

INDEX

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

The fall marked the arrival of a wide variety of new dining offerings, including a Vietnamese-Thai restaurant, a pizzeria and a Turkish-inspired seafood place. While two of these restaurants have yet to attract a solid customer base among students due to their distances from the campus, Pho Thom — which specializes in pho, a chicken or beef noodle soup — has been an

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

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

instant hit, city officials said, since it opened its doors on Route 1 in the space that once housed Street Tacos.

Michael Stiefvater, the city’s economic development coordinator, said Pho Thom is “always crowded” due to its unique menu of healthy cuisine.

“They brought something new to

see RESTAURANTS, page 3

www.diamondbackonline.com

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

CROSSWALKS from page 1 would determine whether the driver had a reasonable time to stop when the pedestrian began to cross. There have been ver y few serious pedestrian-related accidents on the campus, he added.

“Pedestrians have a duty to make sure it is safe to cross before entering a crosswalk,” Limansky said. “Both vehicle operators and pedestrians have a shared duty to behave responsibly.”

However, some students said pedestrians will continue to cross streets illegally in spite of the stricter enforcement.

“Even if police start giving out tickets, ever yone’s still going to do it,” sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Cassie Perez said. “It’s just natural.”

Other students said enforcing pedestrian laws on the campus would be trivial.

“I never cross in a crosswalk on campus,” sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Marissa Montalvo said.

“It’s silly to enforce it, too, because ever yone just does it. It would be impossible.” egan@umdbk.com

ON THE BLOG campusdrivedbk.wordpress.com Members of Muslims Without Borders held a series of Stand for Syria Week events, with the goal of raising awareness about the Syrian revolution. Many students said they were initially unaware or unfamiliar with the conflict. Student activists hope to inspire more people to stand in support of Syrian citizens. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

SYRIA from page 1 President Bashar al-Assad launched an assault on the country’s people with military force.

In December, leaders of the United Nations said the countr y was in a state of civil war.

Sophomore psychology and public health major Aisha Hussain, a member of Muslims Without Borders, said events such as Stand for Syria Week will hopefully show the U.S. government students are concerned about these issues.

“I do think it’s important to get out of our University of Mar yland bubble,” she said. “We are the adults of tomorrow.”

Journalism professor Ron Yaros — who teaches a class integrating multimedia tools such as blogging, Twitter and photography — said the Syrian government’s strict control of the Internet and citizens’ fears of retribution for speaking out have prevented infor-

mation from spreading within the country. In 2011, there were 186,000 tweets per hour within Egypt about the country’s revolution, whereas there have only been about 3,000 to 6,000 tweets per hour from Syria, he said.

“Unfortunately from a social media standpoint, Syria has had far less revolutionary traffic than Egypt or Iran,” Yaros said.

Because of such restricted access, Yaros said it’s important for activist groups outside of the country to raise awareness about the issue and report the scarce information that is released from Syria.

“It speaks to how much control there is within the border and how much needs to be done outside the border,” he said.

Freshman journalism and government and politics major Troy Price said students can help to share such information.

“Since the Middle East is in such a tentative position right now, it certainly demands our attention,” Price

said. “I think there’s certainly something to be said for young energy.”

Kemal said as more people are informed about the issue, they will then tell their friends and awareness will spread.

“A tree starts from the seed, and we are the seed,” he said. kelley@umdbk.com

THE REVOLUTION HAS ARRIVED The place was packed. People were looking around and waving their hands to get the attention of others that they knew.

It took until 6:43 p.m. for people to start chanting. One guy, donning a brown Ron Paul sweater, was running up and down the center aisle leading the cheers.

He yelled, “Ron Paul revolution,” for the crowd to respond, “Legalize the Constitution.”

For more, read Juan Cervantes’ blog post on Campus Drive.

FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

“We plan on being here for over 30 years.

Turnover isn’t an option for us.”

RESTAURANTS from page 1 the city, which is why they’re experiencing success,” he said.

Several students said they were eager to try something different, noting the restaurant’s distinctive decor — deep green walls, dragon statues and bamboo plants shroud the eatery.

“There are no other places around with pho,” said freshman engineering major Mara Cai, who eats at Pho Thom once or twice a week.

“It’s much more convenient to students location-wise and price-wise.”

About two miles north of Pho Thom lies Fox’s Pizza Den, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant franchise. As one of several pizza eateries in the city — including Ratsie’s, Ledo Pizza, Papa John’s and Domino’s Pizza — Stiefvater said this restaurant faces some of the toughest competition.

“In order to be successful, they have to offer better products, prices and get customer attention price-wise and quality-wise,” he said.

Donald Cleveland, the restaurant’s spokesman, said the business stands out among competitors due to the quality food and the fun, family-friendly atmosphere.

The sports-themed restaurant also features a special 30inch pizza, and any single customer who finishes it in fewer than 60 minutes is awarded a $500 prize.

“We plan on being here for over 30 years,” Cleveland said. “Turnover isn’t an option for us.”

Because it is located relatively far from the campus — north of Route 193 — Fox’s Pizza Den offers an online deliver y ser vice.

Sophomore theatre and family science major Rachel Barlaam, who said she has seen many fliers for the restaurant, said she will likely order food online rather than travel to the location.

“As college students, a lot of us get food delivered, especially if the place is far from campus,” Barlaam said.

Further downtown, at the

3

SAFETY from page 1

DONALD CLEVELAND FOX’S PIZZA DEN SPOKESMAN

5000 block of Berwyn Road, lies Fishnet, a restaurant that co-owner Keyia Yalcin said fills the void of seafood options in the city. However, unlike traditional seafood restaurants, most of the items on the menu come in a sandwich.

