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THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Our 101ST Year, No. 157

Univ. receives $27.5M to launch science center USM sets With National Science Foundation funds, research facility will collaborate sciences sity entomology professor and SeSynC Director Margaret Palmer said makes lab research more applicable to everyday life.

“For me, this is an exciting opportunity to focus on the intersection of people and the environment,” Palmer said. “The idea is, how can we solve those environmental problems and the problems of people to ensure that the needs that people have are met while minimizing impact to the environment?”

After two stages of proposals in a stiff competition, this university came out on top over Arizona State for the bid, largely because of the

BY SARAH MEEHAN Senior staff writer

At a time when environmental challenges are steep, the National Science Foundation granted this university $27.5 million to launch a collaborative research center set to tackle local, national and international environmental issues.

The upcoming National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center — also known as SeSynC — will be funded through the largest grant the university has ever received from the foundation.

The center, as its name suggests, will combine research in both physical and social sciences to create “actionable science” — a concept univer-

see GRANT, page 2

CENTER SPECIFICS Armed with a $27.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the university’s newly launched National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center will seek to: Collaborate in the physical and social sciences Make lab research more applicable to everyday life Combine existing data to find new solutions to environmental problems

merger plan for fall Groups to study integration of this university and UMB

BY LEAH VILLANUEVA Senior staff writer

With an outlined plan now in place, the state’s top higher education officials have an upcoming semester jam-packed with task force meetings to weigh the pros and cons of merging this university and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

In the first of two phases of the study developed by the University System of Maryland and approved by the Board of Regents in June, 12 representatives from each campus — including vice presidents, faculty and student government officials — will meet in four separate task groups in the coming weeks through September to consider the merits of joining this campus with UMB’s primarily graduate programs.

These groups will address a series of questions

see MERGER, page 3

County’s credit remains intact Small federal compromise leaves county at risk of later credit downgrade

Bridging the gap

BY JIM BACH Staff writer

Univ. researchers create sensors to monitor crumbling infrastructure

BY REBECCA LURYE Staff writer

Commuters taking the Capital Beltway probably haven’t noticed the handful of credit-card sized sensors installed on a truss bridge near the Anacostia River. But the devices, designed by a university researcher, have been monitoring the bridge for the past year to catch warning signs of a devastating bridge failure.

Electrical engineering researcher Mehdi Kalantari Khandani, who began designing the sensors more than four years ago, said the relatively cheap and maintenance-free warning sys-

tem will be an important tool in fighting the challenges of this country’s aging infrastructure.

“The way bridges are inspected today and with the age of infrastructure around the country, it’s not possible to inspect every bridge that could have deficiencies, so it’s a matter of critical need for technologies like Mehdi’s to be deployed, and even incorporated at the time of construction, for bridges,” said Dean Chang, director of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute’s Technology Advancement Program, where Khandani developed his business.

More than a quarter of U.S. interstate bridges are structurally deficient or function-

ally obsolete, according to a 2009 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. While these bridges are safe to drive on, each one is either undergoing repairs or a rebuild or one day will require it, the report stated.

However, because thorough inspections of bridges take place only every few years, unexpected bridge failures — like the 2007 collapse of a Minneapolis bridge that left 13 dead — are an increasing threat.

“The issue is that we know for a fact the

see BRIDGES, page 2

As tremors from the recent budget battle on Capitol Hill continue to afflict local economies across the country, Prince George’s County is among those facing further financial uncertainty with possible risks to its credit rating.

Moody’s Investors Service, one of the top three credit rating agencies along with Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, has placed the county’s AAA credit rating on negative outlook, indicating an increased risk of downgrade over the next one to two years. A downgrade of Prince George’s County could have ripple effects on county projects within College Park, such as those that would repair sidewalks or roads within the city.

“Any sort of physical projects [could be affected],” said County Councilman Eric Olson

see CREDIT, page 3 MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

Looney’s gets city support to serve alcohol Pub still needs county OK for beer and wine license before restaurant’s opening in upcoming semester

BY NICK FOLEY Staff writer

Although the College Park City Council threw its support behind Looney’s Pub’s intent to sell alcohol, the ultimate fate of the establishment as a nightlife option is now in the hands of the county liquor board.

Although Looney’s Pub — scheduled to open in the University View II commercial space this fall — was already set to operate as a restaurant, the city council’s endorsement of its selling alcohol means the business is one step closer to officially establishing itself as a local watering hole for students and College Park residents.

To officially sell beer and wine, Looney’s coowners William Larney Jr. and Steve Litrenta must receive approval from the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners at an Aug. 23 hearing. However, support from the city typically results in a favorable county vote, and after city council members reviewed the pub’s

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

business plan, many said they were confident it would be a reputable establishment.

Details of the agreement with the city include a mandated 50-50 alcohol-to-food ratio as well as Looney’s providing a state-of-the-art security system designed to crack down on fake IDs and a travel service that will transport patrons to and from the location on the weekends.

The opening of a new bar in the city elicited mixed reactions from council members. While some heralded the presence of a well-known establishment in College Park, others expressed concern over opening another restaurant that will serve alcohol.

“It seems to have a heavy emphasis on drinking,” said District 1 councilwoman Christine Nagle. “I don’t want us to be fooled into thinking that we’re getting a restaurant when we’re really getting a bar.”

But Larney said he plans to operate as a

see ALCOHOL, page 3 Mostly sunny/80s

INDEX

Although Looney’s Pub still needs the county’s official approval to serve alcohol, the College Park City Council endorsed the restaurant’s endeavor. MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

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

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DIVERSIONS . . . . .7 SPORTS . . . . . . . . .8

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011

GRANT from page 1

The Northwest Branch Bridge on the Capital Beltway is one of the bridges university researchers are studying. They developed sensors to help detect failures in aging infrastructure across the nation. MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

BRIDGES from page 1 infrastructure in the [U.S.] is getting aged. While catastrophic events similar to the collapse [of the] Minneapolis bridge give some public awareness, the truth is that the magnitude of the problem is much larger,” said Khandani, who worked with engineering researcher Ali Shirazi to complete the program.

Through his business, Resensys LLC, Khandani began testing his product with the state Department of Transportation on the Beltway last year, and will soon expand to more bridges. The devices can also be used to monitor buildings and pipelines.

According to Khandani, the average highway bridge would require 500 sensors at a cost of about $10,000 total.

down on that number each year through repairs and building new structurally sound bridges.

“It’s trying to stay ahead of that curve, and we do a very good job of addressing that,” Buck said. “We have arguably the most aggressive and copied bridge-inspection program in the country, and we’re proud of that.”

Khandani, however, said he would like to see the warning system used on all bridges, not just in this state or even country.

“It must be noted that this is not just a problem in the [U.S], and the infrastructure around the world [faces] similar problems, both in the developing and the developed worlds,” he said.

Just 13 major bridge collapses since 1989 — a fraction of the total number of bridge failures — have resulted in more than 440 casualties world-

The devices last at least 20 years with no maintenance and can run on sunlight, ambient light and radio waves.

David Buck, a spokesman for the transportation department, said the sensors supplement hands-on inspections with a trained and qualified inspector, but they do not replace it.

“Technology like this is certainly something that will help us in the future century-plus in terms of bridge inspections, but … regardless of how good, that technology can’t visually look at and see things a trained inspector can,” he said.

