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A NEW LEAF

COWGIRL BOOTS

Terps have to rebound from Saturday’s crushing loss

Jessica Simpson takes a country turn

SPORTS | PAGE 10

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 8

THE DIAMONDBACK TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

N. Campus dorm to bring 650 more beds

DOTS plans For whom the to reassign bell doesn’t toll spots to commuters Until repairs, Memorial Chapel no longer chimes BY KEN PITTS Staff writer

Waitlist for Lot 1 nears 250 despite openings BY JEANETTE DER BEDROSIAN Staff writer

The waitlist for Lot 1 parking permits reached 247 yesterday afternoon, but DOTS officials say there are still open spaces in lots on the campus that will be reassigned to help meet the parking demand. Among the lots with open spaces is Mowatt Lane Garage, which currently has more than 400 unused spots. The garage is traditionally not open to commuter students and underclassmen, but Department of Transportation Services Director David Allen said the department may reevaluate the use of the garage to get students off the Lot 1 waitlist and into nearby parking. All students on the waitlist have a parking permit, but many are assigned to lots on the outskirts of the campus, such as near the Comcast Center.

“If you hear bells, get your ears checked.” So American author Erich Segal suggested lovers do when first they meet, and so too should students on the campus this week, as the beloved bells in the Memorial Chapel ring no more. The bells broke sometime in May, most likely because of a malfunction in the computer program that plays them, chapel coordinator Megan Dillard Miller said. Over the summer, the hourly rendition of the university’s alma mater sounded distinctly out of tune. Chapel staff instead set the bells to play “Maryland, My Maryland,” Dillard Miller said, but it still wasn’t striking the right chord. “Then it sounded like someone was sitting on a piano for about a week or so,” Dillard Miller

USM approves $88M Oakland Hall, which may open by fall 2011 BY TIRZA AUSTIN Staff writer

The university was finally given the go-ahead to start work on a new North Campus dorm after years of disagreement between the university and the University System of Maryland. The university was told Friday to proceed with Oakland Hall, the $88 million, 650-bed dorm, after the Board of Regents approved the project in June under the condition the university seek additional beds through private funding. System Chancellor Brit Kirwan determined enough student housing was being developed along Route 1, so he chose to support the housing project at the meeting. “We’re thrilled for lots of reasons,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement, adding the new building would “round out the community” and make the Denton Community, where the new dorm will be, livelier. Oakland Hall is being designed as replacement housing for New and Old Leonardtown, which will

Please See BELLS, Page 2

Please See PERMIT, Page 2

Prepare to drive the line, do the time

Please See OAKLAND, Page 2

U.S. Senate debates large endowments

A sober perspective of sobriety checkpoints BY KYLE GOON Staff writer

Flashing red and blue lights, flares in the road and a line of cops in wide-brimmed hats, directing cars to stop with bright orange traffic wands — together, probably one of the most intimidating situations imaginable to a drunk driver. And to some extent, University Police want it that way. “One of our main goals is to have people go through the checkpoint, and when they get out, to call their friends in bars,” Lt. Robert Mueck said. “Hopefully, they’ll change their behavior and not become intoxicated or not drive home.”

USM: Regulations would unfairly impact some schools BY KEVIN ROBILLARD Senior staff writer

Please See DUI, Page 3 JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Out with the old, in with the older Unexpected openings create room for unusual occupants in dorms BY DERBY COX Staff writer

Alexandr Redkovsky wakes up in his bed at Hagerstown Hall every morning at 6 a.m., goes to the gym, takes a shower and then attends class from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. He eats at The Diner in the evening and spends much of his time studying in the campus libraries and sleeping in his room. In most ways, the psychology and Russian language and literature major’s daily life is nearly identical to that of any other on-campus student.

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There’s just one difference: Redkovsky is 29. “My first day here, the first time I met [eighth-floor resident assistant] Heidi Shaffer, she said, ‘Oh, you’re 29. You’re that old guy on the floor,’” Redkovsky said. But Redkovsky is not alone, Resident Life Assistant Director Scott Young said in an email. There are 103 people living in dorms older than 22, including 14 older than 25, although these numbers include “many staff” members and some mentors in St.

Please See DORM, Page 3

WASHINGTON — University administrators from around the country yesterday argued that the Senate should not force them to spend more and save less money, saying a one-size-fits-all policy would be unfair to some schools, including this university. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who are leading a congressional investigation into how universities use their endowments, organized the Capitol Hill roundtable discussion. Grassley, the highest-ranking Republican member and former chair of the Senate Finance Committee, is the most prominent supporter of legislation that would require universities to spend a specified percentage of their endowments each year. Grassley has said it is difficult to reconcile the growing size of college endowments with recent spikes in college tuition. He cited a Congressional Research Service statistic that in 2005 found the price of college consumed more than 70 percent of the yearly income of a household in the bottom fifth of the population. He said college endowments have a one-year average rate of return of 17.2 percent, while schools only spent about 4.6 percent of their endowment for fiscal year 2007. In comparison, Welch said if the cost of milk had risen as fast as the cost of college since 1980, a gallon of milk would now cost $15. Most private foundations are required to spend 5 percent of their endowments each year, and that number has frequently been cited as an amount universities could be forced to spend. Presidents from Princeton University, Amherst

Alexandr Redkovsky, 29, lives in Hagerstown Hall, where he gets a slice of the "normal" college life. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Partly Cloudy/70s

INDEX

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

CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

DIVERSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . .8 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Please See ENDOWMENT, Page 3

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BRIEFS Officials to announce plans for Phelps homecoming TOWSON — State and local officials will announce plans for a celebration honoring swimmer Michael Phelps and other state Olympians. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon will be joined by Phelps’ mother, Debbie, at Towson High School Tuesday for the announcement. Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics last month.

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WEDNESDAY | Q + A

University scheduled to gain 1,000 beds OAKLAND,from Page 1 be torn down to make room for the East Campus development. Clement said the new dorm should be completed by fall 2011 or January 2012 at the latest, though the exact date could vary based on the approval of public works, design plans and construction teams. “It will give us a lot of relief for the time being with the housing crisis,” said Pat Mielke, assistant vice president for student affairs. Though the university and the Board of Regents have gone back and forth on the issue of another Denton Community dorm for years, the university has consistently demanded any additional North Campus housing be built in the same traditional dorm style as the surrounding buildings. Mielke said it is easier for underclassmen to live in a dorm environment, that maximizes the number of students they are able to meet before moving into the more secluded apartment-style housing later in their college careers. This demand held up housing construction, and the Board of Regents urged the university to pursue public-private partnership housing — such as South Campus Commons and University Courtyards — rather than spend money from the system’s state-provided “fund balance.” The two finally came to a compromise in June, when the re-

gents said they would pay for this housing project if the university could prove it was also pursuing private housing options. Despite the push for traditional dorm-style housing, Clement said the new building might consist of two-bedroom suites with their own bathrooms, though they would not have a kitchen. Prospective students should not get too excited. Facilities Management is seeking contractors to design the building, but nothing has been drawn up yet, said Carlo Colella, director of architecture, engineering and construction. Combined with the construction of Commons 7, set to be completed in January 2010, the university will gain more than 1,000 beds. Though the housing waitlist is starting to shorten, Vice President for Administrative Affairs Doug Duncan was positive competition for housing on the campus will continue. “Clearly there’s a demand for housing, and that’s not going to change,” Duncan said. Both Clement and Mielke said, depending on enrollment in the next few years, additional beds could possibly translate into welcoming juniors and seniors back to on-campus housing. “This is absolutely great news for the campus,” Duncan said. “We’re thankful to the system for approving it.” taustindbk@gmail.com