While the restaurant has received attention from The Washington Post and The Washingtonian, Yalcin said it has been difficult to draw students due to the location and the higher prices. Yalcin is working to establish an online delivery service and also has launched a new brunch menu to reel in more customers.

“It’s going to take time for the students to notice that we are here,” Yalcin said. “But the community of Berwyn has so much to offer, it has a strong history of this particular block as a retail block.”

However, some students said they have already noticed the distinctive tone and menu that Fishnet has brought to the city.

“I like the neighborhood it’s in,” senior biology major Lee Stopak said. “It contributes to the different vibe of the restaurant compared to normal College Park food joints.”

John Horowitz, a freshman history major, said he enjoyed dining at a sit-down establishment instead of a fastfood place in the city’s downtown area.

“It’s nice to try something different,” he said. “You can’t really go wrong with it.”

And Stiefvater said it’s a good sign for the city that multiple businesses have set up shop in a short period of time.

“All these openings make people want to be here and invest their money,” he said. news@umdbk.com

and was chosen in response to the sexual abuse at Penn State rather than events on this campus, several members of the panel said the attendees’ concerns speak to the broader need for more awareness within the university community.

“It’s not effective to have a policy in place that says, ‘we’re not allowed to have this,’” Bennett said. “It speaks to the need for more clear messages that we have a zero tolerance policy.”

Junior family science and psychology major Lizzie Sauber, who works as a SARPP peer educator, said education is key to preventing assaults before they happen. Too often, she said, people focus on what a victim could have done to stop a rape after it occurs.

“We really need to shift the focus to how can we educate on what consent is and how bystanders can intervene before something happens,” she said.

“That makes it a community issue rather than a women’s issue or a victim’s issue.”

Bennett said the university tries to educate as many students as possible about preventative measures. SARPP holds events for the athletics department and freshmen, graduate and transfer student orientations.

“The more support and access we have to give those educational messages as often as possible, the more effective it is,” she said. “It’s a real, prevalent, concrete issue of our student body. We need to really target education in the entire community.”

The panel also discussed students’ options for prose-

HEALTH from page 1 minimize side effects.

“It’s an exciting time with this center, and we’re making a lot of progress with our studies,” Renn said. “So this is an example of how

Express yourself.

In light of the Penn State sex abuse scandal, this year’s annual campus safety forum focused on sexual assault and harassment. ALEXIS JENKINS/FOR THE DIAMONDBACK

cuting an attacker. Goodwin said students can take their case to the Office of Student Conduct to see their legal options, with no pressure to press charges.

Mitchell added that while police do not force or pressure anyone to report sexual assault, their goal is to hold whoever committed the crime accountable and prevent it from occurring in the future. Reporting inci-

dents helps facilitate this, he said.

“What I’ve tried to make clear to our gals here on campus, and our guys too, is if you become a victim, we will not let you be victimized twice,” he said. “You will not be the offender here; you are the victim. We will stand with you through the entire process.”

Medical and psychological care is also available to victims, several panel members

one school on campus can head up a project, but it’s ver y collaborative.”

However, UMB School of Medicine Associate Dean David Mallott said that the changing face of the health care industry may pose some students a challenge.

“You have to be able to play

“We’re looking at the big picture medical health questions of, if medical marijuana is legalized, we might need to change some other laws.”

KATHLEEN DACHILLE UMB LAW PROFESSOR

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well with others in the sandbox, and that’s one of the things we’re quite frankly testing with this new emphasis on interdisciplinary care,” he said.

Senior cell biology and molecular genetics major Abby Figat, asked how members of complicated health care teams prevent things from being “lost in translation, like a game of telephone.”

Pharmacy school professor Kathleen Pincus said her practice constantly works to keep communication clear to prevent valuable information from falling through the cracks.

“They say some of the most important things are to have clearly defined roles and clear communication,” she said. “I think at our practice, that’s something we’re still working on,” Pincus said.

In addition, several of the

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said. Even if students do not choose to press charges against their attacker, sometimes it can be helpful simply to have someone to talk to, Mebane said.

“For many survivors, it’s something that’s hidden, something that’s private, something they don’t share with the people in their lives,” she said. kirkwood@umdbk.com

speakers also referenced the potential for physicians to work with professionals in other fields.

For example, lawyers and physicians should collaborate to shift focus from quantity of patients to quality of care by developing a different model for how health care professionals are paid, Pincus said.

Kathleen Dachille — a professor at UMB’s law school and “one of the good lawyers,” she said — discusses the intersection of public health policy and the law, such as work to update clinical guidelines that impact the legal “insanity defense,” or the public health policy regarding using medical marijuana.

“What my students are working on are, what are the public health implications of what would more liberally allow people to use medical marijuana?” she said. “We’re looking at the big picture medical health questions of, if medical marijuana is legalized, we might need to change some other laws.”

Figat said she would have liked to have seen even more panelists present, such as a global health expert. However, some said they were pleased with the panelists chosen for the first-ever event.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” junior global health policy major Gloribel Le said. “It was interesting to hear about the different specialties.” lurye@umdbk.com

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

0pinion

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Staff editorial

Guest column

Everyday I’m hustlin’

The other side of the story

T

his afternoon, scores of students, alumni and visitors will convene at Stamp Jay-Z puts it, “I’m not a businessman; I’m a business, man.”

Strangely enough, university President Wallace Loh seems to be channeling a similar Student Union for the UMD Entrepreneurship Invitational, which itself kicks off the university’s “30 Days of EnTERPreneurship” program. The highlight notion as he pushes for more innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at this instituof the day will be the Cupid’s Cup, a business competition for students and tion. The university launched a 15-credit technology entrepreneurship minor last fall, and in February, Loh announced plans for a new entrepreneurship center. Details have alumni that will award $25,000 in prize money to five finalists.