A bridge hasn’t failed in this state since 1989, when a Baltimore-Washington Parkway overpass under construction collapsed, injuring 14. Buck said only 5 to 6 percent of state-controlled bridges in the state are labeled structurally deficient, noting the state cuts

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wide, including almost 70 deaths from accidents in the U.S, according to a 2007 Reuters article. Reports on the accidents often blame a combination of engineering flaws, the concentrated weight of traffic and construction on a particular day and neglectful monitoring.

“It’s a huge problem a lot of people still don’t fully appreciate and can’t fathom how potentially devastating it can be,” Chang said.

For Khandani, that urgency is all the more reason to embrace the business side of turning research into reality.

In a few months time, he will seek federal approval for his product and then he hopes to market it to other states.

“For an engineer, it is the most fulfilling sense to see that there is a real product working in the field,” he said. lurye@umdbk.com

university’s proposed focus on teaching new types of scholarship and its ability to adapt to new ways of combining information, Palmer said.

“We’re not just focused on content, but on the process,” Palmer said.

Though SeSynC does not yet have any set projects, Palmer said the center will wait to hear the needs of the public, noting that one of the main challenges she expects the center will tackle is natural resource management across boundaries.

In line with university President Wallace Loh’s goals to expand the reach of the university beyond the boundaries of the campus, SeSynC will be located in Annapolis, where it will house researchers from all corners of the world and all types of scholarly backgrounds, university officials said.

Hailing from all different disciplines — including business, anthropology and public policy — researchers at SeSynC will combine existing data to find the most viable solutions to environmental problems rather than researching new topics, Palmer said.

“The collaborations of this new University of Maryland center represent exactly the kind of innovative, interdisciplinary approaches that are essential if we are to tackle the complex environmental challenges facing our nation and world,” Loh said in a press release.

SeSynC’s multi-disciplinary approach will facilitate interaction across university departments and the globe that otherwise would not have happened, Palmer said.

“The name of the game in science now is collaboration,”

Palmer said. “There are very few research projects that focus on the environment that don’t include some element of the social sciences, yet we have a very poor history in College Park of bringing those types of scholars and students together.”

Palmer said bringing researchers from different disciplines together from the start is crucial so that their data can be put into the “same language” and become practical. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science President Don Boesch agreed with this sentiment.

“It’s just essential. In the environment when you touch something, it’s connected to everything else,” Boesch said.

“Those cross-linkages across disciplines are absolutely essential in dealing with these environmental challenges.”

Because of its proximity to state and national lawmakers, researchers in the center will become crucial advisers for both local and federal environmental policy.

“It’s not just Maryland and this region, but it’s also the whole nation,” Boesch said.

Though this university beat out more than 30 other schools for the center, SeSynC will incorporate several partner institutions including UMCES, the University of Michigan and Resources for the Future, a Washington-based nonprofit research organization.

This university has not been a big player on the environmental science scene, but Palmer said SeSynC will draw attention to the university and provide an opportunity to move into that arena.

“This is an extremely visible center because we’ll be bringing in scholars from all over the world,” Palmer said. meehan@umdbk.com

CORRECTION Due to a source error, Aug. 4’s article “Busboys and Poets eatery open doors in Hyattsville,” incorrectly described Stephen Shaff’s role in the business. He is a friend of the owner, Andy Shallal.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

MERGER from page 1 outlined in the plan regarding the impact of a combined university on such aspects as the quality of education and research, the financial costs and savings for the universities and the state, promoting research commercialization and technology transfer and improving national reputation and competitiveness, officials said.

A fifth task group of representatives from this university, UMB and the university system will also explore the impact of a merger on the system as a whole and its other institutions in the study’s second phase.

“We thought this was a complex issue with many different aspects,” system Chancellor Brit Kirwan said. “We thought in order to do this study justice, we ought to proceed by identifying what we thought were the most important issues and raise them as questions and get teams of people working on providing background information on some of these issues.”

CREDIT from page 1 (D-College Park). “I’m not going to say things won’t get done, but that it just might be difficult.”

Mayor Andy Fellows said previous encounters with tough economic climates have proven College Park’s resilience.

“College Park has been operating under a really challenging economic context for quite some time,” Fellows said.

“We’ve been relatively able to ride through the economic storm so far without so much negative impact.”

Moody’s placed Prince George’s County under review for possible downgrade while the federal government grappled with its own economic uncertainty leading up to the Aug. 2 deadline to raise the debt ceiling. On Aug. 5, S&P downgraded the U.S.’ credit rating from AAA, the top rating, to AA+.

3

These task groups will submit a summary of their discussions and system officials will hold several town hall hearings in the fall to garner more input from both campus communities, at least one of which will be held on this campus. A final report is due to the regents by Dec. 15.

In an interview Tuesday, university President Wallace Loh said while the list of questions includes all necessary issues, they all boil down to two underlying questions.

“The ultimate issue is, is this [merger] a desirable thing to do, and is this a feasible thing to do,” Loh said.

“That’s the bottom line.”

Both Kirwan and Loh said they will be reviewing the responses from the task groups before coming to any such conclusions.

“Right now the primary focus is on getting the process right and getting feedback,” Kirwan said. “After that’s done, then we’ll be able to form some opinions and decide what is the best way to go.”

To increase on-campus input and participation in the study, Loh said he is also ap-

pointing 17 people from this university to form on-campus task groups, which will discuss these same questions amongst themselves and then meet regularly with the 12 representatives from the university system task forces. And in order to have a greater student voice in the discussion, Loh said he is planning to form a separate task group composed primarily of students.

“UMB is more catered to graduate programs, but a lot of these issues directly touch undergraduates,” said Student Government Association President Kaiyi Xie, who is a student representative for the task groups. “It is definitely important that students have a voice in this.”

Kirwan, Loh and UMB President Jay Perman will meet regularly over the course of the study, and at the end of the task groups’ work, they will begin to look at identifying alternatives or even keeping the institutions separate.

And Loh said the discussion of how to attain these goals between the two universities had been going on long before the

According to David Jacobson, a spokesman for Moody’s, the agency examined AAArated localities that would be especially vulnerable should the country be downgraded.

Prince George’s County was one of 162 localities placed under review.

“Maryland and Virginia had quite a few because they’re so closely tied [to the federal government] both with federal jobs and federal procurement contracts to Washington,” Jacobson said.

Shortly following the budget compromise reached just before the Aug. 2 deadline, while the county avoided a downgrade from Moody’s, the agency placed the county on negative outlook, reflecting an increased chance of a downgrade at a later date.

To finance projects on the county level, Prince George’s County issues bonds to investors. Should a downgrade occur, payments to investors would become more expensive

in conjunction with rising interest rates characteristic of a credit downgrade.

“When we have to pay more on interest rates when we build or do things that we have to sell bonds for, then we spend more taxpayer money on it,” said Scott Peterson, spokesman for Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker (D).

Peterson added that 25 percent of the federal workforce resides in the county, which is home to many federally funded operations.

But some city officials said they were not overly concerned College Park itself would be directly affected by the county’s potential credit problems.

“I don’t see a gigantic impact on the city based on whatever may be happening at the county level,” said Stephen Groh, the city’s finance director.