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Students feel impact of fewer spaces PERMIT, from Page 1 Other lots with unused spaces are Lot 6, Lot 11, Lot 16 and Stadium Drive Garage, Allen said. “In the next few days, DOTS will be figuring out how to distribute open spots to students that are on the waitlist,” Allen said. Lot 1 permits ran out on Aug. 14 this year, about two weeks earlier than usual, with construction projects on the campus causing a shift in parking allocations and a loss of 50 students spots in the lot, Allen said. Though the spots filled up earlier this year, Allen said it is not unusual for a waitlist to exist. “Lot 1 always fills up every year, and we have to stop registering people every year,” he said. “I

don’t know why it closed so early. Maybe those 50 spaces made a difference.” Other possible reasons for Lot 1 competition are an increased number of commuter students and a shift in the class ranking of permit applicants, Allen said. Construction of the new journalism building also had an impact, he said, though indirect. The majority of the construction has occurred in space that used to be faculty parking in Lot AA, but drivers using that lot were moved to a newly expanded Lot Z, which removed spaces from Lot 1. To make up for the loss, Lot 7 — a resident lot behind Tawes Fine Arts Building — was eliminated. Students say they’re feeling the crunch of fewer parking spaces in

Lot 1 even if they registered early enough to get a permit. “There are definitely less spots open,” said graduate student Monica Press, who has parked in Lot 1 since last year. “I get here at 8 a.m. and I still have to fight for a spot. It’s very frustrating. We’re the ones paying tuition and we can’t find parking.” Some students feel lucky to have a spot in the lot at all. Brenda Delgado, a senior family science major, said she parked near Comcast her sophomore and junior year. “It’s not that bad,” Delgado said. “With the construction, I know they pushed everything back, but Lot 1 is a blessing compared to Comcast.” jderbedr@umd.edu

Campus fails to notice silenced bells BELLS, from Page 1 said. “So we decided just to turn the bells off until they can be repaired.” Though the bells themselves are most likely not broken, the chapel is scheduling for a Pennsylvania bell company to investigate the problem, Dillard Miller said. She could not predict when the bells might again ring clear. The bells were last fixed in early 2003, after refusing to jingle over the previous winter break. Despite the bells’ essential role in the campus ambiance, many students and staff lived through

the first week of classes oblivious to the ding-dong deficit. “I’m actually surprised not to hear them,” freshman civil and environmental engineering major Elias Seyoum said. Seyoum had heard the tolling on previous visits to his sister on the campus, but the lack of ringing wasn’t evident to him while studying on McKeldin Mall. Even Rev. Kyle Ingels, a Catholic chaplain on the campus, hadn’t noticed the silence from the chapel where he leads services. “You get so used to it, you almost zone them out,” Ingels said. “It’s definitely something missing

from what we’re all used to.” The bells’ absence also escaped senior history major Alex Stevenson. Although she usually tunes them out, Stevenson said they help her keep track of time. “They’re almost an indicator of, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to get to class faster,’” she said. Miller agreed the bells may be missed most for their important role in timing between classes. “How else are you going to know you’re running late and you have two minutes to dash across campus?” she said. newsdesk.dbk@gmail.com


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

Police: checkpoints are ‘flashy and in your face’ Thursday night’s sobriety checkpoint aims to scare potential drunken drivers into changing their behavior DUI, from Page 1 “A successful checkpoint has no arrests,” Mueck added. It’s a sentiment echoed by Leslie Thomas, a volunteer from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Thomas has worked with MADD since 1992 in memory of her brother Scott, who was killed by a drunken driver while he was at the Naval Academy. Thomas brings cookies and snacks to 12 to 15 checkpoints in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties every year. Many officers know her by name. Yet, as many stops as she visits, she still has not seen what she and Mueck would term a “successful” DUI stop. At 11 p.m. Thursday, University Police blocked off one of the northbound lanes of Route 1 near the police station using flares and a police auxiliary pickup truck. A dozen officers stationed alongside the road began to stop up to 10 cars at a time. Most of the time, an officer would walk up to the window of the vehicle, ask a few questions, shine a flashlight around and allow the vehicle to continue on its way. However, the police look for telltale signs of intoxication, and any one sign can create suspicion. “We check for the smell of alcohol or bloodshot eyes,” Officer Shawn Brown said. “We ask them a few questions, see if anything they say makes sense. You can usually tell by the smell, though.” Although Mueck said he wished they wouldn’t have to arrest anyone, Brown admitted the hours can feel long if nothing happens. “When it gets to be 2 [a.m.] and you haven’t caught anyone yet, yeah, it can be a lit-

tle tedious,” Brown said. “But it’s not that bad. [Officers] ask to do this.” Officers led any suspicious drivers into a parking lot adjacent to the station and conducted field tests: Drivers had to answer numerous questions about their nighttime activities, follow a pen with their eyes, walk in a straight line, stand on one foot and take a preliminary breath analyzer test. Nerve-wracking to say the least, and all under the blinding illumination of floodlights and the scrutiny of cops. What if you just mess up? “Sometimes people do just get nervous,” Mueck said. “And that’s why we have multiple tests. We don’t arrest someone based on only one factor.” And different people experienced very different results. One woman was preparing to walk a straight line in high heels before someone told her that she could take her shoes off. She passed the tests and drove away. A man who was driving a truck stepped out of his vehicle, swaying gently from side to side as he struggled to stand still. When police got a translator to tell him to walk nine steps in a straight line, not only did he step off the line completely, he kept walking well past the required nine steps. After taking a preliminary breath analyzer test, the man was arrested and taken off to the station, the first DUI case of the night. He went off to be processed, meaning going through two to three hours of paperwork, taking a breath analyzer test admissible in court and getting released afterward without his vehicle. A 24-year-old student was pulled over on the way home

with his girlfriend after celebrating her birthday. He said he had one beer, and even though he passed the field sobriety tests, police strongly encouraged them to get a friend to drive them home, given that he was close to the legal limit of intoxication. The student, who asked not to be identified, said it was the first time he had ever seen a DUI stop. “We’re from a small town in Minnesota, so we’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “I was pretty sure I was OK to drive, but I was just nervous.” They did return to the parking lot with a friend who drove them home. “A lot of times, officers will tell people to either walk home or call a friend to drive them,” Sgt. Ken Leonard said. “When someone is close to the legal limit, their [blood alcohol content] could go either up or down depending on how recently they’ve been drinking.” One student attempted to skip the checkpoint altogether, but eventually stopped at Paint Branch Parkway when officers pursued him. He was eventually arrested. When University Police wrapped up the checkpoint around 3 a.m., police had stopped 901 cars, pulled over 37 people for further investigation and arrested nine people suspected of drunken driving. Another unsuccessful checkpoint in the eyes of Mueck and Thomas. “We want these checkpoints to be flashy and in your face,” Mueck said. “Hopefully people will start changing their behavior and make better decisions.” goondbk@gmail.com

After traumatic attack, older student starts over DORM, from Page 1 Mary’s Hall, the Language House, Young said. Young declined to be more specific, citing privacy concerns. The presence of older students can raise issues when many dorm residents are underage. “He obviously can’t serve alcohol to minors,” resident assistant John Chai said. “But other than that, I treat him like any other student.” Nor is it a problem for Chai to exercise his authority over Redkovsky. “It really doesn’t bother me,” Chai said. “It’s just like ... ‘This is what I’ve got to do.’” However, Chai did admit he was surprised at first. “I thought it was a mistake,” said Chai of his reaction after reading Redkovsky’s entry on the room assignment sheet. He wasn’t the only one. “Cause it’s so different, you know, [residents were] like, ‘Whoa,’” Chai said. “I’ve definitely had residents come up and ask, ‘Is he allowed to be here?’” But perhaps no one was more surprised than Redkovsky’s 19-year-old roommate. “Well, I found out the day I walked into the room, and it was kind of strange at first,” sophomore engineering major Alex Velazquez said. “I didn’t even know they let people over a certain age in the dorm, but then he explained his situation.” Redkovsky fled the former Soviet Union with his parents and six siblings to escape religious persecution when he was 10. They traveled around Europe for about a year and a half before immigrating to the United States, where his family settled in Walkersville, Md. “I went from third grade [in Russia] to sixth grade without a word of English,” he said. Two years later, he was fluent. He graduated from high

school and earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Towson University in 2001. Then he entered the workplace, first at a company that manufactures commercial lawn mowers and then at Parker Plastics, a company specializing in custom containers. In late 2005, a man carjacked Redkovsky at gunpoint. Redkovsky alerted the police, and his assailant went to prison. Then, about six months later, fresh out of prison and apparently out for revenge, the same man struck Redkovsky in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. He then kicked Redkovsky until blood streamed down his face. “I told the paramedics I wouldn’t go to the hospital until I had a cigarette,” he said. “I was in shock.” After about nine months of recovery, more than 30 bone chips removed from his face and several metal plates inserted into his head, Redkovsky was ready to continue his life. His attacker was sent to prison for a 20-year term. Redkovsky’s injuries, however, made seeing straight difficult and his former job, working with heavy machinery, impossible. “Pretty much any place that you stick your finger into, you’re not going to walk away,” he said. Redkovsky decided to pursue a lifelong interest: psychology. After he received an associate’s degree from Frederick Community College in January 2007, he decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Then came the decision to live in a college high-rise. Partly because of the long commute and partly because he thought he missed out on a true college experience the first time, he decided to live in a dorm. “[While at Towson] I had a full-time job,” Redkovsky said. “I had a full-time girlfriend.” Now Redkovsky is focused