Elsewhere on the campus and in College Park, students will spend the afternoon and yet to be finalized, but the main thrust is that Loh believes all students should be reevening relaxing from a long week of interning, working at one or more part- or full-time quired to learn about innovation in some capacity before they graduate.

“In the 21st century, we can no longer just be a research unijobs and — somewhere in there — fitting in classes and versity,” Loh said. “Your obligation is not just to create new schoolwork. Tonight, dollars will be pooled, bank accounts will knowledge; your obligation, if it’s what you want to do, is to crebe checked and quarters will be found under couch cushions ate this new knowledge, this new idea, into a new business, into as students scrounge up the cash for an extra case of Natty With students practicing a commercializable product.”

Light or a visit to the McDonald’s Value Menu. entrepreneurship daily, it is Even without the center, opportunities to explore entrepreYou see, college students — both graduate and undergraduneurship are abound: The Dingman Center provides reate — are world-renowned hustlers. We’re here for an educaencouraging that the sources for business startups, the Maryland Technology Ention, but sometimes it takes financial creativity to pay for food and entertainment, to say nothing of housing, transportation university enables students to terprise Institute (which will soon be expanded) focuses on technology innovation, and the Office of Technology Commuand tuition. We drive the Department of Transportation’s midformally hone these skills. nication provides assistance on patents and licensing. The night shift drunk bus, trade semester-end trips to Adele’s for favors and start dorm-room enterprises, all in pursuit of that sweet nectar — cash money. Honors College features the Entrepreneurship and Innovation living and learning program, and Loh agreed to collaborate with Delhi University on innovation and entreprePut simply, we’re entrepreneurs.

In past decades, the collegiate spirit of entrepreneuriship was extinguished soon neurship projects during a November trip to India. Over the next 30 days, this university after graduation by comfortable employment. Recent graduates would settle with an will award nearly $250,000 in various business and innovation awards through six comemployer, fully assured of their future financial and physical health by the promise of a petitions. The university’s goal is to create 100 companies over the next 10 years, and hearty pension and affordable health insurance. Most men earned enough money to Loh is clearly dedicated to reaching that goal — as is Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is set to support the entire family. Most middle- and upper-class folks didn’t need to work multi- speak at the Cupid’s Cup this afternoon.

For students, the current scenario presents a bit of a perfect storm: Just as we ple jobs to make ends meet (like poor people), which is perhaps why “hustle” carries a work the typical college hustle, the university is giving us the tools to perfect our traditionally nefarious connotation.

But that may be changing. Writing for CNN recently, LZ Granderson ex- craft — while the economy simultaneously shifts to benefit those with such a plored the “fascinating dynamic reshaping our thinking about what we do for skillset. There’s nothing wrong with spending a career under one employer, but no a living. Some of us will always go into professions, but others are learning to longer can that be the expectation.

So get out there and hustle — but first, work on your elevator pitch. become professionals: nimble, multi-skilled job creators for ourselves.” Or, as

Our View

Editorial cartoon: Ben Stryker

The probability of using probability

M

y least favorite class in high school was statistics. Even the probability unit, which was the best part, seemed like a waste of time. I just could not think of when I would ever use it in real life. Sure, if I wanted to become a professional poker player or be the person who guesses which month you were born in at Six Flags, probability might come in handy. Short of that, I felt as if I would never really need to know how likely it was that a coin comes up heads five times in a row. I assumed that though many things in life can be described by probability, it would never really change my decisions. I know that I am more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than a shark — I’d still rather fight the coconut. Therefore, I am confused when told that probability should determine which decisions I make about my future.

The housing lotter y — be it for dorms, Commons or Courtyards —

RAJARSHI CHATTOPADHYAY works by randomly assigning a priority number to ever yone interested. Excluding those who have lost housing points (usually due to alcohol-related violations, though the hooligans who throw things off their balconies are also justly punished), ever yone in a particular priority group has the same chance to get the best or worst number. While this seems legitimate, these groups suddenly make the process much less fair. A student with a high priority number can “pull in” up to three friends, even if their priority numbers are lower than a large number of their peers’. Suddenly, instead of a random lottery determining where you can live, these students who

have had a lower number than you can become a factor in your future housing. The lottery itself is random — the process is not.

Batman villain Two-Face, who got some (half) face time during the light-hearted rom-com The Dark Knight, establishes a ver y particular lifestyle. He suggests that the only form of true justice is pure chance — any choice can be determined by flipping a coin. However, this is not an accurate depiction of how decision-making should be executed.

Asking a nickel to understand the nuances about a judgment you must make is like asking a bear not to shit in the woods — it will be confused and probably eat you.

Culturally, we have been told that anyone can beat the odds: Lehigh beat Duke, Jared lost 245 pounds with Subway and France won a war.

With so many aspects of our world telling us those with low chances can prevail, it never seems farfetched that one will succeed,

despite the likelihood. Although we think low odds will not bring us down, we are shocked when something does not go our way — despite promising odds. It is possible to apply to 10 jobs and not get any offers, practice for hours and still play terribly or crash into a glass door that you had successfully opened, walked through and closed just minutes before.

Probabilities simply tell us what is likely to happen — they show us correlation, not causation. It is foolish to do something (or not do something) because the odds say it will not work out. The only determinant of your actions should be deciding whether you would like to live with the consequences of your action or inaction. And if that isn’t enough, just go with flipping the coin. Nickels are great listeners.

Rajarshi Chattopadhyay is a sophomore aerospace engineering major. He can be reached at chattopadhyay@umdbk.com.

Tales from Europe: Diversity and Rick Santorum

R

ick Santorum is quite an entertaining figure. In the midst of campaigning, the Republican presidential candidate/routine comedy act recently suggested that Puerto Rico, which has been a U.S. territory as long as Hawaii (more than a century), must adopt English as its primary language if it wishes to become the 51st state, in accordance with a (non-existent) federal law.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator embodies the kind of person who despises when American imperfection is compared to Europe. He sees the old continent with all its languages, compares it to the United States, and subsequently believes this makes America one united culture compared to Europe’s many. He is wrong.

