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PULL A SMART ONE

GOING PRO Harper, Langhorne taken in top 10 picks of WNBA Draft

A mixture of dark humor, unique characters makes Smart People worth seeing

SPORTS | PAGE 10

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 7

THE DIAMONDBACK THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

mtvU contract has students footing bill

Signed, Sealed,

SEE will use student fees, admission price to pay for Art Attack

DELIVERED

JACLYN BOROWSKI–THE DIAMONDBACK

Ayodeji Rotimi delivers Burger King food to junior economics major Obiageli Obiago outside the Hornbake Library.

Alumnus’ business delivers food when restaurants won’t

98TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 117

BY KRISTI TOUSIGNANT Staff writer

Admit it. On more than one occasion, you couldn’t be bothered to get out of your pajamas to go grab Chipotle. You wanted it. You wanted it bad. You agonized over it. If only they delivered! No more. Eats on Wheels, a new food order service that promises to deliver the fast-food options that ordinarily require a trip out, has been launched. “There is that gap that was there before and it has been filled,” Eats on Wheels founder and university alumnus Ayodeji Rotimi said. “You can actually have food delivered until 2 a.m. If you want something late at night, you can get it.” The new delivery service, which began a month ago, is a spin-off of Goody Goody, an online grocery delivery service Rotimi created last semester. Whether it will catch on with students is an open question. The delivery charge ups the cost of that burrito by a

BY ERICH WAGNER Staff writer

While SEE is paying the production costs of this year’s mtvU co-sponsored Art Attack, other stops on the Campus Invasion Music Festival are being financed entirely by mtvU. mtvU’s Campus Invasion Tour will stop in Philadelphia and Boston in the days after it comes to the university. Students in these cities are paying $5 and $8 respectively, but students at this university will pay a similar admission fee in addition to the student

fees that SEE already uses to fund Art Attack. Student Entertainment Events officials say the unprecedented $5 cost for university students attending this year’s Art Attack — to be held in Byrd Stadium May 2 — comes from footing the bill for production costs necessary to secure the show. SEE President Sara Stesis said the group wasn’t offered the option of getting a free concert on the campus, leading them to devote their more than $59,000 Art Attack

Please See ART ATTACK, Page 3

MTA unveils purple line costs Maryland Transit Authority says Campus Drive plan costs $3M less

Please See DELIVERY, Page 3

BY BEN SLIVNICK Senior staff writer

The Maryland Transit Administration dealt a blow to the university’s proposed Preinkert Drive route for the Purple Line last night, announcing it would be cheaper to run the transitway down Campus Drive. Students have contended it would be most convenient if the Purple Line runs down Campus Drive with a stop in the center of campus at Stamp Student Union, but administrators contend that route could endanger pedestrians and tarnish the campus’s look. Secretary of Transportation

John Porcari will have the final say on the $1.7-billion transitway that will connect outer-Beltway suburbs. State officials said they’ll weigh opinions of stakeholders on both sides along with the differences in aesthetics, pedestrian impact, travel times and cost. In a presentation MTA engineers gave to a group of university, city and student leaders at city hall last night, the Campus Drive route appeared to have an edge in two of those categories. After completing an extensive study of campus traffic patterns, MTA engineering

Please See PURPLE, Page 2

YouTube forum lacks student questions BY MARISSA LANG Staff writer

The SGA is looking to bring its presidential elections into the 21st century this year,

presidential debate, the Student Government Association has been asking students to submit YouTube videos with questions for the candidates during the past week.

adding a YouTube feature to the candidates’ debate tonight. Trouble is, most students don’t seem to be joining them. Taking a page from the CNN

Campaigning with commodes BY MARISSA LANG Staff writer

About halfway into a two-week campaign run for the top job in the SGA, presidential candidate Jonathan Sachs is having the time of his life. The sophomore government and politics major has had a long-standing passion for politics, and according to his mother

once carried around a pocket version of the Constitution in middle school. Sachs, who is running on the Students Party ticket, said he will bring passion to his presidency, vowing to do “nothing else” for a year. “This isn’t a sound-bite,” Sachs said. “This is real.” Running on the broadest platform of the three candidates, Sachs says he sees

Tomorrow’s Weather:

no problem with addressing a lot of issues whether it be amplifying the student voice, improving dining services, increasing safety, becoming greener or bettering students’ academic experience. As the name of his party implies, Sachs said bringing students back to the Student Government

SPEAKING OUT

As of last night, though, only one video was posted on the SGA’s YouTube site — SGA President Andrew Friedson

Please See YOUTUBE, Page 2

ABOUT THE CANDIDATE NAME:Jonathan Sachs YEAR:Sophomore MAJOR: Government and politics PARTY: Students Top issues: Amplifying student voice, safety, transportation, housing, improving dining services, a better academic experience UPCOMING CANDIDATE PROFILE Mardy Shualy House Party (Fri.)

JAMES B. HALE–THE DIAMONDBACK

Shenaaz Janmohamed, from the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, rallies students at “Take Back the Night,” an event put on by the Office of the Victims Advocate, Student Advocates For Education about Rape, Sigma Psi Zeta and other campus groups. The rally was held to raise awareness about sexual violence.

Please See SACHS, Page 3

Cloudy/70s

Index:

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

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

Diversions . . . . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . .10

www.diamondbackonline.com


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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008

Page 2

TODAY

@M

What a day Brian Kapur After a week of debating a trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the women’s lacrosse ACC/ALC Challenge, I finally made it down. But even the ride down caused some uncertainty. On the way, I found out that the game was pushed up an hour to 4 p.m. due to a thunderstorm threat. I ended up getting there with just enough time to get dressed at Carmichael Fieldhouse and get over to Fetzer Field in time for the game. After the crazy ride, things were just as nutty. The press box had a unique guest, coach Cathy Reese’s newborn daughter, Cayden. Throughout the game sports information director Matt Lynch was attempting to be a babysitter, until a Tar Heel SID had to help him out. Before this experience, Matt said he would see the newborn and want a baby. Now those feelings are now long gone. Although watching Matt try to babysit was entertaining, the Terrapin women’s lacrosse game against Penn State was even better. It was only the third close game the Terps played all season, but by far the most dramatic. The Terps won the game in triple overtime when Kelly Kasper scored in the sudden death overtime period. I can only hope that Sunday’s action, both on the field and in the press box, is as entertaining. — POSTED ON TERRAPINTRAIL.COM APRIL 5, 2008

BRIEFS

Police: Gun accidentally fired in high school bathroom KENSINGTON – A handgun discharged accidentally on Wednesday while five students in a Montgomery County high school bathroom examined three guns they planned to sell, county police said. No one was injured and charges are pending against several students. A student at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington alerted administrators after hearing the gunshot between 11:30 a.m. and noon, prompting a lockdown and search of the school. School security officers found a bullet lodged in the bathroom wall, according to Kate Harrison, a school system spokeswoman. Three guns, at least one of which was stolen, and other weapons were found in a student’s locker, police said. Students were dismissed nearly two hours late, around 4 p.m. The incident is believed to be gang related and likely related to friction between students that began at the end of last week, police said. The search uncovered the guns and some knives and nunchucks, Harrison said. One girl and five boys, ranging in age from 14 to 17, were taken into custody and charges for handgun violations and related charges are pending against all six, police said. The students aged 16 and older will be charged as adults. Authorities planned a thorough search of the school Wednesday night for any additional weapons and police were to be on the campus when classes resumed Thursday morning, Harrison said.