Alexandr Redkovsky, who lives in Hagerstown Hall, said he does not know if he will live in the dorm until graduation. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

on completing his degree and possibly earning a doctorate in cognitive behavioral therapy. Redkovsky said he doesn’t know if he will stay in a dorm until graduation, but for now, he wants to enjoy college along the way. “You get to meet some new people and just live in a college dorm,” he said. And his floormates have grown accepting of his presence, Redkovsky said. “It’s different, but everyone is sort of the same,” said sophomore psychology major Adam Brockett. “I think it’s a good thing [older students] are trying to continue their education.” As the oldest in his family, Redkovsky — who calls himself “a people person” — said he is used to living with people much younger than himself. Velazquez has no complaints, either. “I can’t really relate to him on a lot of levels,” Velazquez said, “but I have no problems with how he lives. That’s all I care about in a roommate.” coxdbk@gmail.com

Spending may force schools to waste money ENDOWMENT, from Page 1 College, the University of Vermont and Berea College, as well as other professors and education finance experts, aired their views on the matter. But P.J. Hogan, a lobbyist for the University System of Maryland who attended the hearing, said the university’s and the system’s endowments were being “lumped in” with the much larger endowments of private institutions such as Harvard and Yale, both of which have endowments of more than $20 billion. The university’s endowment was about $420 million as of last January, and the system’s is currently just under $1 billion, according to USM Chancellor Brit Kirwan. “It’s just not a real fair comparison,” he said. Hogan also said the system is successful in achieving Grassley’s main goal: keeping tuition down. “That is unique across the country, to find an entire system where tuition has been frozen three years in a row,” he said. Maryland, which once had the fourth highest tuition country-wide for a public university, is down to 16th, he said. Molly Corbett Broad, the president of the American Council on Education, cited the university as an example of what state funding could do to help keep tuition down.

The universities gave a variety of reasons for why required payout rules shouldn’t be enacted. Amherst College, for example, charges students $45,000 a year in tuition, room and board, but spends $80,000 per student every year. “It is the endowment and gifts that make up the difference,” Amherst President Anthony Marx said. Both Marx and Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman said their institutions had made great strides in making college more affordable for low-income students and their families. Adjusting for inflation, Tilghman said, the cost of attending Princeton has declined 25 percent over the past 10 years. But Welch reminded them that college tuition costs were still “brutal on average families.” Others at the roundtable said high tuition costs were keeping students out of college. “As they’ve become wealthier, many institutions have become less accessible,” said Lynne Munson, an adjunct fellow at the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. Another refrain from college administrators was that it would be difficult for a onesize-fits-all law to treat all university endowments fairly. “It’s impossible to imagine a payout rate that applies to all universities,” said Michael

Klausner, a professor at Stanford Law School. While schools like Harvard — whose endowment passed $34 billion in January — frequently fared better financially than the stock market, schools like Berea College, a small liberal arts college in Kentucky, use most of their endowment funds for scholarships for low-income students. Many endowment funds also have strings attached; more than 98 percent of Maryland’s endowment is earmarked to specific projects or causes, many of which are scholarships for students or supporting departments that would directly benefit students. “With very, very few exceptions, most universities have little discretion in how they spend their endowment,” Kirwan said. The third main argument was that the required spending amounts would force colleges to waste money in what Tilghman called a “boom and bust” cycle. Kirwan was originally scheduled to appear at the roundtable, but there was a scheduling conflict, he said. Although Grassley helped to organize the three-and-a-halfhour meeting, he left after the first hour and only returned with a half-hour remaining, leaving Welch to run the discussion. robillarddbk@gmail.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

Opinion

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Staff Editorial

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A dicey budget

Frat boys to men

For long-term fiscal stability, the university must have a dedicated dult pleasures are those that can only be safely enjoyed in moderation, those that are potentially destructive in the wrong context or source of funding. The Tax Reform Act of 2007 established the Higher amount. American society restricts access to these — tobacco, Education Investment Fund, the state’s first source of funding committed to supporting the university system. State legislators have recently sugalcohol, gambling — to legal adults. Although opponents to the legalization of slots in Maryland often focus gested the survival of the Investment Fund is contingent on passage of the on gambling addiction and its negative impact on individuals, families and slots referendum. In these times of deficit, a dedicated source of funding larger communities, this impact does not make legal gambling inherently is essential, providing a haven from budget cuts. The products of legalized slots, both positive and negawrong. Given the state’s continued structural deficit, it is tive, must be considered objectively. A constitutional justified to turn to legalized slots to generate revenue for amendment to legalize slots will hardly resolve all of the the state generally, and for higher education specifically. university’s funding problems — one-armed bandits will Since Gov. Martin O’Malley has taken office, the state Slots should be legalized not produce gold-plated fountains of Pepsi in every classbudget has been cut by about $1 billion, and the state has imposed an additional $1.3 billion in tax increases. Despite in order to support fund- room. We urge the legislature to pursue the legalization slots responsibly, by committing a portion of the revthese measures, there remain holes in the budget. Given ing for higher education. of enue generated to gambling addiction services and to the the University System of Maryland’s dire need for addicommunities that disproportionately bear the brunt of the tional funding, we agree with the Board of Regents’ recent vote in support of the slots referendum. State allocations have left gaps in crime that inevitably follows in the wake of increased gambling. Slots are not an ideal source of revenue, but the struggling national and vital areas of the university’s budget, and if new sources of revenue are not created, there will surely be further cuts. For example, the state perpetu- state economies pose a real threat to the success of higher education. The ally under-funds building maintenance — as of March, the university had university system must explore every avenue of funding, especially if it hopes to achieve its ambitious goals for the coming decade. a backlog of $620 million in much-needed facilities upkeep.

A

Our View

Editorial Cartoon: Mike O’Brien

Foreign Affairs: In Europe, talk, not tanks

L

ast Thursday, President Bush dispatched Vice President Dick Cheney to meet with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to help direct the American response to the brief but bloody conflict between Georgia and Russia. Cheney was quick to demonstrate American commitment to Georgia, as well as a “damn the torpedoes” willingness to stand up to Russian power. In addition to offering $1 billion in U.S. aid to Georgia, Cheney also assured the world Georgia was on track to join NATO, a move clearly designed to tweak the noses of the Russians. This response harkens back to Cold War-era thinking about Russian influence in Eastern Europe. The United States has been pushing for NATO membership in former Soviet states bordering Russia, moving forward with a missile defense system placed in Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe and supported and aided an independent Kosovo. All three of these agendas have left Russia marginalized on what it sees

HUNTER

PAVELA

as its own turf. By viewing Russia through a Cold War prism and continuing on a path toward containment, the United States has boxed Russia into a corner — and the latter is clearly willing to resort to hard power. From that point of view, the Russian response to the events in South Ossetia was predictable given the circumstances. If one reads between the lines of the Russian justification for action in South Ossetia, it clearly parallels Western justifications for recognizing the independence of Kosovo. Intentional or not, there is an obvious connection between increasing American influence in the region and an increasingly hostile Russia.