I have been blessed with the gift of travel. To date, I have visited Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brussels, Monaco, Venice, Greece, and three corners of France. Obviously, the cultures change tremendously from country to country — even city to city. The different worlds and histories, all woven together and entangled, represent the complex

beauty of the European experience. But believe this: America varies just as much.

The United States is a not so much a melting pot of cultures and ideas as it is a broad palette, with individual colors around the edge and a mixed center. We are not painted with any one brush as merely Texas cowboys, Wall Street bankers, Baltimore factory workers or metropolitan artists.

There’s no need to use more radical examples like Alaska or Hawaii — Americans are kidding themselves if they are trying find a unifying culture. Categorizing us is just impossible; there is a substantial population to counter every patronizing statement about almost every individual group. Even racially, we are far more diverse than most of Europe.

We all know Europe only pretends to be one country. But even in a political sense, America can be just as divided. Some local Parisians, who spend a good portion of their time arguing about whether Paris represents “the real France” (ring any bells, Sarah Palin?), were shocked when I explained how U.S. laws change from

GREG NASIF state to state on everything from taxes and speed limits to same-sex marriage and fireworks. “Like different countries” one of them blurted out. They were equally surprised to learn how, just like Europe, America diversifies spectacularly across the nation, as I provided for them examples in cuisine, history, economics, race, religion and regional dialect.

We don’t all love football, processed beef, country music, capitalism or corporate control of politics. And we don’t all speak English.

Even for the English-speaking majority, the actual language varies enormously. Perhaps this was best illustrated by our British tour guide in Paris, who smugly proclaimed Americans “understand English but can’t speak it!”

The differences in how we verbally

communicate are as much a part of our culture as the food we eat, the politics we support, the gods we worship and the different countries we call home. These factors, which diversify America, are not detrimental to the culture — it is why America triumphs over Europe. While differences have dragged them into tyranny, dysfunction, genocide, and war time and time again, we continue to turn our diversity into strength in America.

Different people offer varying ideas and solutions to common problems. We see holism in America — the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And to suggest that Puerto Ricans should abandon their contribution is appalling.

Language is just one more difference between the diverse community that makes up our country. In learning to accept this, perhaps Rick Santorum will see what an asinine suggestion he made.

Maybe then we’ll finally move on to the real issue: Anyone who opposes the circular design of the 51-star flag hates America and is a communist.

Greg Nasif is a senior history major. He can be reached at nasif@umdbk.com.

I

’m writing in response to Maria Romas’ Wednesday column entitled “Help the huddled masses yearning to break free,” as I feel it’s important to show both sides of a coin before choosing heads or tails. Though the weakly constructed story of “Myroulla Nicolaou” needs no rebuttal, as it is clearly stated to be fiction, it is important to clarify exactly what happened in Cyprus and exactly what it’s like today. As Romas mentioned, in 1974 the Turkish Republic sent a large number of troops to the island, and also managed to seize large swaths of territory. However, Romas failed to mention why the Turkish Army was compelled to take action at that moment in history — after all why didn’t Turkey just seize the island earlier?

A brief lesson in history, a journalist’s duty, would show that in 1967 mainland Greece experienced a military coup, which the whole of Europe condemned. A military junta called for the reunification of mainland Greece and Cyprus. The coup set a fascist climate on high and led to the 1974 coup in Cyprus, which saw a legitimate government overthrown by a Greek ultranationalist, also widely known to be fanatically anti-Turkish, named Nikos Sampson. Following this coup, Turkey demanded the immediate withdrawal of 650 Greek officers of the Cyprus National Guard and Sampson’s removal from power. These demands were rejected and Cyprus’ Turkish population faced the threat of genocide. Such developments left the Democratic Republic of Turkey with no choice but to protect its interests overseas. Turkish Cypriots and Turks from the mainland are two branches from one tree, much as Greek Cypriots are to the Greece. In addition, chaos in Cyprus would undoubtedly have led to chaos in Turkey. Few will argue that it is not every government’s duty to protect its nation and people from chaos and aggression.

Prior to 1974, the Turks and Greeks had experienced many similar conflicts. The most recent event leading to 1974 was the Greek occupation of Anatolia following World War I. During this period, many Muslims and Turks were expelled from their historic villages across Greece and Turkey and many massacres were committed, albeit on both sides. A look at Athens today will show not a single mosque. This would lead one to think they never existed, yet not long ago the city was filled with minarets. I recall these facts to allow those unaware with the situation to understand exactly how Turkish Cypriots must have felt when told an ultranationalist Greek government was established.

Sadly, Romas also failed to bring to attention the suffering of Turkish Cypriots that continue today. While the Greek south has been welcomed to international bodies like UEFA and the EU, the Turkish north struggles under a horrible economy and international condemnation. While the south lives well, the north bleeds daily. I commend Romas’ passion with the issue and also welcome dialogue on this sensitive matter, but am rather confused as to why Romas would create a fictional narrative to talk about this issue. In this era of global cooperation, it’s vital to extend the olive branch and find common ground rather than stick to lines of propaganda. I would have hoped Romas offered opinions toward a positive solution, but was disappointed to read another page of the same old book.

Ergin Ayalp is a freshman letters and sciences major. She can be reached at erginayalp@gmail.com.

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to Maria Romas and Christopher Haxel at opinion@umdbk.com. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and dayand night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words and guest columns to between 500 and 600 words.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD 30 31 33 34 35 38 41

Neck areas Brubeck, et al.

Electrical unit Roman fountain Basted A bit cool Escape (2 wds.)