The county still has top-level credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies. news@umdbk.com

The University Senate discusses a potential merger between this university and the University of Maryland, Baltimore at its last meeting of the academic year May 4. FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

General Assembly proposed this study in December. Loh noted that just this past fall, the various deans at both universities were meeting to discuss how they could increase collaborations between programs.

Moreover, Loh said, Provost Ann Wylie — who was on vacation and could

ALCOHOL from page 1 restaurant during the day and provide a bar scene for night patrons, noting that the combination will distinguish this bar from others in the city.

“We’re not strictly a bar; we’re not strictly a restaurant,” Larney said. “We provide something for everybody.”

District 4 councilman Marcus Afzali said the liquor application isn’t a surprise, since the three other Looney’s locations — all in the state — operate in the same manner.

“It’s a known establishment,” Afzali said. “That’s what’s nice about Looney’s — it already exists in three other places, and they’re all the same.”

Afzali said the arrival of an established business such as Looney’s should be a cause for celebration, not concern.

“I think it’s exciting. This is

not be reached for this article — has had ongoing discussions with her counterpart at UMB about drafting some concrete plans for strengthening ties between the two universities.

“The question is not just whether to merge or not to merge, the question is what are you trying to accom-

a quality establishment,” Afzali said. “I think we should be willing to show off more often about the great things happening around the city.”

Larney said his establishment will offer games, karaoke, live music and an array of TV screens that will show different sporting events. It will close at 2 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Though there will be happy hour drink specials, beer pitchers will not be offered for less than $9 and alcoholic drinks will cost at least $2.

Some students, such as sophomore finance major David Galanie, said although Looney’s will offer an extensive menu, it will only survive if it becomes a nightlife staple.

“The type of music they play at the bar, how much they charge for their drinks — that’ll determine how successful they’ll be,” Galanie said.

Other students, like junior

plish?” Loh said. “I believe the goal is to catapult us at College Park and hopefully at Baltimore to the top ranks not just in terms of prestige, but among the education of our students, the education of our faculty and the education of the state.” villanueva@umdbk.com

“The type of music they play at the bar, how much they charge for drinks — that’ll determine how successful they’ll be.”

DAVID GALANIE SOPHOMORE FINANCE MAJOR

kinesiology major Vonai Mayo said its secluded location inside an apartment building could be a deterrent for on-campus students.

“I’ll probably look at it as another restaurant option just because it’s in an apartment,” she said. “It’s inside and not set apart as a bar.” news@umdbk.com

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011

0pinion

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CHRISTOPHER HAXEL

KEVIN TERVALA

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Staff editorial

Guest column

Define the destination

Ke’Chic is beyond local

M

erging onto Route 1 from the Capital Beltway, drivers are greeted and Poets — a Washington-based restaurant, bar and bookstore chain — opened with a sign welcoming them to Prince George’s County and specifi- in nearby Hyattsville on July 18. Describing itself as a “community gathering cally the City of College Park, a location described by the placard as place” and a “space for art, culture, and politics,” the business, while a restaurant, “a livable community.” But as motorists head south toward the cam- offers weekly events such as poetry readings that some city residents crave. For instance, Brandi Pressley, a student at the University of Maryland, University Colpus, they encounter what is oftentimes described as anything but.

To be sure, the stretch of Route 1 from the Beltway to Guilford Road is filled lege, said the location was “a great place for college students to simply watch and enjoy local talent.” with apartment complexes, fast-food restaurants, and However, College Park need not resign itself to being a hotels — staples of any thriving community in the United never-ending cultural dead zone — far from it. Instead, it States. Yet, sitting beside those amenities are decaying should redouble and refocus its economic development store fronts, used-car lots, a few struggling businesses The city of College Park efforts, following the model utilized in the development of (largely hair and nail salons) and not a whole lot else. should emulate Hyattsville the Hyattsville Arts District — a revitalized section of the And while these amenities certainly make the area habitthat includes 120 new residences; businesses such as able — giving residents a place to eat and sleep — they do and encourage development city Busboys and Poets, Yes! Organic Market and Elevation little more than meet the very basic needs of the region’s projects that will increase the Burger; and a community center featuring a gym, an art population. After all, there is a sizable difference between gallery and a studio space for several artists. being a habitable community — that is to say, one that simarea’s cultural milieu.

Like College Park, the nearby Hyattsville was in years ply sustains human life — and one that is livable, imbued past a place lacking in culture and charm. However, after with a vibrancy and life force that entices people to the area.

To have the latter, there needs to be at least some semblance of culture, some- the Prince George’s County Council established the Gateway Arts District to spur thing that nourishes the mind and not just the body — a quality that College Park economic growth — handing out financial incentives to local artists who worked in the region and developing an African-American history and culture museum distinctly lacks.

Although the city is home to the university, and thus, to various culturally — and regional planners convinced the regional development company EYA to inclined student groups — the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and the invest about $200 million into the downtown area, the city rapidly began to transDavid C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African form, with unsightly car dealerships replaced by brand new townhouses and Americans and the African Diaspora, for example — those groups and centers retail outlets.

To be sure, Hyattsville certainly hit the development lottery, and the kind of are, on the whole, largely disconnected from the goings-on of the city and its residents, both student and non-student alike. Outside of alcohol-inspired trips success that can be seen just down Route 1 can hardly be expected in this city. to one of the city’s remaining bars or house parties, there exists almost no loca- Nevertheless, College Park must try. After all, as the university and city attempt tion or event in the region to attract anyone to the area. Indeed, when the foot- to attract higher-caliber students, faculty and staff to the region, this is a necessity.

It is time for a redefinition of “livable.” No longer should we stand for a city that ball team had its kick-off reception earlier this month, it went to a restaurant merely gives us the bare essentials; we need and deserve more. In the future, Coloutside the city.

This sad state of affairs recently was highlighted when a branch of Busboys lege Park must become a destination and not just a pit stop.

Our View

Editorial cartoon: Eric Owusu

Excessive consumption: A flawed pastime

I

dully awaken at 7:30 a.m., reviving from a kind of imbecilic hibernation with dry mouth and a numbing pain in my brain.

Indignant and stupid, I tepidly bring myself to my feet, sensing a lingering stupefaction from the night before.

Upon standing, I realize I have overestimated my body’s ability to balance, and, tripping over myself, experience an overwhelming sensation of nausea.

Panicked, I fumble for the toilet, summoning all of my compromised strength to keep from falling in a heap to the floor. Finally, in a crumpled mass in the bathroom, I recall the unfortunate consequences of binge drinking the night before. For the next 24 hours, my fate is tethered to horizontal planes and periodic vomiting as my body rejects every liquid or solid with which I miserably attempt curing my starved, hungover state.

This kind of experience is not unfamiliar to me, nor is it an unlikely outcome of social drinking for many

IAN

RODENHOUSE other college-age students learning to handle alcohol for the first time.

Indeed, in my case, it is partly because of my peers that I have resulted in such a sorry state, which by all accounts can only be viewed as a serious error in judgment. Despite my best attempts at restraint and my relative capacity to gauge when I have had too much alcohol, the bludgeoning mentality of always having more — an underlying feature of drinking in college — has exploited my timidity and quite literally overtaken my senses.