Although the details on who began the violence are still unclear, at least a share of the culpability lies with the Georgians, who were rather gung-ho about inflaming a precarious situation. Wherever the fault lies, the current diplomatic measures being taken are the only recourse available. Unfortunately, the American response was delayed and confused. Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Azerbaijan and a host of other countries are carefully gauging the U.S. response. By promising Georgia and other Eastern European states the full measure of American support no matter what, we have to honor that pledge in Georgia or risk losing considerable soft power in the entire region. What the conflict underlines is the need for a shift in thinking regarding U.S. policy in all of Eastern Europe. During the Cold War, Europe was considered the prize. Now, however, the United States needs to spend diplomatic capital in resource-rich countries in Central and Southeast Asia. Engagement is needed in order to attempt to reform Russia the only way we can — by exerting Ameri-

can soft power. Working in conjunction with traditional allies in Europe, along with getting regional powers such as China to condemn Russian aggression, is the only way to isolate Russia without escalation. By tackling the problem multilaterally, the U.S. can avoid reverting to Cold War militarism. Unfortunately, the current administration seemed to miss the difference when it failed to even dispatch a diplomatic envoy to the region during the first several days of the conflict. South Ossetia ought to serve as a wake-up call to policy gurus in Washington. If the administration continues along the current course, it risks forcing confrontations with Russia throughout the region that will require defense expenditures as well as monetary ones. Hard power tends to cost more than soft power, and we simply can’t afford it these days. Hunter Pavela is a senior Chinese and philosophy major. He can be reached at hpavela@umd.edu

Environment: Greener on both sides

D

uring the next couple of months, students on the campus will be approached in and out of class by some of their green-shirted peers. Never fear — they don’t want your lunch money, and they aren’t trying to sell you car insurance. They’re part of a national youth movement called Power Vote. They want you to support politicians from any party in this election cycle who champion policies that incorporate clean energy, support environmentally friendly technologies and fight climate change. The goal is to build a youth voting bloc of one million people to help elect politicians who espouse green ideals and then hold them accountable once elected.

The Power Vote pledge addresses the greatest challenges facing our country today. Skyrocketing energy prices have strained American pocketbooks, while our dependence on foreign oil causes $700 billion to leave the country each year. Falling competitiveness in the global economy has led to hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas. For the first time in 125,000 years, the Northeast and Northwest passages are open, making the Arctic ice cap an island ships can sail around. The solution to all of these problems is to end our dependence on dirty, nonrenewable fuels by investing in a clean-energy economy. Killing multiple birds with one stone might upset the bird lovers, but it’d be great

MATT

DERNOGA

for our country. By investing in wind, solar, geothermal and tidal power; energy efficiency; the next generation of biofuels; and new advanced technology vehicles, we will create millions of jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. These sources don’t pollute, they’re infinitely abundant, they’re affordable and they’re ours. Most of us will be voting in the national election for the first or second time, and it will be the most

important vote we will ever cast. Before you cast that vote, envision yourself later that night, watching the election results. Envision the pundits for the right and the left, for the red and the blue, feverishly counting how many seats they’ve gained, fretting those they’ve lost. Do they even know what these numbers count for? Picture yourself looking at the TV, thinking back to earlier in the day when you decided. Right then, the booth and the ballot come back into focus, and the question that will follow you for the rest of your life arises. When all is said and done, at the end of the day, how will you be keeping score? Matt Dernoga is a junior government and politics major. He can be reached at mdernoga@umd.edu.

POLICY: The signed letters, columns and cartoon represent only 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.

DAVID FOSTER

T

he Greek system is currently in a state of flux, as our community oscillates between those members and chapters who contribute to the reputation of the community and those which detract from it. There are clear differences between those chapters comprised mostly of “frat boys” and those comprised mostly of “fraternity men.” Greek houses tend to be a mix of the two types, and the percentage of each type within a house tends to influence people’s opinions of the house and the overall Greek system. As long as the Greek houses provide an outlet for the “frat” image, students who are looking for that type of college lifestyle will be drawn to the Greek system. “Frats” tend to provide cheap booze, a little drug use, easy access to members of the opposite sex and a responsibility-free atmosphere. Fraternities, by comparison, provide their members with a lifelong bond of brotherhood, the opportunity for personal development. What we need to do is promote the “fraternity” image. We need to promote personal and shared responsibility. It is vital we address the rampant binge drinking, the objectification of women, the drug use and the hazing, as these problems occur on an unacceptably wide scale. We need to look out for one another, whether in regard to our academics or to our social decision-making skills. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is whole-heartedly behind this type of transformation. No one likes to be policed, but this office goes to great lengths to try and provide a safe and supportive environment. Just as a good farmer weeds and waters his garden, the OFSL seeks only for the Greek community and its individual chapters to flourish. This change needs to come from within the Greek houses themselves. Fortunately, there is a large number of “fraternity men” at the university, and they have led the charge in helping to push for the reform of the Greek community’s image. It is important that they pass along their leadership skills and vision to the future generations of Greeks to continue to strengthen our community. Greek leaders understand that to lead is to serve, and while their jobs are never easy, they are the most important, as they safeguard the well-being of their brothers and affect the longevity of traditions of honor, brotherhood and service that have been passed down for decades. To the students who are considering going Greek, I highly recommend the Greek system to anyone who is looking to round out his or her college experience. Take the time to learn about the chapters you are considering, and ask questions. Fraternities promote character development and civic engagement in a way few other campus organizations can. It should be noted Greeks play an active role in campus affairs, and many of the former SGA presidents have been Greek. Although I will no longer be at the university to see it, I have no doubt in the next few years the number of “frat guys” at the university will steadily decrease, while the number of “fraternity men” will rise to fill their place. To ensure this change happens, we, the Greek community, need to make a serious and concerted effort to move away from being “frats” and move toward what the founding fathers of our respective houses imagined we could be.

David Foster is the former House Director of the Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Nu Fraternities. He can be reached at dfoster@crim.umd.edu.

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion.dbk@gmail.com. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and nighttime phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to 600 words. Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.


TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 | OPINION | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Best of the week “Slots are simply the wrong direction for Maryland.”

“Ghost town. There was hardly anything going on at all.”

“Parents should think twice before sending their teens to these colleges.”

- State comptroller Peter Franchot. From the Sept. 8 edition of The Diamondback

- Police Spokesman Paul Dillon remembering summer crime rates in College Park 20 years ago. From the Sept. 4 edition of The Diamondback

-Mothers Against Drunk Driving President Laura Dean Mooney, about colleges who signed the Amethyst Initiative From the Sept. 2 edition of The Diamondback

Letters to the Editor Sub-par Under Armour Wow. As if it wasn’t bad enough that five of our great teams already switched over to a second rate athletic-wear provider, but now we have to see this cheap, so-called “performance apparel” fabric on all of our teams? Let’s get real. The only good thing I see out of this is that it’s only a five-year deal, because by then this administration (or hopefully a new administration) should come to its senses and realize it shouldn’t sign deals with someone just because he is an alumnus. If I create a performancedegrading energy drink, can I sponsor the athletic program too? I’m just going to laugh when Under Armour attempts to put footwear on all of our teams. If their cleats and training shoes are any sign of what’s to come, then I feel bad for our athletes. This is a top-tier athletic program, and there is only one company that can provide top-tier athletic apparel and footwear, and this administration just kicked it to the curb. I wish all the athletes well, and hope that your athletic abilities are not hindered too much from this change. JON GO CLASS OF 2005

Standing up for clean energy In the campaign-related articles on both Sept. 2 (“The Issues of Our Age”) and Sept. 3 (“Sen. Cardin touts Democratic platform at union talk”), The Diamondback made no mention of non-partisan groups concerned with getting out the vote this November. Along with the College Democrats and Republicans, a diverse range of student groups should be reaching out to their peers in order to make sure that young people play the crucial role that they are destined to in deciding this election. This semester, Clean Energy for UMD is doing just that, and — with a strong presence at the Cardin event — should have been mentioned in the Sept. 3 article. This fall the group is working on the national, non-partisan Power Vote campaign, asking thousands of young people to pledge to vote in November and to hold our elected officials accountable for passing strong, clean, renewable energy policies in the face of dire economic and environmental problems. It is not only through partisan groups on the campus that students can get active with this election. Clean Energy for UMD meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Nanticoke room in the Stamp Student Union, and all students who see the transition to a clean, just energy economy as a priority issue in this election are encouraged to get involved.