43 46 48 52 54

Cleopatra’s river Yoko’s son Cabot Cove doc Agile Stonehenge builders

55 A moon of Jupiter 62 Eye, to Pierre 57 Disney CEO 63 U.S. travel Bob — watchdogs 58 Marseilles Ms. 64 — — grip!

59 Gather opinions 67 Dead heat 60 Black hole, once 68 Taiga denizen

ACROSS 61 Asian immigrant 65 Burn softly 1 Site of a “Road” 66 Espresso film with milk 5 Country 69 — noire bumpkins 70 Miss Cinders of 10 Plays old comics bumper-cars 71 Fall behind 14 Shaman’s quest 72 Inventory 15 Hold off for 73 Bank on 16 Four Corners 74 Mr. Spock’s state father 17 Keen enjoyment 75 Isle near Corsica 18 — voce 19 Style DOWN 20 “Paper Moon” 1 TV clown actress 2 Famous last word 22 Removed paint 3 — -majeste 24 Keystone — 4 Fuel valve 27 Speak up, plus 28 Protection money 5 Possesses 6 — Jima 32 Free rides 7 Guard animals of 36 Genetic strand ancient Egypt 37 Vast expanse 8 Four-footed pal 39 Catch 9 Mall tenant 40 Deadly snakes 10 Mussing 42 McHale of 11 On the summit the NBA 12 Slapped together 44 Snowballed 45 Dirigible bottoms 13 Lose leaves 21 Trademark 47 Military caps 23 Pandora’s boxful 49 Hail, to Caesar 25 Apple quantity 50 Borden bovine 26 Built for speed 51 Dazzling 28 Elizabethan 53 Act worried buccaneer 56 Himalayan 29 Famed wilderness sighting photographer 57 Seats a jury

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COLLEGE INTUITION

orn today, you are one of those multitalented and multifaceted individuals who is never happy doing just one thing in one way for one reason; on the contrary, you insist on being free to do anything you choose to do, in the ways you choose to do it, regardless of the criticism this creed may attract. You are nothing if you are not true to your principles; you defend your own right to think and speak as you will — and you often go to the mat to support the rights of others as well. You can do many things, and you will never submit to those who try to limit you to only one line of endeavor, regardless of the reason.

Also born on this date are: Norah Jones, singer and musician; Celine Dion, singer; Paul Reiser, actor; Robbie Coltrane, actor; Eric Clapton, singer and guitarist; Warren Beatty, actor and director; Vincent Van Gogh, painter.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 31

cism today, but what you see is more positive than you may suspect.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Keeping things under control today is likely to be a task that takes more energy and more cleverness than you think.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — What is coming your way today looms large over the horizon, but you are not afraid of anything that results from what you do.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Though you may not get official news today, someone in the know gives you just enough information to let you put two and two together.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — The time may have come today to pass the torch to someone younger and more enthusiastic.

Your skills are not in question, however.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — No one is likely to doubt your word today, though some may find it difficult to jump on the bandwagon and go where you are taking it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You may have a chance to repeat a past glory, but you can do it this time in a way that guarantees an even better result.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Don’t be tempted to speak up before you receive an invitation to do so — or you may be accused of intruding on another.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Sit right down and get to work, or you’ll find that progress is slow — if, indeed, you make any at all between morning and night.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You’ll have the same choices you always have, but they are likely to be presented to you today in a new way.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may have to travel about a bit before you finally settle and begin to apply your energies to a single important project.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

ALL THE CRAP YOU CARE ABOUT

Diversions

NEWS TEAM, ASSEMBLE: ANCHORMAN SEQUEL CONFIRMED After years out of the limelight, most likely spent on Whore Island, Ron Burgundy — a.k.a. Will Ferrell with a moustache, garish ‘70s suit and a jazz flute — made a surprise appearance on Conan to announce that, after years of resistance from Paramount, Anchorman will be getting a sequel.

Original director Adam McKay and stars Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and Dave Koechner are all believed to be returning. Presumably, the news was followed by everyone in America quoting the “I love lamp” bit again.

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

REVIEW | BOY

Sex, drugs & fatherhood Boy — New Zealand’s top-grossing film ever — is a funny, touching look at a dysfunctional relationship between a son and his man-child dad

BY DEAN ESSNER Staff writer

The simplicity of silence is as important as any character in Taika Waititi’s (The Flight of the Conchords) hilarious and wonderful film, Boy. Comedic passages are stretched out for awkward, gut-busting laughs, and nature is exploited — rather brilliantly — for subtle, unbridled grace.

Like a setting sun on a soft, New Zealand sky, the film floats by in a brief, well-sequenced 87 minutes. Noth-

ing feels rushed or even remotely slapdash. There’s plenty to ponder and little to forget. On the whole, Boy is a multilayered piece of filmmaking that quietly lingers in the air with a tinge of wist and a waft of pensive youthfulness, defiantly succeeding on its quest to walk life’s tightrope between pure joy and unrelenting sadness.

Such a life seems to move in hushed, sorrowful patterns for Boy, a vague comedic amalgam of the younger Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire and

Macaulay Culkin’s iconic Waititi himself with great Kevin McCallister from comic timing) comes home Home Alone. His romantic for the first time in many years, both to see his chiloutlook seems to be coming apart at VERDICT: dren and to retrieve a stack of the seams: The money he had girl at school won’t Boy is a brilliant, notice him, he is beautiful examina- buried in the yard. plays living in extreme tion of the perils of Waititi childhood.

Alamein with a poverty, and he is striking level of still dealing with the loss of his mother. Her swagger, appealing to Boy as death still pangs his young the leader of a renegade gang heart — a tragedy that oc- of loose-cannon criminals.

Together they drink beer, curred many years before smoke marijuana and perthe movie’s setting.