- Compiled from wire reports

TUESDAY | OVERHEARD

SGA clip alone in YouTube campaign YOUTUBE, from Page 1 sitting on a couch asking students to submit their videos. “Hi, I’m SGA President Andrew Friedson, the student body president, and in four short weeks I will no longer have that title,” he says. In the clip, he urges students to submit video questions to ensure that the candidates are “answering the questions you care about.” While no students have submitted questions yet, SGA Elections Board member Sam Pinkava — who is credited for getting the YouTube site up and running, said he has high hopes for participation as the debates approach tonight. “Lots of kids use YouTube,” Pinkava said. “And several people have told me they would [submit questions] if they could.” A lack of enthusiasm, however, may not be the problem. Most students interviewed for this story said the new YouTube question format was news to them. “I never heard of that,” said Zach Howe, a freshman computer science major. “But that’s really cool.” Pinkava said the SGA is also hoping the YouTube aspect will add some entertainment value to tonight’s event. “We will show the most relevant first,” he said. “But we do hope students submit creative videos.” That is still a possibility. Some students were struck with sudden inspiration to ask the candidates unusual questions after a reporter told them about the opportunity to submit clips. “Can I ask [the candidates] what their favorite bar is?” asked freshman English major K.J. Stevens. “Then I’ll do it!” Although many students said they would not submit videos of their own, they do have questions. “I want to know how they’re going to handle the housing crunch,” said junior physiology and neurobiology major Grace Ji, “and what authority they really have to address tuition.” Some students were less than impressed by the YouTube addition to the election, saying that by adding technology, humanity was being sacrificed. “I’d rather talk to the candidate in person,” said freshman sociology major Amy Butler. “This just seems so impersonal.” The SGA will be taking submissions until 6 p.m. today, Pinkava said. All submissions can be sent by visiting www.youtube.com/sgadebate2008.

FREE CLASSIFIEDS

CORRECTION Yesterday’s story “Triathlon club encounters hurdles” incorrectly described the Triathlon Club’s status with the Student Government Association. The group was recognized by the SGA last week, and they are eligible for future funding. Yesterday’s article “Politics topple textbook bill passage” incorrectly described an amendment the House of Delegates made to the bill. The amendment would have removed a clause that required universities to expose students to non-school-sponsored bookstores at freshman orientation.

The Idiot's Guide to Men's Health: College Edition

"Terrorism" charges and the Bush Administration, 6 p.m., Stamp Student Union, Hoff Theater

Uncovering the side effects of fad dieting, 5 p.m., Eppley Recreation Center : Center for Health and Wellbeing : 0121

ARYLAND

MONDAY | NEWSMAKERS

BEST of the BLOGS

USA v Al-Arian Documentary Screening

Run your classified for 4 consecutive days and receive the 5th day FREE! Call 314-8000 for more information.

WEDNESDAY | Q + A

THURSDAY | BEST of the BLOGS

FRIDAY | SCENE + HEARD

MTA findings give students new wind ONLINE, from Page 1 consultant Joel Oppenheimer announced the Campus Drive alignment would affect the university’s historic look less — the Preinkert Drive option would narrowly squeeze between the South Campus Diner and Lefrak Hall and cut past the Memorial Chapel. Transit planners also proposed lining Campus Drive with brick plazas and announced the route would be $3 million cheaper than its alternative. University officials have proposed the Purple Line — which will stop four times in College Park regardless of its on-campus route — should veer toward the

outskirts of campus down Preinkert Drive regardless. Aesthetics have been a centerpiece of administrators’ arguments against the Campus Drive alignment, but pedestrian traffic remains another major worry. The MTA confirmed Preinkert Drive would likely see 60 percent fewer pedestrians and that both routes would have virtually similar travel times. Vice President for Administrative Affairs Doug Duncan declined to comment on the MTA’s findings last night, except to say that he maintains the costs of both proposals are “pretty much the same.” But Student Government Association President An-

drew Friedson, who has endorsed the Campus Drive plan, said the night’s presentation largely confirmed his opinions. “Today didn’t change anything in terms of the conclusions you can draw,” he said. But after sharp disagreements with administrators, Friedson said, “there is a certain degree of comfort in being able to know the findings were what we expected.” Bill Orleans, a Greenbelt resident who said he spends several days a week on the campus, echoed the sentiment. “The students have spoken, the faculty have spoken: Campus Drive,” he said. “If we had to vote

tonight, I’d say go Campus Drive.” But the MTA has yet to study the impact the transitway’s vibrations could have on sensitive research laboratories — another major qualm for administrators and some faculty. While planners have yet to decide whether the Purple Line will be a bus rapid transit system or a light rail train, they predicted neither option will affect research. Planners from the group will return to the campus May 8 to present to the University Senate and have a round of public input meetings lined up in College Park this fall. They’re hoping to reach a recommendation by winter, so the state can apply for federal funding for the project in 2009. slivnickdbk@gmail.com

PUBLIC NOTICE The University of Maryland, Department of Public Safety is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to achieve re-accreditation by verifying it meets professional standards. Administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Tuesday evening, April 15, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Prince George’s room of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. Agency employees and the public are also invited to offer comments by calling (301) 405-5735 on Tuesday afternoon, April 15, 2008 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Comments will be taken by the Assessment team. Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety, Service Building 003, College Park, Maryland. Local contact is Captain Carolyn Consoli at (301) 405-0537. Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the University of Maryland, Department of Public Safety’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2215.


THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

SEE optimistic Making fast food easy, too about Art Attack promotion DELIVERY, from Page 1

ART, from Page 1

made with other stops on the tour. “We weren’t checking up to budget to the production costs see what other schools were of the event. “It was never a possibility doing,” Baccinelli, a former that we paid nothing,” Stesis Diamondback reporter, said. Despite the cost, Stesis was said. “[mtvU] approached us wanting for it to be our spring optimistic that the university show, for it to be outside and got a fair deal with mtvU. “I think it’s unfortufor us to pay for tech nate that others don’t while they paid for talhave to pay, but we’re ent.” getting a different After inquiries from package,” Stesis said. D i a m o n d b a c k “We have a say in the reporters, SEE conprocess while other tacted mtvU and displaces don’t.” covered that they had Baccinelli said SEE changed their model will be able to control for the Campus Invapromotional materials sion Tour after already and can independently making an agreement negotiate with producwith the university. tion companies for Jason Rzepka, the –Maggy more competitive director of communiBaccinelli prices because of their cations for mtvU, said SEE PUBLIC partnership with the the discrepancy RELATIONS television network. between payments for DIRECTOR Rzepka also cited each show stem from a wider promotional problem with headexposure for the Art liner Wyclef Jean’s Attack brand as a posiinability to play in April, which ultimately led to tive result of SEE’s deal with a change in the financial mtvU. “This is also the first time model used for the concert. “The bulk of college spring that there has been active fling concerts occur in April, promotions for Art Attack to but Wyclef was only available in the entire DC metro area,” May,” Rzepka said. “It made Rzepka said. Tickets for this year’s Art more sense to just put the tour in a central location while col- Attack — featuring Wyclef Jean, Simple Plan, The Bravleges were still in session.” Maggy Baccinelli, the pub- ery, Cobra Starship and The lic relations director for SEE, Spill Canvas — went on sale said after the group booked April 1 and will be available the show, they moved on to online April 18. planning the concert and didn’t keep tabs on deals mtvU ewagnerdbk@gmail.com

“We weren’t checking up to see what other schools were doing.”