Campus social life: A ‘new’ student’s tale

I

’m feeling a little out of place. This thought first occurred to me this summer when I was waiting with some other new students to take a math placement test. The engineering major next to me was enduring the incessant prattling of a woman who had accompanied her freshman son (let’s call him “Jeremy”) to the exam. “Oh, Jeremy has read almost the entire calculus book,” she said. “Yes, Jeremy just has so much AP credit coming in that he’s decided to get a dual degree. Isn’t that right, Jeremy?” Jeremy nodded. The engineering major said that was nice. The woman went on, undeterred by the unenthusiastic response. “Yes, Jeremy was going to be an engineering major like you, but it’s really the physicists who tell the engineers what to do, so he’s a physics major now.” While resisting the urge to shove my graphing calculator down the proud mother’s throat, I couldn’t help but wonder: What am I doing here? It isn’t that I don’t want to congratulate Jeremy on his many accomplishments, though I do sincerely hope he started partying the moment his mother left the campus. No, my uneasiness results from the fact that I just graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis, a tiny school where we read “Great Books.” Four years of philosophy is enough to make anyone a little skittish, but on top of that, I’m now an undergraduate physics major here at the university, and due to my less-than-technical background, I’m currently enrolled in mostly freshman classes. So of course, I don’t quite fit in — as a college graduate, I’ve

The decision by the Board of Regents to endorse passage of the referendum on slot machines is disappointingly self-serving and shortsighted. With little care for what happens to the state and the University System of Maryland in the long term, the board opted for expediency and folded to political pressure rather than standing up for what is right. It is well-documented that slots often lead to increased crime in their communities. Officials have proposed slots for Baltimore City, the proud owner of the second-highest murder rate in the country, and nearby Laurel. Neither can afford any spike in crime. The slots referendum balances the budget on the backs of the impoverished, with the slots not being implemented in wealthy Montgomery or Howard counties. In the richest state of the nation, we should be able to find a long-term fix to our budget gap that does not steal from the poor and give to the rich. If the more humanitarian arguments fail to convince you, consider the pragmatic side. Much like the lottery, there is little promise in the slots referendum that any of the money that is raised will go toward colleges and universities. The lottery, passed under a similar promise of increases in education funding, yielded none. And yet our government asks us to trust it, under the threat that education funding will be slashed if the slots bill doesn’t pass. Don’t get fooled again. Yet the decision should come as little surprise, with the board comprised mainly of appointments made by the past two governors, both of whom are pro-slots. Any decision made is tainted with political influence and simply represents the will of the appointer. The regents should treat their positions as ceremonial and avoid forays into politics where their interests are predetermined and their influences less than transparent. The day the slots bill passes will mark a dark day for our state, and the regents will have no one to blame for the long-term backlash but themselves. JUSTIN FAIR JUNIOR THEATRE

HOLCOMB already completed the progression of sipping beer from a plastic cup at parties to cracking the whiskey flask at 10 a.m. At the same time, I’m happy to be here and even enjoy all the weirdness of my situation. Obviously, I’ve had a lot to get used to in the past couple days. It takes me more than five minutes to walk across the campus. I don’t constantly run into classmates I’m trying to avoid, and I have to raise my hand in class unless I want to get angry looks from the professors. But the biggest change I’ve noticed has been in the social atmosphere. At St. John’s, a college of fewer than 500, everyone knows everything about everyone else, and by senior year, almost every student has attained some degree of notoriety. If I were to sit alone in the dining hall at St. John’s, dozens of people would be looking at me, wondering what scandalous act I’d just committed. Here, I’m just another anonymous face, and I like that — although I suppose it is ironic that a week into the semester I’ve somehow managed to get my picture in the paper. But here’s another irony: At St. John’s, most students are pretty much the same — at least externally — and yet it is impossible to avoid standing out. At St. John’s, we all share similar backgrounds and interests. There is very little racial diversity, and we all take exactly the same classes. To distinguish ourselves,

Susan Holcomb is a physics major. She can be reached at holcombdbk@gmail.com.

at issue What did you think of the Terps’ loss Saturday?

“ “ “ “ “ “

Jeremy Kolmer Freshman Business

Noah Drill Sophomore Education

Michael Feldman Freshman Business

I thought it was semi-ridiculous losing to a small school when we’re supposed to be from the ACC.”

I was kind of disappointed because they were just letting people slip through.”

I thought they played a pretty good game. Maybe they were just under a lot of pressure.”

Raymond Mullings Sophomore Journalism

It sort of felt like we played down to the level of the opponent.”

I think we’re capable of doing well. It’s just a matter of getting down the field.”

It sucked. They don’t have a QB.”

ALIA ADLER SOPHOMORE SOCIOLOGY

Slots decision short-sighted

SUSAN

we are forced to dig past these external traits into the internal: who we broke up with, what makes us angry, what we love most. All this becomes part of our public identity in an almost perverse way. At this university, on the other hand, there are plenty of externals to distinguish us. If someone asks who we are, we can simply respond with our name and major. We can define ourselves by these external traits and keep the internal hidden for as long as we like. This separation between a person’s external and internal personality appeals to me. Sure, I may sometimes wish the TA who continues referring to the class as “freshmen” knew my life story, but for the most part, I want to keep the most intimate facts about myself hidden. A social atmosphere that does not allow a person to separate private life from public image is always gossip-ridden and often unhealthy, and so I appreciate my relative anonymity here. Of course, it’s a trade-off — I don’t see many familiar faces around the campus, and no one really knows anything about me. But one can always choose to tell others more about oneself — it doesn’t have to stop at, “I’m a physics major.” Now that I have the choice to stop after that sentence or to go on until I’ve clearly made the other person uncomfortable by giving too much information, I have control over my own identity. So when Jeremy’s mother asked me what my major was, I said, “Oh, physics,” and went back to my reading.

Elis Ahmed Sophomore Sociology

Lisa Rosales Freshman Engineering

Lite Fair

Sell out

T

he university’s announcement last week that it would sign a five-year deal with Under Armour to outfit the school’s 27 sports teams marked the second major corporate sponsorship deal officials inked this year. The deal will certainly bring in needed dollars, and the royalties from a Victoria’s Secret fashion line couldn’t hurt our treasury, either. But as officials embark on enacting an ambitious strategic plan to launch the university into the ranks of the country’s elite public universities, will this money will be enough? Of course not! Slots may one day bail out the state’s emaciated higher education funding plan, but while Coppin State and Towson wait on legislators to resolve one of the most controversial issues they’ve ever debated, we say this university should bank on more corporate contracts. We understand officials are busy raising money the oldfashioned way (playing golf), so here are a few ideas to spark their imaginations.

Titillating Testudo Administrators showed encouraging progress when they approved a deal with Victoria’s Secret this summer. The deal included shirts, hoodies, tote bags and even university sweatpants. The moderately priced sweatpants ($44.50) would be a boon for the campus’ neediest sorority girls, as only one in three own pants. This new line could give some girls more than the leggings they traditionally wear to brave the winter months.

This Terp’s for you Of course, such a lingerie campaign might send some parents the wrong message. Corporate sponsorship deals should ideally align with a company’s own standards and ideals. Last month, University President Dan Mote signed the Amethyst Initiative, saying he’d be open to talking about lowering the drinking age. Cheers, Mote. That’s an ideal that will sell! Not only has your support helped stir a public debate even the militant legions of Mothers Against Drunk Driving couldn’t squash, but it has also raised serious opportunities to get Testudo into some beer commercials. (Maybe if this promotion pans out, all students can receive free iPhones.)

Bon appetite On the other hand, a Testudo beer ad may provoke a fullon invasion of the campus by MADD-commissioned mercenaries. No marketing campaign could compensate for the damage crazed mothers would cause if they sacked the Mitchell Building. Besides, this year, we fell off Princeton Review’s list of top drinking schools (although we still do rank No. 2 in “students study the least”). It might be worthwhile for the university to invest in some subliminal advertising, the kind where you subtly convince an audience to believe things that clearly aren’t true. For instance, why not rename The Diner on North Campus as Wolfgang Puck’s Food Court at the LaPlata Beach Plaza? After all, trying to incorporate a big institution’s name into a long-standing structure full of tradition is never awkward.