His world is shaken when form all sorts of debauchery. his father Alamein (played by It’s through these scenes

Waititi, as a director, achieves the best comedic moments, occasionally channeling Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) by peppering each sequence with goofy, yet biting irony.

But even rumpus time with Alamein can’t help chip away at Boy’s pain as he comes to terms with his lack of life “potential.” Playing Boy with the sad eyes of an emotionally befuddled pre-teen, newcomer James Rolleston is simply astounding here. To say he

deser ves Oscar recognition is a petty request for such a transcendent and meaningful performance.

In the end, Boy far exceeds the expectations of the comedy genre because it never teeters on self-parody with brainless stunts and hollow jokes. Instead, it’s an ambitious, well-made movie that has the capacity to induce laughs, tears and high-scale pondering, all while reminding you of how insecure life is as a kid. diversions@umdbk.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIECRITIC.COM.AU

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

GRIBBIN from page 8 playing hard, playing fast, it was an easy transition for him coming into the program from Penn State.”

After the first weeks of fall practice, it was clear Gribbin would be in the mix to start. By the time the Terps began their preseason slate, Tillman was so impressed with Gribbin’s work ethic and decision-making ability that he started the transfer in the team’s first scrimmage against Loyola.

Gribbin scored the Terps’ first two goals against the Greyhounds and led the team in scoring. Tillman raved about Gribbin after the exhibition, calling him the player of the game.

Since then, Gribbin hasn’t let up. Through seven games this season, Gribbin is tied for third on the team with nine goals.

He’s scored at least two goals three times and notched his first career hat trick in an 11-10 loss at No. 12 North Carolina

7

last Saturday.

“I’m really pleased with what Billy’s brought to the table,” Tillman said. “I don’t know where we’d be without him.”

Still, even with everything Gribbin’s been able to accomplish this season, he says he hasn’t earned anything yet. He refuses to acknowledge himself as a starter. He feels as though he has to prove himself everyday in practice.

“I feel like we have so many talented attackmen that every week is a competition,” he said.

“And so that’s kind of the mentality that I’m still going about in the season. I still need to show what I can do.”

SIBLING RIVALRY On the off-chance that Gribbin ever decides to take it easy, however, there’s at least one teammate who will be there to push him. Bobby Gribbin, the kid brother who helped him through those rough times a season ago, brings out the best in his older sibling. It’s been that way as

long as they can remember.

The two brothers have always played the same sports.

They’ve competed with each other since elementary school, and were on the same three varsity teams — football, wrestling and lacrosse — at Georgetown Prep. Their sibling rivalry — a good-natured desire to one-up each other — has helped them become the athletes they are today.

“We just really feed off each other,” said Bobby Gribbin, a defensive midfielder who’s seen time at the faceoff X this season.

Both Gribbins have relied on one another this season.

Whether it’s a quick chat about home or a head-to-head matchup in practice, they’ve helped ease each other into their new surroundings.

“We’ve always been real close,” Billy Gribbin said. “So to be given an opportunity at Maryland to play together just means a lot to us.”

In fact, it meant so much to Bobby Gribbin that he says his college decision was “100 per-

LEADERSHIP from page 8 have evolved into really good leaders on the team and I thought they should be recognized for it. I thought that our team could benefit from it.”

In the past, Beck said, the team never had official captains. The team’s natural leaders would end up being its seniors. But this year, Bakich’s leadership council has five seniors, one junior and one sophomore, a diversity that Beck said adds to the council’s representativeness of the team.

“It’s just a representation of the voice of the team,” Rodriguez said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s just seniors because we have some underclassmen on there, like Kiene. It’s good to just get a feel for the team, because sometimes our coach talks to us first to see what we think the team will say if he makes a decision.”

Harman said the coaching staff is open to ideas and input

Alfredo Rodriguez, one of seven Terps on the team’s “leadership council,” said the group is “a representation of the voice of the team.” CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

from the leadership council, but he and other players haven’t had to go to Bakich with any concerns yet.

Instead, they’re focusing on helping the Terps rebound from a 2-7 start in ACC play.

“All we’ve had to do is just

Attacker Billy Gribbin had his first career hat trick last week at North Carolina. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

cent” dependent on where his older brother ended up. The 2011 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, Bobby Gribbin had originally committed to Penn State to play with his brother.

But when Billy Gribbin decided to transfer, Bobby Gribbin was intent on following his brother to College Park. He decommitted from the Nittany Lions and signed up with Tillman.

“The friendship, the love and the bond that those guys have,

make sure we remain confident,” Harman said. “We’ve experienced a little bit of adversity here in the ACC, and pretty much it’s the leadership council’s job to stay positive and stay focused and realize all of our goals.”

No single moment that speaks to the leadership council’s impact on the team sticks out to Beck.

Instead, he sees the significance of smaller things that add up over time. As Bakich reels in highly rated recruiting classes, many players who were stars and starters in high school now find themselves sitting behind established veterans on the team, a reality that can at times be jarring.

“We’ve worked hard at developing ser vant-leaders, meaning putting the needs of the team and other people ahead of your own,” Bakich said.

Bakich said the elected members of the leadership council are all natural leaders, but by recognizing them, it provides a foundation for

where one was going to go, I think the other was going to follow,” Tillman said.

FULL CIRCLE As Gribbin prepares for tomorrow’s matchup against Virginia, he can’t help but be amazed with how far he’s come the past 12 months.

Last March, he was stuck on the bench at Penn State, unsure of whether he’d ever have the opportunity to reach his full

potential. Ten months ago, he was sitting in the stands at M&T Bank Stadium, wondering whether playing for the Terps would be everything he’d imagined growing up.

Tomorrow, he’ll step on the Byrd Stadium field alongside his best friend, his little brother. He’ll play against one of his favorite school’s biggest rivals, and he’ll do it in front of his entire family.