$3 or $4 flat fee. Still, the service will deliver from 12 different restaurants including McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Chipotle, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and IHOP. And that could have a real impact on the dynamics of the downtown economy. Take California Tortilla, the only Mexican restaurant in the city that delivers. California Tortilla’s delivery manager, Pat Rigiel, has questions about the Eats on Wheels business model, but does wonder if Rotimi’s operation could cut into his delivery profits. “We just started delivery last semester and it’s brought a good bit more income to us,” Rigiel said. “There’s definitely a question of, ‘Chipotle is our competitor; if that service is available, there may be some people that want Chipotle instead.’”

Rigiel questions the speed of the operation, though. “The time it takes to place an order, go to the restaurant to prepare the food, then the driver stops in. I don’t know how they do that in a very timely service,” he said. “For us, we get the order, put it on the line, do it and our driver shoots right out.” As a small, private company, Eats on Wheels doesn’t file its sales or revenue publicly. But some anecdotal evidence suggests the service has at least a few happy customers. Sophomore computer science major Jherica Belle has ordered from Eats on Wheels more times than she can count, and says she loves the convenience. “It takes a lot of time to catch a bus and go down to Route 1 to eat,” Belle said. “Most restaurants I like don’t deliver, so it’s a good way to get the food I want.” Eats on Wheels promises a

delivery time of 45 to 60 minutes. The company also takes delivery orders days or weeks ahead of time. “IHOP is always packed,” Rotimi said. “You have to wait two hours. I wouldn’t want to go there and wait in line after a party the night before. With us, you can wake up the next day with a package delivered. That is perfect. We are basically filling a gap of having everything at your fingertips.” Rotimi runs the business with partner Stella Odo, a staff of five administrators and six drivers, he said. But the kind of logistical problems that Rigiel envisioned have indeed caused some headaches. Acting as the middleman between students and their food, Rotimi said, can be a complicated task. Often, he will get customized orders and call them in, only to have the student call back minutes later to change the order. A

time-eating back-and-forth between the student and restaurant results, he said. Nevertheless, Rotimi says he expected challenges. And there are plenty ahead for the fledgling business. Rotimi is also expanding Goody Goody, with more than 2,000 groceries offered for delivery, up from around 300 products the website, mygoodygoody.com, offered last semester. So far, Rotimi has only advertised through fliers and Facebook, getting the business under control before the boom he expects once word spreads. “The thing is, how well can we really handle influx right now?” Rotimi said. “First, we need to know what to do, scale back and go gradually.” Rotimi hopes to expand the business to include all College Park eateries that do not deliver within the next month. tousignantdbk@gmail.com

Sachs hopes to tackle broad range of issues CANDIDATE, from Page 1 Association is a top priority. “They’ve got the government part down, they’ve got the administration part down, but there are still no students,” said Sachs. “That’s what we’re doing — mobilizing the part that’s not there.” How? By doing business where students do theirs, he said — the bathroom. The Students Party has covered bathroom stalls all over campus with yellow

fliers called “Flush Notes”, a campaign strategy that Sachs says he will carry over into his presidency. “It’s a great way to reach people. Lots of people think students are apathetic. I say no, they’re just uninformed,” he said. Sachs also wants to add the N.I.T.E Ride number to the back of student ID cards and create a program similar to AlcoholEdu that would serve the entire university in order to inform students about how to keep

themselves safe on campus. These measures may be simple, but they can help improve student safety on a basic level he said. “They already have AlcoholEdu, which no one listens to anyway,” Sachs said. “We need to be honest with students and then we can start to reduce crime.” To address housing, Sachs said he wants to jump-start a pubic landlord rating system in order to better inform students as to what previous owners experienced while living in the area, something that is considerably more important as more students move off campus. While past SGA presidents have rallied to no avail for more on-campus

beds, Sachs wants to highlight university’s housing shortage if elected. Some students question his ability to deliver on such a wide range of issues, but Sachs said he sees no need to narrow his focus. “We have a lot of issues, so what?” he said. “These are all accomplishable goals.” Sachs’ ten items, however, are a considerable jump from his opponents’ far briefer platforms — the House Party has five and independent candidate Dan Leydorf has four. Although he admits friends and family warn him about burning out, Sachs says he has so many items on his platform because he intends to see every one of them through. Even members of the College Democrats, which Sachs leads as president, say his dedication can get over-the-top. “I heard he doesn’t sleep,” one College Democrat said to another at the group’s meeting last night. Platform aside, Sachs says the defining difference between him and his two competitors is experience. Though Mardy Shualy of the House Party and Leydorf have been members of the SGA and RHA respectively, Sachs touts his involvement in the College Democrats as ideal preparation for the job of SGA president. Unlike his two competitors, Sachs’ past involvement is entrenched in politics. Although party politics are often divisive, Sachs is confident his affiliation won’t be a problem because it is so widely known, especially after College Republicans President Brandon Payne endorsed Sachs in a letter to the editor in Monday’s Diamondback. This, he said, is a testament to his ability to facilitate unity. “I am the advocate I promise to be,” he said. “We’re really about unity.” Between his track record and new ideas, Sachs said he is confident he will leave the SGA in a better position than he found it. And if all goes according to plan, maybe he will even find time to sleep. langdbk@gmail.com


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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008

