STEPPIN’ UP FOR STEFFY SNUBS AND FLUBS Ralph Friedgen defended Jordan Steffy to the press Tuesday
The Televisionary riffs on the biggest Emmy nomination shortcomings
SPORTS | PAGE 10
DIVERSIONS | PAGE 7
THE DIAMONDBACK WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
99TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 2
Sen. Cardin Under Armour to outfit Athletics varsity teams touts Dem. Contract will bring Terps $17.5M, sportswear for all 27INSIDE platform at union talk BY JEFF AMOROS Senior staff writer
The Athletics Department announced yesterday it has signed a five-year deal with Under Armour Inc. stipulating the athletic-wear company founded by
Nonpartisan town hall meeting takes on left-leaning tone BY BEN PENN Senior staff writer
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) yesterday spoke to more than 100 people in a town hall meeting at Stamp Student Union that was designed to inform students of the issues surrounding the presidential election in a nonpartisan manner. But praise of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s policies were still sprinkled throughout the event, leading to some interesting debate between the senator and critics but also conflicting with the intended nature of the session.
Please See CARDIN, Page 3
university alumnus Kevin Plank (class of 1992) will provide uniforms, shoes and apparel for all 27 varsity teams. Athletics Director Debbie Yow said at a news conference yesterday the contract will provide the department with $2 million in var-
ious apparel products and $1.5 million in cash per year, for a total of $17.5 million over the five-year period. The contract can also be extended for two additional years. “There’s an old coaching saying
Please See CONTRACT, Page 3
Check out the new Under Armour jerseys | PAGE 3
TESTUDO’S
SECRET Victoria’s Secret puts a spin on Terp gear with line of lounge wear BY MARISSA LANG Staff writer
I see London, I see France, I see — Testudo? In an attempt to capitalize on the college market, Victoria’s Secret has developed a new line of collegiate gear that targets university students, called the Pink Collegiate Collection. Featuring 32 universities in the line, the clothing is available online and in stores in the area near the featured schools. There are 20 stores throughout Maryland and Virginia that carry the Terp collection. Unlike the clothing found at the University Book Center, the Victoria’s Secret brand displays a softer side of Testudo, often exhibiting him surrounded by pink hearts or sporting the Maryland “M” amid a background pattern of the Pink puppy logo. Retailers hope this variation on the mascot will help to attract female students looking for a new and trendy way to show off their Terp pride. “A whole bunch of girls came in to buy shirts for the football game,” Tomia Washington, co-manager of the Victoria’s Secret store in the Mall at Prince Georges, said. Though some of the items are expensive — a fleece varsity-style jacket goes for $118 — other items — like a three-pack of Maryland pride underwear, a Testudo T-shirt or a tote bag — are only $25 to $30 each. Retailers say sales have increased steadily since students returned to College Park. “We’ve been selling a lot more lately, because the kids are all coming back to school,” Washington said, noting that during this weekend alone sales increased from 30 percent to 50 percent each day.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) spoke about national and international issues he thought were important before opening the floor to questions from the audience. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK
DOTS: Bike registry slow to attract students Despite giving free locks to participants, fewer than 100 join program BY JEANETTE DER BEDROSIAN Staff writer
The Transportation Services Department is struggling to find students to participate in its recently revamped bicycle registration program, Transportation Services officials said. Registration has been slow since Transportation Services officials announced they would take over the formerly police-led initiative, Transportation Services Director David Allen said. Registration through Transportation Services will help track stolen bikes, alert students who are parked illegally before impoundment
Please See REGISTRY, Page 3
TOMORROW’S WEATHER:
Please See SECRET, Page 3
PHOTOS JAMES B. HALE, ILLUSTRATION BY SAM STONE
McKeldin Mall sprinklers disrupt movie showing BY MARISSA LANG Staff writer
Students spread out under the stars Monday, hoping to enjoy an outdoor showing of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby on McKeldin Mall, received a rude awakening when sprinklers turned on and sent startled students running for cover. About an hour into the 9:30 p.m.
Sunny/90s
INDEX
Students clamor for cover after company mistakenly sets up event in wrong location film, with students sitting on the ground, lawn chairs and blankets, the sprinklers along the library side of the mall went off. Students cleared the area, grabbing their valuables in a desperate scramble to save digital cameras
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
and bags from getting wet, and soon the waterworks forced Student Entertainment Events to shut down the event entirely. Although many of those sprayed by the sprinklers were shocked by the sudden onslaught of water, the
FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
DIVERSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . .7 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
university sprinkler system is set to go off at a specific time every night, a fact that many feel SEE should have taken into account when planning the outdoor movie. “I thought it was hilarious, because the sprinklers go off around the same time all the time, and the fact that SEE didn’t think to take that into consideration — it’s
Please See MOVIE, Page 3
www.diamondbackonline.com