And perhaps most importantly, he’ll do it all with his home state’s name stitched across his chest.

“He’s really proud to be a Terp,” Tillman said. “He’s really proud to be a guy that grew up in Maryland and played for his state. I think there is something special to that.”

“I’ve realized that I always wanted to be at Maryland,” Gribbin said. “Looking back on it, I should’ve took more consideration. I probably should’ve weighed my options more. But I guess everything works out for the best.” letourneau@umdbk.com

the future.

“I was very honored,” Beck said. “It’s very flattering when your teammates recognize you for something like that. In my opinion, while having great stats and having great success on the field is great, when your teammates can recognize you for intangible abilities such as leadership, it’s flattering.”

The impact of the Terps’ leaders has not been lost on the team’s underclassmen.

Freshman third baseman K.J. Hockaday won the starting job at third base in the fall and has continued to excel into the regular season, leading the team with a .352 batting average.

“Kids like Alfredo Rodriguez, Sander Beck, Brett Harman, they’re all kids that are just in my corner every day trying to lead this team, and they’re doing a good job of it,” Hockaday said. “By them leading this team … it makes our jobs a lot more easier.”

are on the tail end of one. Although they fell to No. 14 Georgetown, 11-9, they picked up their first win over a ranked opponent last Saturday against No. 17 Cornell in thrilling fashion. After a mediocre start left the Quakers trailing 3-0 and playing catch-up, they rebounded and held off the Big Red in a tight 11-10 victory.

For the Terps, tonight marks just the first step. After their bout with Penn, they will journey to Chapel Hill, N.C., next weekend in the unfamiliar role of underdog — if only by ranking. No. 3 North Carolina, undefeated in ACC play, awaits the Terps, who will then end their stretch of ranked opponents against No. 19 Princeton before returning home for their last regular-season game against Virginia Tech.

“Now we’ve got to turn the corner,” Reese said. “We’ve finished our game versus Towson, which we were glad to host at home, and it was a fun game to play. Now we’re moving on to start our Ivy [League] stretch. … It will be a good run, and we’re looking forward to it.”

dgallen@umdbk.com

munson@umdbk.com

QUAKERS from page 8

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Sports

Softball faces Va. Tech After an extended layoff, the Terps softball team returns to action this weekend against the Hokies. For a preview, visit umdbk.com.

MEN’S LACROSSE WHO: No. 9 Terrapins vs. No. 2 Virginia WHEN: Tomorrow, noon WHERE: Byrd Stadium TV: ESPNU/ESPN3.com

A belated homecoming

BY CONNOR LETOURNEAU Senior staff writer

After struggling through a couple years away at college, transferring closer to home would feel like failure for some students.

For Billy Gribbin, it’s been a dream come true.

Growing up in nearby Rockville, the junior attackman had always imagined how it’d feel to don the Terrapins’ red and gold. His parents, both alums, they taught him to love the Terps from an early age.

His family regularly made the 30minute trek to College Park for games, and Gribbin felt there was something special about playing for a lacrosse-mad state’s flagship university. He wondered how it’d feel to represent the home school.

Last Memorial Day weekend, Gribbin went up to Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium to watch the Terps take on Virginia in the national title game.

But he wasn’t just there as a fan.

He was there as a recruit.

After two up-and-down years at Penn State, the attackman had decided it was time for a change. It was time to head home. It was time to fulfill his childhood dream of being a Terp. Shortly after watching the Terps fall short of their first national championship since 1975, Gribbin made it official.

Tomorrow, the No. 9 Terps will host the No. 2 Cavaliers in a rematch of that national championship game.

This time, Gribbin will be starting, not watching.

“It means a lot to us,” Gribbin said Tuesday. “I wasn’t on the team last year, but from all the seniors and from everyone that’s played on the team, this game means a lot — especially since what happened in the national championship.”

After two seasons at Penn State, Rockville native Billy Gribbin is starring for his childhood favorites

NEW BEGINNING

ROUGH START When Gribbin was a senior at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, the three-sport captain could’ve committed to the Terps. Then-coach Dave Cottle had offered him a spot on the roster.

But with All-America attackmen Will Yeatman, Ryan Young and Grant Catalino already in the fold, Cottle never recruited Gribbin too aggressively.

So he chose Penn State instead, a place that had wanted him badly, a place where he could contribute immediately. He was excited about the opportunity to go out on his own, to see how he could do living four hours away from the family and friends who’d loved and supported him his entire life.

But his stay in State College, Pa., seemed plagued from the start.

Before Gribbin could ever unpack his bags, Nittany Lions assistant coach Guy Van Arsdale — the man who’d

When the frustrations became too much to bear alone, Gribbin did what he’d done his whole life: He turned to his little brother, Bobby.

“We talked a lot,” said Bobby Gribbin, a freshman midfielder for the Terps. “I would go up and go to most of his games, and I just kind of felt his struggle up there with the new coaching staff.”

After mulling his options with Bobby and his parents, Gribbin decided he’d put his childhood dream on hold long enough. He may have always been a Terp at heart, but the time had come to make it official.

So when he was finally free to contact other programs, the Terps were the first team he called. Coach John Tillman, who arrived in College Park in June 2010, was more than willing to welcome the homegrown product.

But not before making one thing clear first: Nothing was promised.

“We didn’t know what would happen [with Billy],” Tillman said. “Normally, if a guy’s going to transfer in, you’re excited that maybe he’ll put up big numbers. Billy hadn’t put up great numbers, but we knew from high school he was a talented player. … We said, ‘Listen, if you want an opportunity, you’ve got one. And whatever you make of it is what you’ll get.’”

Attacker Billy Gribbin, who has nine goals this season, committed to the Terps after the team’s national title game against Virginia last season. The two teams meet again tomorrow. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

recruited him — left for the headcoaching position at Colorado College.