Yet this binge-drinking attitude, born from the zeal of inexperience and opportunities provided by being

away from parents and eventually legal for the first time, is a disgrace to the time-honored tradition of drinking in moderation. Binge drinkers are not satisfied with responsibility, diffident about their own lack of judgment and influenced by their equally inexperienced peers. Alcohol is a science of caution, and a very unhealthy one at that. What’s more, those who make the well-measured decision to avoid alcohol are patronized and often treated with insincerity or disdain.

In a society in which drinking socially has practically been institutionalized, college is a good time for experimentation, before the responsibility that comes after, which so intimidates us, potentially limits our opportunity for relatively unpunished experimentation. And, realistically speaking, drinking is often a result of trying to break up the unrelenting lack of really anything else to do at, for example, this university.

But it frequently seems that, where

there should be caution and modesty, there is instead a culture of arrogance and forcefulness.

Ultimately, being content socially — with or without alcohol — is an admirable goal, and something we all need. Whether alcohol does play any part in that is respectably a matter of individual choice. Whether it is an appropriate tool by which to measure that friendship is more uncertain.

In any case, I’m still hungover. I eagerly await my return to sweet sobriety so that I may once again socialize coherently, without sounding like a horny dumbass, and return home afterward still able to walk in a straight line. In the future, I will try my best to exercise restraint and moderation when I drink, and perhaps, if I can get away with it, switch out the white Russian for a cranberry juice.

Ian Rodenhouse is a junior economics major. He can be reached at rodenhouse@umdbk.com.

Student activists: Missing, inaction

I

n 1973, Assata Shakur was jailed and subsequently convicted of murdering a police officer, an accusation many believed and still believe to be bogus.

In 1979, she escaped prison and eventually fled to Cuba, where she was given political asylum.

After Congress passed an ignored resolution to get her extradited in 1998 and the FBI branded her a “domestic terrorist” for supposedly killing a police officer after being shot twice herself (once in the clavicle), the oft-mythologized crusader became a symbol for FBI-bullying and wrongful persecution.

I’d be remiss to say that nothing ever changes, but the rate at which it does seems practically negligible in one lifetime.

The Pasadena Star-News reported May 17 that members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s SWAT team broke into Carlos Montes’ home in Alhambra, Calif. with a search warrant and arrested him on charges of unlawful possession of a 12-gauge shotgun. It’s difficult to imagine why such a heavily armed force would be

needed to subdue a 63-year-old man at 5 o’clock in the morning, but hey, I’m no cop.

According to the article, “Montes said authorities looked through his files and rifled through pictures of his anti-war organizing.”

That’s a little suspicious on the SWAT team’s part, but hey, maybe it was just trying to secure the area. You never know what kind of booby traps these old Civil Rights-era activists have set around their houses.

The Star-News further reported, “While he was waiting in the back of a patrol car Montes said he was approached by an FBI agent in plain clothes who asked him about the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a Marxist-Lenininst group with a post office box in Chicago.”

And that’s where things get real.

Am I to believe that a former Brown Beret socialist anti-war protester is really going to jail for his raggedy old 12-gauge and not his political affiliations?

The FBI, infamous for its Counter Intelligence Program that aimed to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, dis-

MICHAEL CASIANO credit, or otherwise neutralize” dissident “black nationalist hate-type” organizations, seems to be using old methods to tarnish a veteran activist’s reputation.

And why should we — Generation Y, the Internet Generation, the postHip Hop Generation, the MTV Generation — care about Carlos Montes or Assata Shakur? They are, after all, vestiges of generations past.

They are not, however, indicative of struggles past. The same logic that governed the incarceration of Assata Shakur in 1973 worked against six black teenagers from Jena, La., in 2006. Those teenagers, after roughing up a white student in a high school rife with racist controversy, were charged with attempted murder and, while most eventually avoided jail time, could have served a total of

more than 100 years.

Montes will be tried on six spurious gun-related charges that may result in five or more years of prison time.

The case itself, while shady, doesn’t bother me as much as its implications. Part of me wishes he were a young college-aged man with a penchant for organizing.

No bones.

All I see on the news nowadays are old tea party protesters with misspelled signs and indoctrinated kids who will probably hate their parents so much in five years that they’ll get gauges in their ears and start listening to bad music.

Either that or I see and hear about young activist wingnuts and obnoxious eco-terrorists with no direction or sense of history.

All of the old leaders are gone, and it’s on us to grab the reins, stand up to the FBI and find a nice and effective way of saying, “F--- the police.”

Either that or Sporcle.

Michael Casiano is a senior American studies and English major. He can be reached at casiano@umdbk.com.

A

fter reading the July 14 article on Ke’Chic Boutique, “Shop till you drop,” I have to say I am truly disappointed in the angle and approach utilized by The Diamondback.

When I received an email from reporter Julia Weaver asking to do a feature on Ke’Chic, I was excited about it. What I found when I opened that week’s edition of the paper, however, was something very different than I expected. Instead of a true feature on my business, the article was riddled with phrases such as “if they can find it,” “the store’s name didn’t ring a bell” and “I’ve never heard of it,” and filled with comments about business longevity in College Park.

In my opinion, the article was not a feature. I feel as though if this were a true feature it would have focused on Ke’Chic, not on the opinions of others. A feature should have focused on the facts and the positive attributes of the store. Additionally, the choice of photos was not reflective of my boutique as whole.

Ke’Chic is a clothing and accessory boutique. Yet, looking at the choice of photos, one would think I only carry shoes and jewelry.

I believe a feature article should have done just that — feature Ke’Chic Boutique. But it did not. So, I will share with you what the article failed to share.

Ke’Chic has styled the catwalks of several major local fashion productions including Artscape, Crystal Couture, Richmond Fashion Week and several other fashion events.

We’ve participated in fabulous events produced by local fashion icons such as Harvey Star Washington, Glynn Jackson and DC Fashion Week founder Ean Williams.

Additionally, we are the official wardrobe stylists for Just Look TV and wardrobe sponsors for Cafe Society Models and the Javiere Modeling Agency. Ke’Chic was also last year’s special guest stylist and designer for Tim Johnson’s Celebrity Birthday Bash in Raleigh, N.C., and, just recently, we provided wardrobe styling for a new reality series that is scheduled to air this fall.

The boutique serves an international clientele, and it has expanded to serve all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. As a result, we have been invited to participate in Latin Fashion Week. We offer personal wardrobe styling services including personal shopping. Being that we are located near the sorority Graham Cracker, we fully support the Greek community and recently sponsored a chapter of Omicron Theta Zeta for its annual fashion extravaganza.

Ke’Chic also participates in various community fundraisers and events, and each fall we donate a homecoming dress to a fashionista who may not be able to afford a dress. We believe community is important and so is giving back to the communities that support us.

We are very excited about the marketing plan that we will roll out on the campus, and I’m positive it will be successful. We invite new customers and organizations to utilize the services of our full-service fashion boutique. I invite you to follow us at www.facebook .com/kechicboutique and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/shop_kechic. We offer online shopping at our website www.kechic.com. We also cater to an audience of what we like to call the “full figured fashionista” at our plussize site www.curvesbykechic.com.

Lesley Sedgwick is the owner of Ke’Chic Boutique. She can be reached at kechicboutique@yahoo.com

OPINION STAFF WANTED The Diamondback is currently seeking paid opinion columnists and editorial cartoonists for the 2011-2012 school year. Editorial cartoonists publish cartoons once or twice a week. Opinion columnists write approximately once every two weeks. Superior writing ability is required.