Opinion

KEVIN LITTEN EDITOR IN CHIEF

THE DIAMONDBACK 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 .UMD.EDU

STEVEN OVERLY EDITOR IN CHIEF-ELECT MEGHA RAJAGOPALAN

NICOLE VAN BERKUM

MANAGING EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

AUDREY GOLDBERG DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

HADASS KOGAN DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

GOUTHAM GANESAN

BENJAMIN JOHNSON

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Mardy Shualy

Staff Editorial “It's not easy to become a law, is it?” - Schoolhouse Rock

TIM HILLER

Why we believe

R

eligion is one of the most culturally ubiquitous institutions one could imagine. A 2006 Baylor University study found that 92 percent of respondents believed in God or a higher power. When a belief is so universal, it drives evolutionary biologists to find a Darwinian link. From a glimpse, it’s hard to see what link that could possibly be. Why would our ancestors who sacrificed edible meat to some god they believed in have an adaptive advantage over the ones who kept all the meat for themselves? Evolutionary biologists and anthropologists are beginning to provide the answers. These researchers classify traits as either adaptive or as byproducts of adaptive traits. The late Stephen J. Gould, biologist and writer, once said “Natural selection made the human brain big, but most of our mental properties and potentials may be spandrels — that is, nonadaptive side consequences of building a device with such structural complexity.” It’s hard to see how religious behavior could be an adaptive behavior, so does our belief amount to nothing more than the byproduct of Darwinian natural selection? Imagine two ancestral individuals walking the African savannah. The first individual sees something in the distance he thinks could be a large predatory cat so he flees into some nearby foliage. The other individual sees something off in the distance but instead shrugs it off as his eyes playing tricks on him or as a plant blowing in the wind. If there is, in fact, no predator, this situation is quite trivial. However, if there is a predator, the second individual is putting himself in unnecessary danger by not taking cover, by not ascribing agency to the unknown. Sometimes, of course, there will be no predator, but it’s in the individual’s best interest in either case to recognize any and all potential patterns or agents, whether valid or not, and respond appropriately as if they were valid. So in a sense, our minds are hardwired through millions of years of natural selection to ascribe agency to the unknown. From there it’s only a small step to ascribing agency to the all aspects of life. Enter gods — sea gods, sun gods, rain gods. Primitive humans attributed agency to processes they depended on (i.e., the tides, the rising and falling of the sun, a good rainy season) for the same reason they would ascribe agency to the possible predator off in the distance. Recognition of our tendency to ascribe agency to the unknown does a great deal in explaining how religious behavior could have arisen as it, like any behavior, must have some sort of Darwinian origin. Evolutionary biologists have begun to build a non-adaptive byproduct theory that seems to indicate religion started off as something of a misfiring caused by our evolutionary hardwiring. I have always marveled in the simplicity and beauty of natural selection. To me, religious behavior is perhaps one of the most striking examples of how fascinating, how amazing the world truly is when observed through a Darwinian lens. There is something truly startling about the idea that, in guiding the evolution of humans from single-celled organisms through billions of years, natural selection could have inadvertently led mankind to ponder an all-powerful supernatural god. The thought that our most intimate emotions, beliefs and aspirations could be a byproduct of natural selection, a process that has shaped every living creature on the planet, makes one feel small in a way that religion could never accomplish. Tim Hiller is a senior microbiology major. He can be reached at thriller@umd.edu.

Statehouse blues B

The politics got real ugly oy: You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get a textAnd it met a sad fate book bill passed here in Annapolis. d Because Rosapepe and Bohanan forgot to debate It’s just a bill. d Whether they should let it be a law. Yes, it’s only a bill. How we hope next year that they will, And it’s really sad that it just got killed. But today it is still just a bill. It had a long, long journey Boy: Well that’s really sad. To the capital city. Bill: It sure is. We all were hoping I’d make it, but I guess It had a long, long wait this is a hard-earned lesson. Without a conference committee, Boy: That the legislators should stop But we hope it’ll be a law someday arguing and get you passed earlier At least we hope and pray that it will, The demise of the next year? But today it is still just a bill. Bill: Yes, that, and that this is what Boy: Gee, Bill, you sure must be textbook bill may be LAW happens when they get too caught up in upset about what happened. confusing, but political maneuvering to satisfy lobbyBill: Well I got so far. The legislaists. ture seemed intent on passing me so Schoolhouse Rock Boy: Well if not the lobbyists, then students would be able to buy says it all. who should they be listening to? cheaper textbooks next year, but a Bill: The students. few delegates and senators got caught Boy: Oh yeah, I guess you’re right. up in tacking me with amendments. It’s just a bill Boy: Amendments? Yes, it’s only a bill Bill: Yeah, a few state senators wanted to ensure I proAnd it won’t be helping students until moted competition among booksellers while a state deleOur politicians remember gate wanted to protect the interests of the administration That they should be so inclined and the University Book Center. Even though the SGA lobTo pass identical bills bied hard for a compromise, the senators and delegates For O’Malley to sign couldn’t agree on which version of me to pass. And if he signs it, then we’ll have a law. Oh the textbook bill How we hope and pray that he will, Had political will, But today it is still just a bill. And it seemed it would be signed until

Our View

Editorial Cartoon: Mike O’Brien

Letters to the Editor Vote in the GSG Elections Every year, page after page of coverage is devoted to the SGA elections on the campus, when two-thirds of the students at the university elect their representatives. But what about that other third? Graduate students also have an elected representative body — the Graduate Student Government. Composed of an assembly representing every degree program and a seven-member Executive Board, the GSG advocates on behalf of the 10,000 of us pursuing graduate and professional degrees on the campus and abroad. From parking problems and shuttle routes to housing development, grievance procedures and state lawmaking, we tackle all the issues, big and small, that confront graduate students in the course of our careers. Also this year, an important referendum will be on the ballot. Vote now! From April 9 -16, the GSG elections will take place online at Testudo (www.testudo.umd.edu). We promise not to bother you at home or put obnoxious chalk drawings on the sidewalk, but please take a few minutes during the week to exercise your right to choose who represents your needs and views. Encourage your friends and classmates to do the same! THE GSG EXECUTIVE BOARD

Support the HOUSE party for cheaper textbooks

The newspaper you’re reading might be resting on top of some right now. Even if it’s not, no one on the campus fails to notice they’re incredibly expensive. Even if I end up getting into all of the classes I want for next fall, the moment I pump my fist in glory at my computer screen on April 24, my joy will likely be ruined after I hit the “Books” link and find out the size of the dent it’s going to put in my and my parents’ bank accounts. So how do I avoid that inevitable phone call explaining why they need to pay several hundred dollars just for textbooks? For one, if the Maryland General Assembly continues to fail in enacting legislation requiring professors to post book lists eight weeks before the semester begins, then university policy needs to pick up the slack. It’s hard to bypass the unreasonably high prices at the major textbook outlets on and off the campus by buying my books online when professors often post the book list during the first week of class. Also, it burns me up knowing exactly how much the stores make off me each semester. We need a free online book exchange where university students can buy, sell and trade books from other university students. Members of the HOUSE Party including myself want to make college affordable. If elected to the Student Government Association, we’ll work toward these solutions. Check out www.umdhouse.com to learn more about our platform and to voice your thoughts. And remember to vote on April 15 or 16.

Safety, housing, affordable education and the quality of university academics are all hot-button issues on the campus, especially during the weeks of SGA campaigning. So what about textbooks? That’s right, textbooks.