Advice

A plea for a platonic friendship ESTI

FRISCHLING

Q:

There’s a boy I met who I really hit it off with. We began texting a lot, and we’ve hung out a few times, but I’m scared he might be looking for something more. I don’t want to lead him on, so how do I tell him I’m not interested but also make sure we remain friends? The elusive relationship between two people of the opposite sex in which neither has any sexual desire for the other person is like a tiger — beautiful but rare, and usually doomed for extinction. In college, you’re unlikely to meet a straight guy who is willing to discuss the emotional penetration of John Mayer’s lyrics without the promise of a very different kind of penetration. Unfortunately, girls are the illegal immigrants to the proverbial ballot of friendship. You have no vote in this matter. There is no making “sure we can remain friends.” If you have the personality for making guy friends, they’re bound to materialize, and if not, they’re sure to overlook you. I don’t know you, so I won’t assume you don’t have what it takes (well, I will). If you actually have substance, I see cuddle-less sleepovers and peepshow-free shopping trips in your future. Either way, it is your responsibility to make your intentions clear, which could mean surrendering him to the girl behind you wearing a wife-beater as a dress. There’s nothing you can do about that — it sucks, but it’s your own fault for assuming he wanted to be your friend in the first place. There is a host of ways to send the “I’m not interested” message. Firstly, with almost no exceptions, TEXTING = FLIRTING. While you don’t have to be rude and ignore his textual advances entirely, you can mitigate the flirtatiousness by never texting first or last and never texting at inappropriate hours. By keeping the giggling and hair-twirling to a minimum, you can usually convey your intentions to a perceptive guy, but some are more oblivious. Laying down your boundaries verbally will probably offend him. So wait until he makes some sort of move that cannot be misinterpreted as friendly and then pounce. The way to introduce the topic is to look him dead in the eye and say, “Should we have a conversation about this?” He’ll probably answer with a speech about how much he has enjoyed the time you’ve spent together and how he’d love to “take it to the next level.” If he opts instead to shower you with physical compliments, you might be unbearably hot, and it’s clouding his ability to remember the connection he feels. The more plausible alternative is he feels no great connection and has merely failed to generate an imaginative compliment on the spot. With seconds left on the shot clock, sometimes shooting “You just have no idea how sexy you are” is all it takes to score. If you do, in fact, have an idea of just how sexy you are and he’s the disillusioned one, box it right out. When you turn him down, it’s important to maintain an attitude saying, “I’m sure you’re not really that interested in me.” This provides him a viable escape route and lessens the blow. The worse the rejection, the worse the chance of friendship. Tell him, because you met in a friendly context and assumed the relationship would progress in said direction, switching gears would be impossible, and you simply “don’t see him in that way.” Every guy understands this as code for “I’m not attracted to you” (or if they didn’t, now they do), and, if you’re brave enough, that is really the answer you should be giving. After this impossibly awkward encounter, it’s usually best to hang out one-on-one very soon. Group activities leave too much room for avoidance, a pattern that is especially tough to break in new friendships. Aim for activities that are in public, have time limits on them and are generally casual. A bad example: “hye come 2 the bar and meet of outside im drnk.” A good example: “I have 700 diner points to spend before tomorrow; would you like to get lunch in between classes? Might I suggest all of the cookies?” A steady (but not too steady) regiment of these activities should catapult you to the friend zone in no time.

A:

Esti Frischling is a sophomore art major, so she literally has nothing better to do than answer your questions. She can be reached at frischlingdbk@gmail.com.


6

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

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EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

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SERVICES

Vet assistant. Evenings and Saturdays. $12/hour. 301-439-9444. Silver Spring

TWO INTERNSHIPS WITH U.S. CENSUS BUREAU FOR SENIOR UNDERGRADUATES- AT LEAST 20 HRS/WEEK: (1) Intern in Social/Behavioral Sciences to help carry out research and help recruit respondents for carious studies; (2) Intern with Technology (Audio/Visual) training to coordinate research seminars and provide some general office support. Send resume and transcript(s) to tommy.wright@census.gov by Friday, September 19, 2008. U.S citizenship is required.

Hyattsville 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath house near UM shuttle and Hyattsville Metro. $1750. Ed 240-473-0820

FAX SERVICE

Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse. All positions available: servers, box office, kitchen, etc. Apply ASAP: 11106 Veirs Mill Rd., adjacent to Wheaton Mall. jobs@montgomerydrafthouse.com

EBAY SALES Internet-savvy eBay lister/shipper wanted for local new & used sales outlet. Part time. Ebay listing experience required. Some lifting. $10-12/hr. plus commission! Contact Dave at 301-779-4040 or email dpuhl@kingpawn.com.

GREAT JOB! AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PORTER For busy GM service department. Full/Part Time. Duties include shuttling and washing service vehicles Monday-Saturday. Flexible schedule for students. For consideration contact Gary Citterman at Capitol Cadillac/Buick/Pontiac/GMC, Greenbelt, MD. Ph: 240-737-0361, fax: 301-441-2092, e-mail: garycitterman@ecapitol.com. Models wanted. Professional photographer seeking paid and tfp. Build your portfolio. 202-270-4746.

Earn Extra Money Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No experience required. Call 1-800-722-4791.

Mad Scientists! Up to $35/Class Hr. Instructors needed to lead fun after-school science clubs for kids in Metro area elementary schools. Experience working with kids a plus and MUST HAVE A CAR. Flexible PT opportunity. Must be available at least 2 days/ week (M-F) by 2 p.m. Paid training. Science background NOT required. $25-$35 per program hour.

Mad Science 301-593-4777 www.madscience.org/DC TERRAPINSNEEDJOBS.COM. Paid survey takers needed in College Park. 100%. Free to join. Click on surveys. COACHES WANTED. Variety of sports, dance & art classes for children 3-12 years. Looking to start for Sept. season. Classes in Bethesda/Rockville area. Flexible hours. Pay starts at $15/hour & up. Call 301-424-2401.

Swim Lesson Instructors for local USA swim team lesson program. Friday evenings, 5-6:30pm, convenient Laurel location. Swim instructor certification/lifeguarding required. Competitive pay. Call 240-345-7113. 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

Driver for BCC/Westland Kids Mon., Wed., Thurs., 3:30-6:00 pm. Requirements: legal, excellent driving record, references, own car. College student preferred. $15/hour + gas; start ASAP. Contact frohmane@aol.com; 301-466-5127. PT/FT VET TECH. In Potomac/Rockville. 1 deal for pre-vet. 301-299-6900.

After School Transportation 2-3 afternoons a week for 13 y/o girl. SS/Burtonsville area. Must have car to take to horse barn in Sunshine, MD. $12/hour plus gas. Call Pat, 301-509-9966.

Tutor/Companion We are looking for a Tutor/Companion for our 18 year old autistic son. MWF 4-6 pm. $15/hr. Adelphi, MD. Experience with disability or special education preferred. Call Aimee or Bernie at 301-408-2094 or email at doyleab@comcast.net. Bartending! $250/Day Potential. No Experience Necessary. Training Provided. 1-800-965-6520 x116

Dance Teacher Needed Tap * Hip Hop * Ballet Ages 3-11

301-937-4230

BE YOUR OWN BOSS Make your own schedule. Earn more money when you sell AVON. Work from home. Sell online. Contact Tumara at 301-466-1617.

Rockville Day Care Association, Inc. is seeking

GROUP LEADERS FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS Credits in education, recreation or psych. required. Exciting working environment. Weekends free. Competitive salary. EOE. Position available 3-5 afternoons/wk. Hours 2:30-6:00pm. Center located in Bethesda. For more info. call 301-762-7420.

THE DIAMONDBACK

CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP.

is hiring

Small financial firm near Bethesda Metro. Excellent communication skills. $13/hour. PT or FT. Email resume: bethesdafinancialfirm@gmail.com.