Knowledge of campus affairs is preferred, but not required. If you are interested in applying for either positions, please email opinion@umdbk.com to request an application

POLICY: Signed letters, columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback’s editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Hauled off 6 Oasis sight 10 Rugged cliff 14 Pool resources 15 Essay byline 16 Place of leadership 17 Snug retreats 18 Conservative hue 19 La senorita 20 Fly the coop 22 Tundra dweller 24 Packing slip 26 Badge wearer 27 Whistle-blower 31 CSA defender 32 Demi or Dudley 33 Shocking 36 Faultfinder 39 Diviner’s sign 40 Quick raid 41 Vaulter’s aid 42 “Maggie May” singer 43 Dromedary 44 Break out 45 Galley mover 46 Geishas’ attire 48 Pepsin, e.g.

51 Sault - Marie 52 Flattened 54 Hot-dish holder 59 Kitty’s feedback 60 Haik wearer 62 Quark homes 63 Hogshead

64 65 66 67 68

Cleopatra’s river Slowdown Porter and stout Bug repellent Maxi or mini

DOWN 1 Adjust a guitar 2 Change for a five 3 Milwaukee loc.

4 Blues singer James 5 Hold in contempt 6 Slammer 7 Woeful cry 8 Furious 9 Gomer Pyle’s hometown 10 Little angel 11 Turned back on 12 Ease 13 FBI agent (hyph.)

21 Vane dir.

23 Touche provoker 25 Indy 500 sound 27 Eros, in Rome 28 “Juke Box Baby” singer 29 Sorority member 30 Coffee brewer 34 “Where Eagles Dare” actress 35 Lectures 36 Subject or object 37 Dog-chow brand 38 Obtains 40 Hired help

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

41 43 44 45

Debate side Coral islets Green gem Missouri mountains

47 48 49 50

Morticia’s cousin Same Clinic staffer Spine-tingling

52 Humane org.

53 Carnegie or Evans 55 Roman road

Pull the lever Non-flying birds Recipe qtys.

Place a wager

he coming week is likely to prove an excellent period of personal growth for almost every individual, especially those who have put their own dreams and desires on hold temporarily to see another pursue his or hers. It’s the time to dig deep, to define what is most important, and to move ahead aggressively toward the achievement of that which is most important — and personal. He or she who knows what he wants will have the opportunity to put those desires on the fast track, and enjoy almost immediate rewards.

T

The week isn’t only for the dreamers, though; those who pursue more practical, pragmatic and down-to-earth goals are likely to find the odds in their favor. All should be aware, however, that time is of the essence, and the rainbow in the sky isn’t likely to last forever.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) — Your personal belief system may be put to the test, but you’ll find a new way to put your own ideals first without offending anyone else. (Aug. 8Aug. 22) — Some may think that you’ve had more than your share of success recently, but more is on the way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) — It’s a good time to thank those who have gone to bat for you. By week’s end, you’ll have more reasons than ever to be fully grateful. (Sept. 8-Sept.

22) — You may lose a bet, but the gains should outweigh any losses when all is said and done.

© 2011 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) — You’ll receive news that prompts you to change your plans rather dramatically but not necessarily permanently. (Oct. 8-Oct. 22) — Dedication is the watchword for all Libra natives. You can renew a personal commitment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) — What you have only recently invented may have to be reinvented, but you’ll know just what is required in order to make it all work. (Nov. 8Nov. 21) — You can put certain endeavors on a faster track than others. A rival is impressed.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) — You and a loved one will have the chance to reaffirm the dreams you have built together. Don’t be afraid of that which is irreversible. (Dec. 8-Dec. 21) — A long period of dormancy is likely to come to an end; be ready to spring into action.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) — Others may try to imitate what you do, but they cannot begin to imitate your unique style. This week, the how is just as important as the what. (Jan. 7-Jan. 19) — You may have to repeat yourself more than once before you will truly be heard.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) — Imagine facing the week without the burdens you’ve been carrying lately; very soon, that is precisely how things will really feel. (Feb. 4Feb. 18) — What you see is what you get, at least during the first half of the week. Later, you may be surprised.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) — It’s not a primary goal that you will reach, but one or two secondary ones that mean more to you than you thought. (March 6-March 20) — Only the best will satisfy you, and you must be ready to do more than usual to get it.

but you’re not likely to be working in a vacuum. Work and play may be unusually social. (April 5-April 19) — You’re in line for more than you expected, and you’ve done everything you can do to ensure success.

TAURUS (April 20-May 5) — You may find yourself joking about something that others take seriously, and by week’s end, you’re likely to understand why. (May 6-May 20) — The encouragement you receive as the week opens is likely to propel you into uncharted territory, but you’re ready.

GEMINI (May 21-June 6) — Anything you do behind the scenes is likely to work wonders, and you’re not going to require a great deal of personal thanks. (June 7-June 20) — The strength of your family unit will give you what you need as you attempt something difficult.

CANCER (June 21-July 7) — Your connection to those who have gone before will seem stronger to you than ever before, and that bond proves quite rewarding. (July 8July 22) — You may be required to take on a task that others are not willing to accept. The job suits you.

ARIES (March 21-April 4) — You may find yourself far from home,

COPYRIGHT 2011 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

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6

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011

Classified CALL

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY ADS

RATES

• Larger Type • Sold In 1” Increments • One Column Wide • $16.50 Per Column Inch

35¢ per word $3.50 minimum ALL CAPITAL LETTERS........35¢ extra per word Bold letters..............................70¢ extra per word vmA All ads must be prepaid

OFFICE HOURS

DEADLINES

10:00AM – 4:00PM Monday – Thursday 3136 South Campus Dining Hall

The deadline for all ads is 2PM, two business days in advance of publication.

SPECIAL Run the same classified or classified display ad 4 consecutive days and get 5th day FREE!

DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM All Classifieds & Classified Display ads will run online at no additional charge.

301-314-8000 TO PLACE YOUR AD, OR BY EMAIL: ADVERTISING@DBK.UMD.EDU

EMPLOYMENT

Hiring Waitresses, & Line Cook * Short Hours * Great Pay * Must work at least one day shift

Calvert House Inn 240-355-8337 6211 Baltimore Ave. @ East-West Highway

MARKETING PROFESSIONAL Sociable college students wanted! No exp. necessary. Part-time & full-time hours available.

EARN $12-$20 per hour UMD students get priority interview with hiring manager.

Call 703-388-1012

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN OUTDOOR JOB THAT IS FUN AND PAYS? WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING FOR THE 2011 SWIMMING POOL SEASON TRAINING AVAILABLE – NO WORK EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! CALL NOW FOR THE HOTTEST JOB YOU’LL EVER HAVE!!

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JOIN THE DIAMONDBACK

NOW HIRING Fall Interns for:

Online Sales • Promotions Circulation Contact Chelsea Madden at 301-314-8000 or stop by 3136 S. Campus Dining Hall M–Th 10–4pm(301)314-8000

AUTOMOTIVE LOT ATTENDANT Duties include cleaning cars for delivery, some computer work for stocking in cars, exchange of cars with other dealers and other duties as assigned.

Must possess valid driver’s license & pass drug testing. Hours M-F 9 to 6.