MICAH CHERVIN FRESHMAN JEWISH STUDIES AND PHILOSOPHY CANDIDATE FOR DENTON LEGISLATOR HOUSE PARTY

Air Your Views The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please

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Walk hard

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tudents’ representatives cannot just talk the talk — they must walk the walk. That’s why I spent my Friday and Saturday nights, between midnight and 4 a.m., walking around the immediate off-campus area. I walked all the way down Knox Road and College Avenue, down to the College Park Metro Station, all the way to Dartmouth and Columbia Avenues. All too often the issue of safety is discussed glibly, with a reference to the many muggings and strongarm robberies, followed by a vague promise to address the problem. Even more often, proposals to improve safety lack the first-hand perspective that is a basic prerequisite to understanding the situation. On weekends, Route 1 is a whirlwind of activity, with police officers on constant patrol by the intersection of Knox Road and Route 1. Walk just a block past Route 1, however, and you will witness a dramatic transformation of traffic. There is little or no through traffic, and sparsely scattered pedestrian traffic. There were intersections where I stood for a full half hour without seeing a single police patrol. More students are being forced to live off campus every semester, and the houses on Knox and College avenues are attractive options. With a five-minute walk to the campus, they represent an affordable, accessible option that does not require a car, or even a bike. Student safety must become a priority for this university, and it is the university’s responsibility to ensure the safety of students being forced out of on-campus housing. The SGA hosts an annual “Safety Walk,” in which administrators, SGA members and police officials patrol the campus at night, noting unsafe areas and collaborating to improve campus safety. This is no longer enough, and if elected president of the SGA, I promise to implement an annual Off-Campus Safety Walk, not only with administrators and police officials, but also with members of the College Park City Council. The first step toward ensuring student safety is an increased police patrol presence in the immediate off-campus area. Just this week, the College Park City Council voted to double city spending on safety measures, which is a crucial first step. Simply having more individuals in uniform is, however, an incomplete answer. Students must fight to redirect policing styles and priorities. A number of students have expressed anger, reporting having been prejudicially targeted as minorities by local police officers. The student voice must be loud, clear and unified in demanding equality of treatment by lawenforcement officers. Furthermore, students must demand a refocusing of police priorities, stressing safety rather than breaking up parties. These are achievable goals if a serious and persistent dialogue is established with police forces and with the city council. The NITE Ride shuttle service must have an expanded fleet of vans during times of heavy traffic so that students are not forced to wait in unsafe areas for extended periods of time. If the Terp Taxi service is to continue, it must be better advertised so that it can be better used. Both the student body and the university must invest in strengthening our relationship with the surrounding community. Outreach must be pursued with a consistent and coordinated vision, and must tap not only into engaged student groups, but also into the vast amounts of applicable research undertaken at the university. We cannot afford to compromise on the issue of student safety, and it is readily apparent that the tactics relied upon in years past are simply insufficient. A vote for the HOUSE Party is a vote for creative, pragmatic solutions to a problem that demands nothing less. Mardy Shualy is an arts and humanities legislator in the Student Government Association and is the presidential candidate of the HOUSE Party. He can be reached at mshualy@gmail.com.


THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

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Je ne sais — October sign Sharp projection Mountains or river Trudges Pods for stews Runs its course Hang onto

DOWN 1 Balance 2 New England campus 3 — as we speak 4 Go out with 5 Luxury fur 6 Hi or bye 7 Orbison or Acuff 8 Idealists 9 Itinerary 10 “— vincit amor” 11 Gene Autry movie 12 Walked 14 Tea stirrers 22 Pillbox or bowler 24 The lowdown 25 — Yello (soft drink) 26 Trucker’s haul 27 “Aeneid” or “Beowulf” 28 Knot 29 Play the trumpet 32 Howl

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

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E L A T AM CRO HAR RE ORNE D A L A V E AMAN S P L A S EDOU NORS TWE E SNOR

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© 2008 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

N E C K D E C A Y T E T E

SURFING WITH THE ALIENS

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orn today, you are often willing to work harder than most to reach your goals, but it must be acknowledged that there are times when you merely want to reach your most prized destinations with the minimum of effort. And how, really, does this different from anyone else? It is common for a single individual to harbor beneath the surface two opposing and highly contrasting characteristics, but in few do these rival aspects co-exist in such close proximity, fighting for dominance concurrently as they do in you. You know how to make money — and this is fortunate, because you are even better at spending it. You yearn to live a life of comfort and freedom, and you must earn this later luxury by working hard early in life and gathering the resources you need to live the life you choose. Also born on this date are: Clare Boothe Luce, journalist, diplomat and politician; Brian Setzer, musician; Omar Sharif, actor; Steven Seagal, actor and martial artist; Joseph Pulitzer, 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.

B

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Surround yourself with likeminded individuals and you can surely achieve more together than anyone could accomplish on his or her own. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — The healing process is important to you, for you are recovering from a blow dealt quite some time ago. Take things slowly.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — This is a good day to make a few important personal discoveries. You may not be presenting yourself in the best possible light. CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You’ll be fighting fatigue throughout much of the day, but the demands on you will be outweighed by your sense of duty — and sense of completion. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — If you’re looking for a thrill, then there are plenty to choose from — but you must use care even while subjecting yourself to risks. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — There is no reason for you to repeat yourself in any respect; once you’ve finished one thing, it’s time to move on to the next. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You can learn to respect those who, at this time, may not even have your wholehearted attention. Consider an opposing view.

Copyright 2008 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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Now Hiring All Positions We offer great salaries, benefits including paid vacation, insurance plan, tuition assistance, 401K, meal plan & much more! Apply in person: Arundel Mills Mall, MD, 410-796-0200 or 14601 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, MD, 301-470-4405. TELESCOPE PICTURES. Ocean City, MD & Virginia Beach, VA. Best SUMMER JOB on the BEACH. Make $10K+, Celebrity Status, Great Tan. Apply & Learn More @ ocbeachphotos.com. Housing Available! Come Join The Fun! Internship/Paid Wanted: Aggressive, outgoing go-getter to work with Senior Vice President at Wachovia Securities. Call Bill Flanigan, Senior Vice President. 301-961-0131

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Administrative Assistant Assist the Administrator in plan, develop & implmt. info. sys. & admin. procedures for healthcare facility. Analyze rules & regulations, study mngmt. methods, coord. med. evaluation with med. staff. Req. bachelor’s degree in bus. admin., mngmt., public admin. or rel., & knwldg. in a healthcare rel. field, such as nursing, obtained through college study or work exp. Send res. to Sacred Heart Home, Inc., 5805 Queens Chapel Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20782. Legal rt. to work in US must be stated. HELP WANTED- $8.50/HR- UM STUDENTS ONLY. The University of Maryland’s Physical Distribution Center $ Surplus Property Operation (TERRAPIN TRADER) has openings for clerical, warehouse & delivery personnel for this semester and for the summer. For more information, call Mike Painter or Sidney Salazar at 301-405-5008/ 405-5853 or stop by the Physical Distribution Center located on Paint Branch Parkway near the College Park Metro Station.

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Daycare Center in Beltsville Now accepting applications for Senior Staff/Aide PT/FT. Please call 301-937-3133.