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHERS Must have own equipment. Email photo@dbk.umd.edu.

Cashier/Stockperson Part-time evenings, 2-3 times/week. Must be 21. No experience necessary. Apply in person. Village Pump Liquors 4901 Greenbelt Road College Park, MD 20740

Great pay, flexible hours!

Attention – Now Hiring VALET PARKING STAFF NEEDED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS Must have neat appearance & good communication skills. Must drive manual transmission and have own transportation. Hourly Rate plus tips. Phone: 301-681-3056, Email: info@uniparkvalet.com, www.uniparkvalet.com

AUTISM Students needed to work in education/ behavior program with autistic boy. Starting at $15.50/hr., 5 miles from campus. Flexible scheduling: mornings, afternoons and weekends.

301-588-6271 Tutor wanted for 3 year old child. Excellent pay. Additional benefits. $20 plus/hour depending on experience. Transportation required. 202-270-4746.

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.

Cashier/Lottery Attendant Hiring immed. Flexible hours. CLOSED SUNDAYS. Nice environment, family owned & operated liquor store for over 50 years. Students encouraged to apply. Must be 18 yrs. Call EASTGATE, located on Greenbelt Road, 301-390-6200. IINTERNSHIP/PAID: Wanted- Aggressive, outgoing, go getter, to work with broker at SMITH- BARNEY. Call Jay Gulati, VICE- PRESIDENT at 301-657-6358. TEACHING POSITION. After-school learning center in Rockville for 3rd-12th grades. Excellent pay. Flexible schedule. For more information call 301-675-0192

CHILD CARE After school babysitter/driver needed. Bethesda. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 3-7; Wednesday 2-8. Flexible. Own car. Nonsmoker. 301-767-9722; ebethmarg@aol.com After School Childcare Needed. Looking for Responsible, fun loving student to pick up and care for two University Park Elementary School children 1:45-5pm daily. Weekly salary, paid holidays, own car a plus! Please contact Sarah Howard 301-455-5257 or schoolish1@aol.com

SPECIAL PERSON needed to work with active and loving 6.5 yo girl w/Down Syndrome and 4 yo brother. Very flexible hours. We can work with your schedule. Perfect for special & elementary ed majors, although not required. Kensington View, near Wheaton Metro. Please call Ed, 202-457-6016 or email: egehres@pattonboggs.com.

9:30AM – 4:30PM Monday – Friday 3136 South Campus Dining Hall

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ROOM FOR RENT 8002 Travis Lane – walk to campus – share with 3 other students – large room with own full bath – non-smoking – M/F – $600.

301-332-7935 Walk to campus. Nice 5 bedroom house. Rent entire house or individual rooms. 301-918-0203 Apartment, 1 bedroom. Walking distance. College Park metro. $895. 301-335-7345 MOVE IN CLEAN. Adelphi Rd. 1 block from North Campus Dr. 5++ bedrooms, downstairs kitchenette house, $3100; 5 bedroom house $2900/month including new a/c, utilities not included. Some off-street parking. Large private yards, washer/dryer, lawn care provided. 9 month lease available- early signing bonus. CONTACT DR. KRUGER- 301-408-4801. Very nice 2 bedroom apartment in house. Fully private with separate entrance. Newly renovated. Includes washer, dryer and partial utilities. 2 miles from campus. $1200. Call Alan 301-704-6465.

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Call 301-580-0434 or email tomr1942@yahoo.com Houses/ Apts/ Rooms. College Park. 4/5/6 BRs. 410-544-4438.

Knox Box Apts. One Block from Campus – 2 BR for $1700 (will rent by room) – 2 BR for $1200 (for full semester or year) 301-770-5623/24 Email: gosia@pinstripeproperty.com

The University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language is looking for students to participate in a Pre-DLAB Study. For more information and to sign up, please visit: http://register.casl.umd.edu. LOSE 16 POUNDS IN 30 DAYS. Satisfaction guaranteed. 1-800-805-6814. Ask for Tim Group Yard Sale. Saturday, September, 13. 4807 College Avenue, College Park.

ADOPTION We are a young Caucasian couple wishing to adopt an infant child. We would love to talk so please call Billy & Tara. Homestudy approved. 540-484-3198.

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Hyattsville- Furnished rooms, util. included. $600-$650. Quiet neighborhood. 301-927-6523

COLLEGE PARK ROOM IN ALL GIRL HOUSE. THREE BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS. CONTACT 301-937-9500. I BR AVAILABLE NOW! In 5 BR house. FREE DIRECT TV, ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED, private parking, fenced backyard, 1 block from metro bus, walking distance to U of MD. $665/mo. Call 240-876-4336 SQUEAKY CLEAN HOUSE. Four large bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, dining room, office, den, kitchen with dishwasher, washer/dryer, microwave, table and chairs. Shuttle route. Available now. Call Randall at 202-526-4693 Share two bedroom apartment. Large kitchen, table, chairs. Fully carpeted. Dishwasher, washer/dryer. 5 minute walk from UMD. Shuttle. Call Randall at 202-526-4693 RIVERDALE- 3 bedroom, 2 bath, ca, w/d. Close to all transportation. Ideal for students/commuters. Available immediately. $1800. Call 301-399-1887 WALK TO CAMPUS. 3 bedroom apartment with walk-up attic. Not a Knox Box! 4502 Guilford Road, Apt C. $1750. Call Kay Dunn: 301-699-1863.

ROOMMATES Female housemate needed in furnished house near campus. Jan. to June 2009. 718-664-3517

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Run your classified for 4 consecutive days and receive the 5th day

FREE! Call (301) 314-8000 for more information.

Enter Raffle for $50.00 * Participate in a study * One-time visit to UMD College Park * Complete questionnaires * Have your blood pressure taken

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EMAIL: csadak@psyc.umd.edu

SERVICES Paralegal - Will expunge your court records. DC, MD, VA. 301-565-2917.

Park on South Campus! We have parking spots available on Knox, Guilford, Hartwick, and Rossburg. Extremely close to South Campus! $270/semester. Call 301-770-5623 or email ryan@pinstripeproperty.com while they last.

An Invitation

To Have Lunch with President Mote

President Mote would be pleased to have students who would like to talk with him about their interests and ideas join him for lunch at Adele’s. Eight students will be invited to a group lunch on a first come, first served basis. Lunches will be scheduled Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at noon, or Tuesday or Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

If you are interested, please contact Teresa Crawford by phone at 301-405-5796.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD

L E S D Y E S

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Also born on this date are: Henry Thomas, actor; Adam Sandler, actor and comedian; Michael Keaton, actor; Otis Redding, singer; Hugh Grant, actor.

© 2008 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

R.J. BENTLEY’S RESTAURANT • DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PARK

TUESDAY Margaritas all day for $3.50 Miller Light & Yuengling $2 Rails $2, Black & Blue $2.50

WEDNESDAY All specials are 8pm to close unless otherwise noted. All specials subject to change.

B

You are an honest and forthright individual, and you will always stand up for yourself even when it is not the easy thing to do. You’re likely to encounter a good deal of challenges in your life, but those who say no to you are those who don’t understand what you’re really capable of in your daily life.

46 48

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orn today, you are certainly a dreamer, and you insist on engaging in all manner of endeavors that the more practical individuals born under your sign would consider impossible. Despite this singular trait, you do understand the realities of life, and you’re not above doing those things that will ensure your success. You can be quite political in your dealings with others, doing and saying those things that will enable you to progress in the modern world — despite the fact that you are old-fashioned in so many ways.

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L OA A LM DE L I GOA EWE R HUG ED M I A SM T T I C Y A HO L E S S I DED I SH ENDS NOE NDY B E L I O U L OWE R R P E A RE T RACE P I C D I L L ROK SM I L OT S P A

5

1/2 Price Burgers $2.50 Corona, SoCo, Captain Morgan, $4 Rumple Minze

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. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — This is a good day to renew personal and professional commitments. You don’t want others to think that you don’t have it anymore.