Part time or full time position. Possibly one Sat. per month. Fax work history and a copy of MVA driving record. Fax #301-441-9774 attn: Frank, or stop by to complete employment appl. 6500 Capitol Drive, Greenbelt, MD 20770.

No phone calls please.

Part Time Teller Money One Federal Credit Union is looking for a part-time employee at the local Greenbelt office. 15-20 hours a week, including Fridays and Saturdays. $10+/hr. Contact Kara at ketzold@moneyonefcu.org.

CHILD CARE SITTER NEED IN SILVER SPRING

House in University Park. 6 bedroom, 3 bath. Central AC/heating.

Great location and available now!

Email lulaberhane@hotmail.com or call 301-213-4029.

BABYSITTER IN CHEVY CHASE, MD

HOUSE – safe, convenient, near sororities. collegeparkhouse@aol.com; 301-471-7981.

2-3 days per week (Tues, Thurs and other day that will vary but most often be Weds) for 2 kids (8 & 12 yrs. old). Must have own transportation w/valid driver’s license and excellent driving record. 3:00 pm-7:00 pm. $15/hour plus extra for gas expenses. Must have references. Please call 301-440-3060.

Now Accepting Applications for All Positions

The New Looney’s Pub opening in THE FALL at College Park, MD Must have 2 years experience in high volume.

Must have reliable transportation. Must be able to work nights and weekends.

Please apply in person at our location near the Columbia area in Maple Lawn: Looney’s South 8180 Maple Lawn Boulevard Fulton, MD 20759 If you are looking for kitchen, please email jmoorman55@yahoo.com. For all front of the house positions email olarn@aol.com.

Medical Equipment Company in College Park Looking for Part-Time Position Provides support for shipping and sales dept. Flexible hours, close to campus.

Email resume to Joe@Med-Electronics.com.

Room to Rent Room(s) to rent in house with Grad Students and Young Professionals, 1.1 Miles from Center of Campus. $550/mo + utilities, two semester lease req’d. 301-604-6523.

SEEKING PART-TIME, LOCAL CHILDCARE HOUSE FOR RENT Afternoons, Monday-Friday, for one school-aged child.

wheatonparents@gmail.com

Student Wanted Monday-Friday 3:00 pm-7:00 pm (flexible) in Rockville to play with bright 9 year old girl and do home therapies and play with 5 year old delightful boy with Autism. Energetic, positive, creative, imaginative, English speaking and driver’s license a MUST! Contact smeltz66@hotmail.com or call at 301-231-6062 if interested.

After School Aide Needed for 8th Grade Girl with Cerebral Palsy, Starting August 29: 3-6 pm Monday thru Thursday Responsibilities include meeting bus, assisting with snack, homework and studying for tests. May require some lifting and limited driving to appointments. She is a positive, upbeat girl with a great attitude.

Looking for a candidate who is an energetic, positive and creative person. Special needs experience a plus but not required. No special medical needs required. Kensington, Maryland. Please contact Eileen, eispencer@verizon.net.

Babysitter Needed Silver Spring, Thurs. 3-6 pm Looking for reliable, fun babysitter, with car, to watch two children, ages 9 and 11, during the school year. Must have good driving record. Duties include picking up at bus stop, supervising homework, others as specified. Contact horocha@msn.com or 301-588-6078.

FOR SALE

RAMBLER FOR SALE

4 BR, 2.5 BA, newly painted, W/D, screened porch, full basement, partially furnished, off-street parking, no pets, no smoking. Close to public transportation & UMD. Available Sept. 1. $1800/ month + utilities. Call 301-775-8088.

College Park Towers. 2 bedroom for 3 people. Walk to class. Free utility. Parking. Air conditioning.

Call 301-572-2411 or jweb33@gmail.com

College Park Towers 1 bedroom, 1 bath, kitchen, living room. Quiet top level. Walk to classes. Management on-site. Utilities and parking included. Call 703-587-0615 or jecorllc@yahoo.com. $1,175/mo.

5 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths Short walk to campus, backs to UM golf course, available mid-August, great condition, rent $2000 a month.

ROOM FOR RENT. Located at 8307 Potomac Ave., College Park. Available now.

Close walk to campus. $500/month. CALL 301-509-7874.

House to Rent 4 BR’s, 2-1/2 ba’s. 1.1 miles from Student Union in Crystal Springs Sub-division. $2,200/mo+ Utilities. Two semester lease req’d.

301-604-6523

Parking for Rent Close to Campus

Call Ronnie, 301-474-3840.

Call 301-345-3388 UNIVERSITY CLUB AT COLLEGE PARK 4800 Berwyn House Road

Across Street from Campus SILVER SPRING TOWNHOUSE 3 bedrooms (2 singles and 1 master Condo or home. 2-5 BR; 1-2 BA. Low price. Live in or investment.

FOR RENT

bedroom) and 2 baths. Singles: $750/mo. Master bedroom: $950/mo.

Furnished. Utilities included (cable/internet). Transportation: 15 min. Metrobus ride to campus.

Call 301-593-1517.

HOUSES – 3-4 bedrooms. From $375/room.

240-210-1506. landwardmd@gmail.com.

WALK CAMPUS. 6 bedrooms. College Park house. 410-544-4438.

5 Bedroom House

RENT HOUSE – Walking distance, 7 bedrooms, 3 baths with 2 living rooms, one up and one down, air conditioning, wall-to-wall carpet, washer/dryer, dishwasher, fireplace, deck, off-street parking. E-mail CHSproperties@hughes.net or call Marcel, 717-830-0869.

2 full bath house with large fenced backyard. On bus line. $1995/month + utils.

4429 Underwood St., Univ. Park. Avail. late August.

Email manager8775@gmail.com for info and appointment or call 410-750-6831.

5 bedroom house, central ac, washer/dryer, brand new kitchen and new carpet. Near campus. Available immediately. $1800/ month. Call Bob: 301-792-0207 or 301-879-8178.

4 bedrooms, 2 bath: $2200. 6 bedrooms plus, 4 bath: $3500. Plus utilities for both.

202-409-3412.

Fortune 500 sales company needs you. Call Maureen Sibold to set-up an interview.

301-706-5820.

Off Campus Houses & Rooms Available For 2011-12 Several 5 BR/2+ BA Houses Available Throughout College Park From $2199/mo.

We Also Have Rooms For Rent From $450/mo.

Call 202-491-1921 Or Email Kmgrentals@gmail.com Today!

RENT APARTMENT – Walking distance, 1 bedroom, 1 bath with air conditioning, wall-to-wall carpet, parking space, use of washer/dryer in building, next to Route 1 side of the Metro.

E-mail CHSproperties@hughes.net or call Marcel, 717-830-0869.

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Call 301-345-3388 UNIVERSITY CLUB AT COLLEGE PARK 4800 Berwyn House Road

4BR 2BA Walking distance to UMD. Beautiful backyard. 2601 Cool Spring Road. Adelphi, MD. $2400/mo. or $600/rm. Utilities and internet included. Individual rooms available. Off-Street Parking. 240-355-8337.

Studio Rates Start at $596 Call 301-345-3388 UNIVERSITY CLUB AT COLLEGE PARK 4800 Berwyn House Road

5 BR House Near Campus Hardwood floors. Updated features. Deck and large rear yard. Driveway for 2 cars. $1950. 443-745-5446.