Gribbin decided to honor his commitment, and he still found success his freshman season. He finished second on the team in points (31) and goals (23) and earned CAA AllRookie Team honors.

But then, for the second time in a year, the unexpected happened.

Coach Glenn Thiel retired after 33 years at Penn State, and former Cornell coach Jeff Tambroni took over.

This time, things wouldn’t go so smoothly.

Gribbin separated his shoulder’s

AC joint during fall practice and missed the entire preseason. When he finally returned at the start of the regular season, Gribbin had to accept a reduced role. He came off the bench in all but two games last year and tallied just eight points on the season.

Gribbin attributed the drop-off in production to Tambroni, whom he said didn’t value his style of play. The two butted heads immediately.

“It was very difficult,” Gribbin said. “Looking back on it, I wish I had redshirted last year.”

About midway through last sea-

son, Gribbin knew he needed a change and decided to transfer. The problem? He had to wait for the Nittany Lions to complete their schedule before the team would grant him a release. And under NCAA guidelines, players must obtain releases before talking to other schools.

That meant Gribbin had to finish out his final few months at Penn State knowing he was headed elsewhere.

Not wanting to alienate his teammates, he kept his intentions to transfer to himself.

“The whole situation was definitely weird,” he said.

After the Terps’ loss to Virginia in the national championship game last year, the team lost three key attackmen — Catalino, Young and Travis Reed — to graduation. The three seniors had combined for about a third of the Terps’ offensive production last season, and Tillman knew they’d need new talent to emerge to compete in the ACC this year.

But even with the departures, earning playing time would be no easy task. The Terps had just brought in the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class, which featured several of the nation’s top high school attackmen. There were also a couple holdovers from last year eager to make their mark.

Aware of the situation he was walking into, Gribbin went to work.

The soft-spoken junior impressed his new coaching staff immediately with his humble, diligent approach to the game. Never big on talk or pizazz, Gribbin preferred to let his game speak for itself.

And in a program that prides itself on hard work and toughness, he was a natural fit. It didn’t take long for Gribbin’s new teammates to welcome him as one of their own, even if he was beating them up in practices.

“The way that he plays, he plays like a Terp,” attackman Joe Cummings said. “He fit in right away.

With his mentality of working hard,

see GRIBBIN, page 7

BASEBALL

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

For Terps, change in culture starts at top

No. 5 Terps’ challenging road stretch starts tonight at Penn Team plays Quakers before UNC showdown

‘Leadership council’ offers direction

BY DANIEL GALLEN Staff writer

In more than two years at the helm of the Terrapins baseball team, coach Erik Bakich has spurred on an immense makeover of a once-moribund Terps program, making upgrades to the team’s facilities, on-field talent and win column that are impossible to miss.

What’s not as easily discernible is the culture change Bakich has been able to foster.

Radicalizing beliefs and aspirations for a program mired in a four-decade-long absence from the NCAA Tournament can be difficult, especially during trying periods such as the slow start to ACC play the Terps slogged through this season.

But with a new leadership system introduced this season, Bakich has created a reliable go-between for the coaching staff and the team, which faces

Boston College (10-14, 2-7 ACC) this weekend. After seasons of informal governance by the team, the Terps have an official core of players who serve as de facto captains for the team.

Seven players — shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez, pitcher Sander Beck, catcher Aaron Etchison, pitcher/center fielder Korey Wacker, pitcher Brett Harman, catcher Jack Cleary and first baseman Tim Kiene — make up what’s come to be known as the Terps’ (17-9, 2-7) “leadership council.” The team elected the council before the season and charged it with acting as an extension of the coaching staff and helping younger players adjust to college baseball.

“I felt like this year we could definitely do it because one of the strengths of this year’s club is the leadership,” Bakich said.

“There were a lot of guys that

see LEADERSHIP, page 7

BY NICHOLAS MUNSON Staff writer

Pitcher Brett Harman is one of seven Terps to be elected as a de facto captain this season. CHELSEA DIRECTOR/THE DIAMONDBACK

Before it can dream of any postseason glory, the Terrapins women’s lacrosse team first has to get through perhaps its toughest stretch of regularseason games in recent memory. Four games separate the team from the ACC Tournament, and the next three are all on the road against ranked teams — including two in the top 10.

Their recent play, however, suggests the No. 5 Terps are as ready as they ever will be for this challenging chapter of their season.

The Terps (10-2, 2-1 ACC) are rolling into tonight’s game at No. 10 Penn (5-2) with a five-game winning streak and the momentum that comes with it. Lately, the Terps are outperforming their opponents in nearly every facet of the game.

Their defense allowed its fewest goals of the season in their blowout win of Towson on Tuesday, goalie Brittany Dipper is coming off a perfect outing, and the team is dominating the draw-control category that eluded them so regularly earlier this year.

The offense, meanwhile, has righted the ship. Once struggling to put the ball in the cage, the Terps have now met or surpassed 50 percent shooting in every game of their current winning streak.

“We needed to make sure we were taking advantage of the opportunities that we got, and on offense, we’ve been doing that,” coach Cathy Reese said.

A handful of players are responsible for the offense’s rebirth. Midfielder Katie Schwarzmann, the team’s goalscoring leader, has scored at least three goals in every game of the winning streak. Attacker Karri Ellen Johnson, coming off a five-goal performance, stands on the cusp of becoming the No. 2 scorer in program history.

Redshirt freshman Brooke Griffin has returned from a period of dormancy, and attacker Alex Aust is emerging as a dual threat as a scorer and distributor.

“It’s awesome because any one of our teammates can score,” Johnson said.

Unfortunately for the Terps, Penn is coming in hot as well. Instead of just beginning a rough stretch, the Quakers

see QUAKERS, page 7