LIFEGUARDS Now hiring lifeguards, pool managers, and supervisors. Full and part time positions. Free training. 1-877-540-7665 or www.americanpool.com.

MARCH MADNESS ENDS! IT’S TIME TO PLAY BALL... $ FULL-TIME PAY WORKING PART-TIME HRS. $ FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES/ OUTDOORS. PD INTERNSHIPS. $18- $33/ HR. Looking to add UM Students to its Marketing team. Will teach energetic, outgoing individuals the skills to earn top $$$. Excellent Resume Builder and Summer Job. Call Todd: 301-340-9404.

Fun Babysitter Needed in Greenbelt Two great kids (ages 11 and 3) need a fun, loving, sitter to pick them up after school 3 days a week starting at 4pm – days are flexible. Some weekends. One is in Silver Spring (Georgia Ave. exit 31), the other in Beltsville. Basic meal prep in the evening. Must have car, clean driving record, references. Call 240-355-6110. New York Deli, in College Park, is hiring delivery drivers. Please call 301-345-0366

P/T ASSOCIATES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY for NEW STORE OPENING!! Do you have H.E.A.R.T. (Honesty. Enthusiasm. Attentiveness. Reliability. Trust)? ROBEKS is a friendly, upbeat environment that offers high quality Fruit Smoothies, Fresh Juices, and Healthy Eats. If you’re passionate about people, and would like to promote Healthiness, then consider Robeks-College Park!! (check out robeks.com) RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: Scooping, Blending, Juicing, Prep of Salads/Wraps, Stocking, Cleaning and More QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE: Ability to Communicate with the general public; Ability to Multi-Task and handle Pressure; Ability to stand for long periods; Ability to lift up 40 lbs. FOR DETAILS and/or APPLICATION: contact William Jones at 301-602-4075 today or stop by the store at: 10260 Baltimore Ave., Ste. 1, College Park, MD (Village Shops next to Ikea).

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Established Service Company in College Park Administrative Assistant – No Experience Necessary Contact Ms. Barth at 301-927-7300 or dbarth@csafire.com.

Marketing Majors! Or anyone else who wants to start their sales career now! 410-956-1501 or info@union1st.com Ask for David or Ali. Union First is seeking motivated students to market “Life and Wealth Development Seminars.” Huge commissions! Not your college job, but the start of your career.

Old Line Bank is seeking to fill part-time and full-time teller positions in Prince George’s County. Qualified candidates will have strong verbal and written communication skills. Cash handling experience is preferred but not mandatory. Training will be provided. Interested candidates should fax their resume to Human Resources at 301-430-2548 or e-mail to ccoughlin@oldlinebank.com.

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EDITING — Dissertations, theses, term papers. Style manual experts. Call anytime. 301-474-6000

X-Conference 2008- April 18-20, Hilton Gaithersburg. 20 speakers, ,documentaries, cocktail party, banquet. 1, 2, 3- Day Passes. 202-215-8344, PRG@paradigmresearchgroup.org (call/email for student discount), www.x-conference.com

House — Walk to campus and Metro. 4 bedrooms, 1 bath, cac, laundry, dishwasher. $2900. 301-927-8753.

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NOW HIRING SERVERS AND GREETERS 301-656-9755

Apartments Sublets & Roommates List & Browse FREE! 1-877-FOR-RENT/ 201-845-7300. 2HOUSE 4 RENT- 5 bedroom, 2 full bath. House close to campus. Renovated property with 2 large living rooms, CAC, dishwasher, and washer-dryer. $2,375/mo. Call Brit @ 301-806-0790

Close to Campus! Take Route 1 North. Merge on Capital Beltway toward Baltimore/Silver Spring. Get off at Exit 34 to Rockville Pike North toward Bethesda. Turn slight right on Woodmont Ave.

CHILD CARE SUMMER PART-TIME BABYSITTER $15/hr., flexible day time hours, 15-20 hours/ week, for active 24 month old son. Must be energetic and enjoy playing with children. In Chevy Chase DC near Military Rd. & Connecticut Ave. Flexible May starting date. 917-535-5389.

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GREAT SUMMER JOB & THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! Trail’s End Camp & Chestnut Lake Camp in PA are looking for male and female Specialist Counselors – baseball, lacrosse, gymnastics, golf, cheerleading, tennis, hockey, outdoor adventure, mountain biking, dance, waterfront and web design. Male Bunk Counselors also available; June 17th-August 17th. APPLY ONLINE AT

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THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE:

Diversions ARTS

MUSIC

This week is all about indie films and documentaries galore. Check out the foreign fare of My Brother is an Only Child — to read our exclusive review, just click the Diversions link at www.diamondbackonline.com. WEEKEND

MOVIES

LIVING

REVIEW | SMART PEOPLE

Come meet these People Smart Though not as good as Sideways, ders People’s low-key humor works won BY THOMAS FLOYD Staff writer

When it comes to producer Michael London, his formula for success is simple: Find a story about a depressed teacher with a nonexistent love life and a failing writing career, cast Thomas Haden Church as his fun-loving but irresponsible sidekick and become immersed in their world of misadventure and dark humor. Hey, it worked in Sideways — why not give it another shot? Adapted from a script penned by fellow newcomer Mark Poirier, commercial director Noam Murro’s first feature, Smart People, is fashioned very much in the same style as Sideways. A fascinating take on the trials and tribulations of a pretentious father attempting to reconnect with his estranged family while finding new love, Smart People is an often bleak, sometimes hopeful and perpetually charming effort. Dennis Quaid (Vantage Point) plays Lawrence Wetherhold, an English professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Speaking in a drawling monotone and making little effort to know his students, Lawrence isn’t exactly the most popular professor on campus. His self-indulgent tendencies

are even filtering into his writing, as his latest novel has been wholeheartedly rejected by every publisher. With Lawrence, it doesn’t matter if he expresses himself in print or verbally — he is simply a man who always seems to choose the wrong words. A widower, Lawrence lives with his daughter, Vanessa (Ellen Page, Juno), a high school student who spends so much time concentrating on her grades that she has become a social outcast. His son, James (Ashton Holmes, A History of Violence), lives in a dorm at Carnegie Mellon, but the distance between the two goes far beyond the few miles that physically separate them. After a trauma-induced seizure keeps Lawrence from legally driving for six months, the family is joined by his free-loading adopted brother, Chuck (Church, back in his comfort zone after delving into action film in the dreadful Spider-Man 3), who decides to drive for Lawrence in exchange for room and board. The family roles — the strict father, playful uncle, surly son and overachieving daughter — are all familiar. Once they are fleshed out, they turn out to be more than they initially appear. Vanessa, for instance, wears the mask of an overly confident demeanor, but time exposes a vulnerable figure worn