RENT HOUSE – Walking distance, 7 bedrooms, 3 baths with 2 living rooms, one up and one down, air conditioning, wall-to-wall carpet, washer/dryer, dishwasher, fireplace, multi-level deck, bar in living room downstairs, large yard with stone fire pit, off-street parking, extra large 7th bedroom. E-mail CHSproperties@hughes.net or call Marcel, 717-830-0869.

RENT HOUSE – 3/4 bedrooms, 1 bath, garage, large sunroom, large corner fenced yard. Email: CHSproperties@hughes.net or call Marcel 717-830-0869.

Call 703-608-6780.

Rooms from $500-650. 2 renovated homes close to University. 202-409-3412.

2 miles from campus in College Park. Walk to Metro/Amtrak. Low utility bills. Off-road parking. Central A/C – wood stove. Large deck in rear. 2 storage sheds.

For Sale

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

CLOSE TO CAMPUS One Bedroom Rates Rooms for Rent

Four afternoons a week from 12:30-3:30 for 4-year-old boy in our home near downtown Silver Spring.

No driving necessary. Past babysitting experience required. $15/hour. Please email jgoodman@hanleywood.com.

brendabenton@mris.com Bartending! $250/day potential. No experience necessary. Training courses available.

1-800-965-6520 x116.

FOR RENT

BY FAX: 301-314-8358

4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths Lovely house on wooded lot, quiet street, close to campus. A/C, dishwasher, washer/dryer, off-street parking. No smoking, small pet OK. $2000/mo. Available immediately. Call Paul, 301-906-9190.

2 BR available in quiet graduate student house.

Walk to campus. $695/month.

Call 301-785-4795.

Two Bedroom Rates Start at $497

SERVICES

FAX SERVICE

Call 301-345-3388 UNIVERSITY CLUB AT COLLEGE PARK 4800 Berwyn House Road

RIVERDALE HOUSE 4 BR, 2 BA $1800/mo. plus utilities; two-story Cape Cod; 2 mi. from UM; on UM shuttle route; 4 BR, 2 full baths, LR w/FP, DR, kitchen, study/den; w/d; off-street pkg; front porch; large fenced yard; pets allowed. Available now. Contact Bob at 301-490-4296.

ROOMMATES

Single BR Available in House On Harvard Rd. Social atmosphere. Walking distance to campus, 1 block from CP Metro. $600/month plus utilities. Contact Max Wait, 973-896-4289.

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

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

SERVICES THESIS EDITING — Dissertations, papers.

Wordprocessing. Style experts. Anytime.

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GOT EXTRA STUFF? THE DIAMONDBACK CLASSIFIEDS ARE THE PERFECT PLACE TO SELL YOUR EXTRA STUFF.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011 | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES:

Diversions

Summer may be coming to an end, but there are still plenty of big movies being released. Online, Warren Zhang reviews surprise hit Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a sci-fi reboot with a strong emotional core, and Robert Gifford takes on body-switching comedy The Change-Up and political drama The Whistleblower.

For the full reviews, just click the Diversions tab at: WWW.DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

REVIEW | WATCH THE THRONE

YEEZY’S FANTASY

BY ZACHARY BERMAN Senior staff writer

Confidence breeds arrogance. And in some cases, it’s totally called for — half the fun of following Kanye West is listening to all the megalomaniacal things he says on a dayto-day basis, and Jay-Z’s Brooklyn swag only seems to refine with age.

So it’s no surprise the duo’s debut collaborative effort goes by the name Watch the Throne and features more king-of-funk James Brown samples than most hip-hop artists would ever have the cajones to put on their own records.

Watch the Throne, however, is not quite the fantastic LP it could have been. The simple idea of having two of hiphop’s greatest artists perform on a full record together had a great deal of promise, but the sounds on the album offer potential instead of an outright masterpiece.

It’s a musically successful record that falters on the very basis of its concept. If West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy proved anything, it’s that Yeezy is a conceptually brilliant music producer.

Watch the Throne’s problem is that the concept for the record — and it is very clearly West’s concept — is purely logistical, relying heavily on the expectation that Jay-Z perform to the same standard as his partner.

In the end, Watch the Throne is a West album through and through, with Jay-Z feeling more like an insistent guest, riding sidecar.

The beats run the gamut of being either solely West’s creations, collaborations with bigname producers such as The Neptunes or other producers’ compositions such as Hit-Boy’s banger “Ni**as in Paris,” which was certainly still tweaked by West in some way.

Almost every beat is incredibly well-crafted, and the tracks cover a wide range of styles.

After reportedly building up and breaking down the project

three times, it’s no surprise West and Jay-Z ended up with such a plethora of sounds.

The excited “Who Gon Stop Me,” for instance, samples “I Can’t Stop” by Flux Pavilion and takes the album into dubstep territory with destructive bass wobbles, while album opener “No Church in the Wild,” featuring Odd Future’s own Frank Ocean, could easily have been a cut left off of West’s brooding My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

“Lift Off,” featuring Beyoncé, is the album’s catchiest track — a spacious, orchestral pop number led by some gorgeous melodies and near-Elton John levels of flair.

The breadth of the beats gives the major-label album a bit of a mixtape feel, but in the end it lifts the experience to another level. The album never sticks to one sound for too long, yet isn’t unfocused over its 46 minutes and begs repeat listening.

The beats are truly at the heart of this album while the lyrics really don’t do much either way. When they do connect, it isn’t Jay-Z who snags the spotlight, but West again.

Lessthan-virtuosic flow aside, West’s lyrics on this record shine through with far more relevance than just about anything Jay-Z has to say. Jay-Z’s verses certainly are not bad — not by any stretch of the imagination — but they do not live up to the expectations that are leveled against anything he releases.

Take “New Day,” for instance, a solemn beat produced by The RZA, on which the two rappers talk about how they want to raise their sons to be better than themselves.

The rappers’ verses are similar, but West’s lines seem to ring with a bit more significance than Jay-Z’s words.

Still, the contrast between West’s slower flow and Jay-Z’s

ALBUM: Watch the Throne | VERDICT:

somewhat more rapid jibberjabber feels nice — especially when they are trading bars of four — even if they aren’t saying anything interesting. If the insistent James Brown sampling is an indicator, this album isn’t meant as an intellectual journey, but a collection of sounds to groove to.

A groove album is a righteous cause all its own, and honestly, it’s probably the only way West could follow his multifaceted and heavily lauded My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which came out less than a year ago.

Instead of trying to best it, he went in the opposite direction to soften the blow of an album not equal in greatness — give the fans fun, extraordinary music without the complex pretense and try to put half the focus on another artist.

What listeners have on Watch the Throne is one rapperproducer riding high at the peak of his game and another who has evolved beyond “the game” itself and come out a businessman on the other end.

Jay-Z still has the spitfire that made him who he is, but he seems quite reserved on the record, playing it more than safe while West seems to be doing whatever he wants, as usual.

Watch the Throne is easily one of the best hip-hop albums this year and in many years. A deep-rooted message is far from the most important aspect of music, and when talking about hiphop, arrogance and braggadocio reign supreme.