down by carrying the responsibilities of both a daughter and a wife in her broken home. Lawrence and his family are tossed a curveball when he is treated at the hospital by one of his former students, Janet Hartigan (Sarah Jessica Parker, Failure to Launch). Realizing that she had a crush on him dating back to her collegiate days, Lawrence decides to ask her out for a “face-to-face conversation.” Needless to say, he is a bit awkward on his first date since his wife’s death, but soon it becomes evident that there may be an engaging personality lying deep beneath his conceited persona. The humor throughout Smart People is unassuming, as Murro draws the laughs by focusing on the peculiar — but often relatable — aspects of his colorful characters. While Quaid is excellent in his against-type role as the amusingly quirky sociopath, it is Page and Church who stand out while bringing their impeccable comedic timing to the table. Meanwhile, Nuno Bettencourt, a guitarist for the band Extreme, provides a fitting score that further enhances Smart People’s indie film ambiance. The character portraits painted by Murro aren’t quite as convincing as those in Sideways, a film which raised

the bar for dark romantic comedy. Though that flaw will likely keep Smart People from standing above the crowd as one of the year’s elite films, Murro is still a master at handling his movie’s low-key humor and absorbing narra-

tive, and this film has set him on the way to becoming one of the more promising new faces to keep on eye on in Hollywood for years to come. tfloyd1@umd.edu

MOVIE: Smart People | VERDICT:

REVIEW | YOUNG@HEART

Keeping the rock close @Heart BY DAN BENAMOR Staff writer

Jethro Tull once sang, “Now he’s too old to rock ’n’ roll, but he’s too young to die.” The senior citizen chorus of the documentary Young at Heart would certainly disagree with the first part. You’re never too old to rock, these elderly warblers insist, and Young at Heart insists just as vehemently that you’re never too old to stop living life to the fullest. The documentary follows the Young at Heart Chorus, average age 80, as they prepare for a concert of contemporary music. The choir, which has performed around the world, covers bands from the Rolling Stones to Sonic Youth. Along the way, the viewers get to know a number of the singers and their chorus director Bob Cilman very well. Joyful and passionate, these singers are still alive, damn

it, and even at 90 they can do a mean James Brown cover. There is a lot of humor drawn from the personal lives of the singers. Constantly cracking jokes, the chorus is full of personality. Some are surprisingly randy, like flirtatious 92-year-old Eileen Hall. Fred Knittle, 81, said he and his wife of more than 50 years used to go out for romantic evenings twice a week — “I went out on Tuesday, and she went out on Thursday” — but shortly after this joke about infidelity, he gives her a sweet kiss. And 76-year-old Bob Salvini spent several days in the emergency room singing nonstop after a brush with death. Director Stephen Walker (Hardcore) also gets some comic mileage out of shooting the group like rock stars in the opening shots of a concert. And the voiceover tells of funny details of their lives, such as the fact Eileen is the only person in her nursing home

with a key to the front door, because she often returns so late from shows. But what makes this documentary moving in addition to just funny are its insights into mortality. Obviously with a group so old, some have serious health problems, such as one member who comes to rehearsal weak after having chest pains and another who carries an oxygen machine. Sometimes the group is even forced to take days off for various medical reasons, and suffice to say, not everyone makes it to the concert. Yet because of the singers’ ages, all the songs have an extra layer of meaning — “Stayin’ Alive,” “I Feel Good” and “Forever Young” take on a different resonance when sung by a group of 80-year-olds. And this is clearly very important to the singers themselves. For example, Salvini hadn’t sung

since his time in the emergency room and remarks it would be “devastating” if he couldn’t find his voice again. When he steps up to the microphone in rehearsal, you’ll hold your breath. Perhaps once or twice, a schmaltzy score may creep in unnecessarily, and at one point the director asks a very ill singer a question that verges on being insensitive and manipulative. But these are very, very minor complaints, just a few moments in the film. Apart from these small quibbles, the film is very well done. And since the five-star rating should be reserved for the mythical “perfect” movie, Heart falls slightly short. But so far, it’s the best movie of 2008 and the best documentary this critic has ever seen. Every person in the world should see this movie. dan.benamor@gmail.com

COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB.COM

The choir in Young@Heart performs a variety of songs in various genres.

MOVIE:Young@Heart | VERDICT:

1/2


8

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK


TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2008 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

9

Young brings Terps ‘quiet toughness’ YOUNG, from Page 10

YUCHEN NIE–THE DIAMONDBACK

Freshman attackman Grant Catalino (left) hugs classmate Ryan Young after a goal. Young has assisted many of the Terps’ goals this year.

play where he ran past AllAmerica defender Jerry Lambe for the score — ironically, a play markedly similar to the one that first drew the conference with Copelan. Young, who was still feeling the effects of an ankle injury that caused him to miss two weeks of the preseason, added another goal and an assist later in the game. “He showed us what kind of player he was in the fall,” senior midfielder Max Ritz said. “That wasn’t a surprise to us. That was a surprise to everybody else. That’s just how he plays. He’s not afraid of opponents.” Young said it was just good to “get the monkey off my back” and show he could make an immediate impact at the collegiate level. Coach Dave Cottle had no doubt Young would be able to produce after seeing Young record 39 goals and 45 assists in his senior season at Manhasset High School, which he transferred to after three years at Chaminade High School. Cottle recalled watching Young record a goal and eight assists in one high school game. That was enough to show him that Young could be the distributor for Catalino and Reed, who are pure goal-scorers. “You were looking for the perfect complement, an athletic kid who could hold the

ball,” Cottle said. “Very seldom can you put pieces of the puzzle together like that. When we got him, it made a big difference.” But first he had to convince Young to choose the Terps. Young’s older brother Michael already played for Duke, and his twin brother Kevin eventually committed to play for the Blue Devils as well. However, Ryan Young kept an open mind and really connected with the Terp players and coaches on his visit to College Park. “I thought it was a perfect fit,” Young said. “I thought this was the best place, and right now, I totally agree with my choice.” And the Terps are happy with his decision as well. Ritz, the Terps’ assist leader last season as an attackman, said Young’s impact on the team goes beyond the points he’s generated. “People really respect him because he works hard, and he’s very respectful of the older guys,” Ritz said. “He really knows what it means to wear that jersey and play that position.” But it’s not that Young hasn’t been valuable in the field. Cottle said he has been amazed at Young’s ability to keep producing despite drawing opponent’s toughest defenders consistently. Young has recorded a point in each

Terp stars heading to opposite coasts WNBA, from Page 10 Duke stars Alana Beard and Monique Currie. The Willingboro, N.J., native said she is thrilled to stay in the region. “My family will be able to see me play, my college coaches, my teammates,” Langhorne said. “I’m just so excited right now.” Harper, the Terps’ all-time leader in blocked shots, will be headed out west where she will get a chance to play with former Tennessee star and current ESPN analyst Kara Lawson.