So enjoy Watch the Throne for what it is — it is not My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and it’s not a Reasonable Doubtrebirth, but the album is topshelf quality for sure. If you think about it, that’s really what we all deserve. berman@umdbk.com

1/2

Hitting the notes

Taylor Swift fires up the crowd on her 2011 Speak Now World Tour with a mix of songs both old and new as well a fiery presence and massive stage design. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIE GOODWIN

BY REESE HIGGINS Senior staff writer

A wise man once said … something. Apparently, most of us have forgotten his advice, as wisdom seems to be in short supply these days, what with the recent debt ceiling debate, the launch of a Keith Urban fragrance for men and all the rest.

But the adoring fans who came to see pop star Taylor Swift on Aug. 3 at the Verizon Center in Washington, the second of two sold-out nights at the arena, would have been smart to listen to their idol.

Swift and her hair-metalfashioned band plowed through nearly two hours of ear worm songs and dance routines at the satisfying concert. Songs like encore number “Fifteen,” Swift espoused an honest view of relationships and youth, this being her greatest talent.

“Cause when you’re 15 and somebody tells you they love you/ you’re gonna believe them,” she sang, while sitting on an elegant couch, surrounded by her bandmates.

“Mine,” the first single from her latest album, Speak Now, is a fairly bland song but works in the hands of Swift and her rock band.

Live, as on the record, Swift sang about a loving but troubled relationship with one of her most Morrissey-like lines: “Braced myself for the good-bye/ cause that’s all I’ve ever known.”

Her lyrics seem wise because they capture both

RECREATION

innocence and innocence lost. Unlike most of her competition on the pop charts, Swift’s songs seem real and heartfelt. Her tales of hopeful love and love gone wrong are captivating and relatable. The thousands of screaming fans at the Verizon Center gave their approval with glassshattering shrieks and thunderous applause.

In concert, Swift is a fun performer to watch and thankfully, the songs are given just as much focus as the set design. The set is massive and impressive: a Broadway stage-aping appearance featuring humongous video screens, a levitating bridge and a gazebo.

The concert, a part of her globetrotting Speak Now World Tour, was an entertaining, high-spectacle show. The event featured a dance routine and costume changes for almost ever y song. The shows on this tour feature 150 costumes in total, plus an extra set and 90 instruments.

The band travels with more than 130 crew members and all the gear, set pieces and bodies require 22 trucks and 13 buses for traveling, according to Swift’s public relations firm.

Swift used to play up the influence of the countr y genre on her earliest songs, and while there was an audible twang on her first album, future efforts proved Swift to be much more than a singer of watered-down countr ypop. With Speak Now, Swift stakes her claim as the world’s most agreeable rock star. Her songs are undeniable pop numbers with a sizable helping of rock guitar solos. The genre of countr y music is irrelevant to her current material.

The first half of the evening

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at Verizon Center approached Swift-induced nirvana, as she played the best songs from Speak Now, as well as one of her earliest hits, the clever and charming “Our Song.”

The latter half of the concert suffered only from lesser quality songs, though our 21-year-old host was still an engaging performer. The lowlight of the evening was a performance of “Last Kiss,” a pleasant but forgettable song from her latest album. “Last Kiss” was preceded by a gleeful rendition of the empowering and hopeful “Fearless,” which Swift performed on ukulele.

Admittedly, Swift’s recent songs showcase a bit of foolishness. “Dear John,” an average song on the album and an average song live, is allegedly about Swift’s regret over a relationship she had with musician John Mayer when she was 19 years old.

Regret? Mayer (in his early 30s)? Swift, age 19? Who didn’t see that coming?

And the energetic song “Mean,” on which she appeared to mimic playing the banjo (the only instrument she didn’t seem to actually be playing at the concert) declares, “All you are is mean/ and a liar/ and pathetic/ and alone in life.”

Well, that’s not ver y nice. In fact, it’s quite nasty.

But alas, these are mere blips on the radar of Swift Nation and to fuss over them with fanatics would be a doomed mission. And fortunately, there’s no need to.

By the end of the night, ever yone in the arena was completely sold. It’s unclear how the $50 sparkly blankets selling at the merchandise booths fared, though. rhiggins@umdbk.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011

Sports

Men’s soccer ranked No. 4 It’s a new season, but the Terrapin men’s soccer team has the same high expectations as it starts the year in the top five. Read more at TerrapinTrail.com.

FOOTBALL | NOTEBOOK

O’Brien and Terps start practice in quite a hurry Team debuted up-tempo offense in Tuesday’s opener

BY JONAS SHAFFER Senior staff writer

To see the Terrapin football team’s offense hurry around the field Tuesday after a long summer of waiting for this week’s preseason opener probably wasn’t much of a surprise.

But by the Terps’ season opener Sept. 5 against Miami, that same up-tempo pace will become an expectation in College Park and around the ACC. The team’s revamped offense was on public display for the first time under coach Randy Edsall this week as the Terps completed their first official, twohour practice of the summer.

With their coaches opting for rapidity over reflection, quarterback Danny O’Brien and his backups followed one play with another in brisk succession. There was hardly time for receivers to huddle, much less catch their breath after downfield routes.

“We built a lot of chemistry up this summer on our own, getting the pass plays down and getting familiar with not just the receivers, but the concepts we’re running,” O’Brien said

afterward. “And we made some plays in practice that we wouldn’t have made in the spring.”

O’Brien looked especially sharp under center in the Terps’ first practice, which Edsall characterized as a “good start.”

“He’s just got to continue to get better in all phases of the game. I think he’d be the first to tell you that. He is not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination, and all Danny wants to do is continue to get better in everything,” Edsall said. “He’s a guy that strives for perfection and knows that he’s still not at that level that he still wants to be, or the level that his ability allows him to be at.”

DESOUZA BACK Ten months after a life-threatening and career-altering scooter accident, offensive lineman Pete DeSouza was back jogging across the Terps’ practice field Tuesday, a significant milepost in his road to recovery.

DeSouza, who suffered two broken legs in an on-campus crash last October, has been cleared for full contact in preseason practice, but Edsall said last

week he will be monitored closely.

“It’s great that he’s cleared, but being cleared and functionally playing the game at the level that you have to play it and with the quickness and explosion you’re going to have to have as an offensive lineman, that is what’s going to be evaluated as we go out there starting on [Tuesday],” Edsall said.

“Can he function to the level so he can be successful and not put himself in any kind of danger or anybody else?”

ODDS AND ENDS Freshman defensive end Quinton Jefferson will defer enrolling until next semester due to a “medical issue,” Edsall said Tuesday. Jefferson, a 6-foot4, 225-pound Pittsburgh native, was a three-star prospect, according to Rivals.com.

Justin Anderson was moved back to defensive end after opening the summer listed as a defensive tackle. It’s nothing new for the rising junior, who vacillated between interior and outside positions this spring.

Quarterback Danny O’Brien, shown during the Terps’ Red-White spring game, led a new-look offense Tuesday that figures to play at a quicker pace this fall. FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

sports@umdbk.com

ON THE BLOG www.terrapintrail.com

MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

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OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT In its first action of a season packed with perhaps the program’s highest-ever expectations, the No. 6 Terrapin women’s soccer team topped No. 13 West Virginia, 1-0, in a preseason exhibition Wednesday night. Midfielder Becky Kaplan (pictured left) scored the lone goal, off an assist from forward Jasmyne Spencer.

The Terps, who return eight starters and 22 letterwinners from last season’s 18-win side, face No. 23 Georgetown in another exhibition Saturday before opening their season Aug. 19 against No. 22 Minnesota.

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