Langhorne and Harper were both in attendance Wednesday when their names were called at the draft held at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla. Both had family members with them, and Frese and Terp assistant coach Erica Floyd were also there to offer support. “It was a great feeling,” Langhorne said. “I’m just trying to help another team get better.” The Mystics went 16-18 last season, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Beard led the team with

18.8 points per game. The Monarchs were a playoff team with a 19-15 record, only to be eliminated by San Antonio in the first round. Tennessee’s Candace Parker was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, while Sylvia Fowles from LSU, Candice Wiggins from Stanford, Alexis Hornbuckle from Tennessee and Matee Ajavon from Rutgers rounded out the top five. The WNBA regular season begins next month. schimmeldbk@gmail.com

game this season except a 13-8 win at North Carolina on March 22. Ever since Copelan defined Young’s role in the offense, the coordinator has been able to trust Young to maintain his poise on the offensive end and learn from his mistakes. “He just gets it, and you can’t say that about them all,” Copelan said. “I know when I’m standing on the sideline and the ball’s in Ryan’s stick, I feel really confident he’s going to make good decisions with the ball.” Cottle appreciates the “quiet toughness” that Young adds to the lineup, as evidenced by his recovery from an ankle injury that occurred the day before spring practice began. Doctors expected Young to miss three weeks of action and to be limited for longer, but he made it back to the field quickly. And most importantly, Cottle is excited that his star is just a freshman. The 26-year head coach expects Young to eventually become more of a goal scorer as his career progresses. For now, Young is content to embrace the role that his coaches have selected for him and rack up the points with his fellow freshmen attackmen. “Sometimes we talk about how much easier it’s going to be when we’re seniors, but we’re all really excited about the years to come,” Young said. edetweilerdbk@gmail.com

2008 WNBA Draft Top 10 Two Terps were drafted in the top 10 this year, the first two players ever to be drafted so high in program history. Name Player Yards 1. Los Angeles Candace Paker Tennessee 2. Chicago Sylvia Fowles LSU 3. Minnesota Candice Wiggins Stanford 4. Detroit Alexis Hornbuckle Tennessee 5. Houston Matee Ajavon Rutgers 6. Washington Crystal Langhorne TERRAPINS 7. New York Essence Carson Rutgers 8. Atlanta Tamera Young James Madison 9. Connecticut Amber Holt M. Tennessee St. 10. Sacramento Laura Harper TERRAPINS

Freshman got Terps out of tough jam BASEBALL, from Page 10 inning, but the Terps (20-14) responded with senior center fielder Nick Jower’s two-RBI double in the same inning, which made the score 9-2. Mount St. Mary’s threatened to cut into the lead in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, no outs and Vittek up at the plate. But freshman Adam Kolarek got Vittek to ground into a force out at home plate. Junior Dan Gentzler then came in and induced a double play to finish the inning off. The Terps improved their record to 9-0 when they score nine or more runs and won their 11th consecutive game over an out-ofconference team. The Terps say they are playing the best baseball they’ve played all season, and they have last night’s offensive outburst to back up their claim. “Everybody is just getting better and better. We’re definitely playing our best baseball of the season,” Durakis said. “Things are really starting to come together.” Of course, a rare first-inning rally like the one the Terps put up last night doesn’t hurt matters. “It definitely helps. When the leadoff guy gets a hit, it really gets the flow going,” Spessard said. “Hitting is contagious, and we really broke out in that inning — it was great.” akrautdbk@gmail.com


10

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008

Sports Young like a veteran Freshman passes early tests BY ERIC DETWEILER Senior staff writer

Ryan Young remembers the moment he realized what part he would play for the Terrapin men’s lacrosse team this season. In a preseason practice, the freshman attackman ran around the goal and tried to score. Immediately afterward, offensive coordinator Andrew Copelan pulled the Manhasset, N.Y., native aside and told him to relax and use his teammates rather than force the issue. “In the beginning, I wasn’t really sure what my role would be,” Young said. “I thought it would be a mixture of both [scoring and distributing], but then coach Copelan told me what I had to do to help the team, so I just went from there.” Young has flourished in the role of “quarterback” for the Terp offense. He leads the Terps with 24 points on seven

goals and 17 assists, the latter of which already ranks eighth among Terp freshmen for an entire season. “I think it’s just like the system we play,” Young said of his success. “Whenever they need me to make a play, I’m there for them, and all my teammates are there for me, so I’ve got to give respect to them.” Young and his fellow starting freshmen attackmen, Grant Catalino and Travis Reed, made their marks right out of the gate, accounting for eight goals in a season-opening win over Georgetown. Young was especially impressive, scoring his first career goal less than 10 minutes into his first career game on a

Please See YOUNG, Page 9

Big start carries baseball Terps score seven in first inning to run away with game BY AARON KRAUT Senior staff writer

In Tuesday night’s win over Coppin State, it took the Terrapin baseball team the entire game to score seven runs. In last night’s 12-3 victory over Mount St. Mary’s, it only took about 15 minutes to do the same. An 8-hit, 7-run first inning, which included back-to-back home runs from junior left fielder Gerry Spessard and sophomore right fielder A.J.

Casario, secured the team’s out kind of asleep.” “That’s the best we’ve 20th win of the year. The early offense — the swung the bats all year long at the beginning of first four Terps colthe game,” coach lected hits — was Terry Rupp said. in stark contrast to Six Terp pitchers the game the night combined to give before against CopBASEBALL up three Mounpin State. TERRAPINS . . . . . . . . . 12 “Any time you Mount St. Mary’s . . . . 3 taineer runs on nine hits. can get on a team S o p h o m o r e early, it gets things going a little bit,” senior pitcher Ian Schwalenberg catcher Chad Durakis said. allowed a two-run homer by “When you’re coming off a Mountaineer first baseman big ACC series on the week- Josh Vittek in the third end, sometimes for these midweek games you come Please See BASEBALL, Page 9

NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Leaders: Team Margin of Victory School 1. Duke 2. Ohio State 3. Syracuse 4. Virginia 5. Notre Dame

G 189 136 120 161 110

GA 80 69 69 103 64

Margin 9.08 6.70 5.67 5.27 5.11

School 6. Cornell 7. Navy 8. TERRAPINS 9. Siena 10. Army

G 103 102 114 105 98

GA 62 54 73 65 66

Margin 4.56 4.36 4.10 3.64 3.20

Terps’ twin towers taken in top 10 Post duo headed to Washington, Sacramento BY GREG SCHIMMEL Senior staff writer

Two members of the Terrapin women’s basketball team will be taking their talents to the WNBA. Crystal Langhorne was taken sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2008 WNBA Draft yesterday, and Laura Harper was taken with the tenth overall pick by the Sacramento Monarchs. Langhorne and Harper are the first Terps who played for coach Brenda Frese to be selected in the first round. “I’m so happy with this whole thing,” Langhorne said. “I was so nervous [beforehand], I didn’t know what was going to happen. It was like nothing I ever felt before.” Langhorne, the Terps’ alltime leading scorer and rebounder, won’t have to travel far to play her professional ball with the Mystics, where she will be teamed with former

ADAM FRIED–THE DIAMONDBACK

Crystal Langhorne left the Terps as the program’s leading scorer and rebounder. Please See WNBA, Page 9 Now she is taking her game down the Beltway to Washington to play for the Mystics.


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