S K A T E

H I L L A OR T V E OOB AD NK L E CRU L E ARCA B A Y R I F A I T T EN V ER E AME G L S E G

4

Asset Reindeer herder Office assistant Fleece Trotted

R.J. BENTLEY’S

T A E

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HA UN MO E X

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Neglects Sudden terror Liszt opus Avoid, as an issue Fiery dance Crooked

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Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

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51 52 53 55 56 57

43 Backed down (2 wds.) 44 Atlas dot 46 Green-eyed 49 Between pi and sigma

34 Greek-salad cheese 36 Install tile 37 Discreet summons 40 Cattail

R.J. BENTLEY’S RESTAURANT • DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PARK

ACROSS 62 Cougar’s pad 1 “I’ve — had!” 63 Toughen up 5 Grimy 65 Porker’s plaint 10 Celebration 66 Elegant coiffure 14 Body of water 67 — basin or pool 15 Opening remarks 68 Persuade 16 Toast topper 69 Gush forth 17 Vast region 70 Aroma 18 Goodbye 71 Put in the attic 19 Little creek 20 Apartment, often DOWN 22 Voyage end 1 Traffic-jam noise 24 Beats by a hair 2 Mitigated 25 Woman’s shoe 3 Making do with 26 New York 4 Least messy baseball stadium 5 Gauge 28 Asp 6 Kiel conjunction 32 Ski — 7 Way over a fence 35 Everybody 8 Tire feature 37 Copper “rust” 9 Teenaged 38 Take 10 Lose a right advantage of 11 Film director 39 Raises, as kids — Kazan 41 Thus, in citations 12 Bear’s advice 42 Not wholesale 13 Turnpike fee 45 Toady’s reply 21 Fire residue 46 Sculpture 23 Prima donna medium 25 Corduroy rib 47 Byron 27 “Fatha” Hines contemporary 29 Leaning Tower 48 French I verb town 50 Fled to wed 30 Wife of Geraint 54 “— la vista, 31 Track event baby!” 32 Prowl 58 Dinner-table item 33 Fortune-teller’s 61 Lively dances words (2 wds.)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You have much to do, but you were best to approach each and every individual thing from a new and experimental perspective. Try anything.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You may find yourself as close as you ever want to be to a major threat. Remain calm, and keep your wits about you; don’t overreact. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You won’t want to go along with the crowd, but you may not be ready — quite yet — to stand on your own and suggest an alternative. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — This is a good day to count your blessings as well as establish a great understanding of your own limitations or liabilities. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Tradition will be a large part of your day, even if you find yourself exploring new ways of doing things. Lean heavily on your own past. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may be called on to promote two conflicting ideas — and you must resist the temptation to take sides, no matter what may happen.

ing between two considerable risks, and the way out of this difficult situation is itself risky. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You may have no choice but to challenge the odds, attempting something that has been proven difficult or impossible in the past. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — A combination of unusual forces is at work, pulling you in two different directions at once. You may have to take bold action. CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Get away from it all — or if you can’t to that, make some time for those rare pleasures you’re looking forward to sharing with another. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Give someone else a break and you are likely to receive one in return as a direct result. Don’t neglect to help each other out.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You may find yourself balanc-

Copyright 2008 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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Just 35¢ per word, $3.50 minimum. Plus, if you run your ad four consecutive days, you’ll receive a fifth day FREE! All classifieds appear in both the print and online versions of The Diamondback – available at 60 distribution points around campus and at diamondbackonline.com. To place your ad, call 301-314-8000 or come to room 3136 South Campus Dining Hall, Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Or, email advertising@dbk.umd.edu.

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8

THE DIAMONDBACK |TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

Diversions

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Gym Class Heroes left everyone “Caught in Cupid’s Chokehold” last year. After two stops on the campus, the band is back with its latest album, The Quilt. For our review, click the Diversions link at:

Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy.

WWW.DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

REVIEW | CALEXICO

It’s always sunny in ‘Contention City’ Calexico broods about the end of America in the group’s latest epic release, Carried to Dust

Calexico and Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam collaborate again on “House of Valparaiso,” one of the 15 songs on Calexico’s latest Tex-Mex-soaked album, Carried To Dust.

BY ZACHARY HERRMANN Senior staff writer

The finale on Garden Ruin — the previous widely released Calexico LP — starts with a whisper and ends in an apocalyptic explosion of scrawling guitars. A clear product of turmoil, “All Systems Red” and the album it capped off sparked a lot of discussion among Calexico purists. After In The Reins, the group’s fantastic collaboration with Iron and Wine, the Tuscon, Ariz., rockers tried something a little different. Joey Burns and John Convertino collaborated more in the studio with the rest of the band and toned down the Tex-Mex sound Calexico had previously used so proudly as its calling card. Some critics and fans cried Judas, and although they dismissed an impressive album in its own right, they had a point. Calexico lost an integral piece of what set the band apart from all the other Americana-leaning indie rock acts. Yet, Carried To Dust, Calexico’s latest album, once again finds the band at

music notes THE BRAHPHECY IS FULLFILLED Jam-rock pioneer Phish is back, but not as you might expect. Four years after the band called it quits and after months of reunion rumors, Vermont’s finest finally shared the stage this weekend at former road manager Brad Sands’ wedding in New York. The quartet played a brief three-song set of “Suzy Greenberg,” “Julius” and “Waste.” Somewhere, someone is selling grilled cheese at a wedding.

DEADHEADS FOR OBAMA In other jam band reunion news, the four surviving members of The Grateful Dead will play their first show since 2004 under the Dead moniker at Penn State on Oct. 13. The show is to support Barack Obama — Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart previously played a “Deadheads for Obama” show in San Francisco in February. Guitarist Warren Haynes will join the band, as will the Allman Brothers Band, in which Haynes also plays.

“A REUNION REQUIRES FOUR MEMBERS” Today’s biggest nonreunion news comes in the form of Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin. At the Toronto International Film Festival, a reporter asked Page point-blank if Zeppelin was recording and reuniting. “We’re not actually recording,” Page said, adding, “if you’re going to do a reunion, you need four members.” Seems singer Robert Plant is still the holdout.

the top of its game. Taking the sprawl of Feast of Wire and underscoring the shadowy-pop of Garden Ruin with a few new twists and turns, Calexico finally has its desert masterpiece. But where Ruin hit on the frustration and despair plaguing the country, Dust settles into something far less confrontational — at least on the surface. In many ways, the songs feel like a part of a greater American elegy, haunted by spiritual and physical casualties. Anger has begotten sorrow, and for much of Dust, Calexico is in mourning. The chilling album closer “Contention City” paints America as a ghost town slipping away into oblivion: a dead memory. An earlier track, “Man Made Lake,” foreshadows the inevitable emptiness left by the epilogue, placing the narrator on the brink of a

city, “streets with no stir of life,” the houses “fully submerged.” “I’m gonna walk these streets of cold concrete,” Burns sings, “Like I’m a ghost searching for its grave/ Then I’ll dwell by the edge of this man-made lake/ And descend to the city that holds no place for me.” If the song’s dead-serious acoustics and Ennio Morricone xylophones arm the listener for high noon, then the eerie swell of “Contention City” knocks the whole showdown scene over like a Hollywood façade. There’s no moment of reckoning, no cathartic release — just a disappearing act. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when a band treats a set of songs as an album, not a playlist. Fifteen tunes is a heavy load to bare — but Calexico makes each one count, allow-

ing the songs to interact, curling around one another to weave an intricate tale of death, betrayal and, eventually, hope. Spanish guitarist Jairo Zavala lends his talents to “Victor Jara’s Hands,” a song named for the Chilean musician/activist murdered during the U.S.-backed coup of 1973. Despite the ominous refrain of “Two Silver Trees” (“two worlds in needs”) and the repeated theme of deception, Calexico’s instrumental revelry points to better, brighter times. Dust is certainly burdened with heavy ideas, but Calexico never gives in to all-out pessimism. Calexico still manages to have a little fun while plumbing the depths of the American psyche. “Writer’s Minor Holiday” calls to mind the band’s more pop-oriented explorations on Ruin. The band has namechecked Stevie Nicks in the past (“Not Even Stevie Nicks” on Wire), so it’s not entirely surprising to catch the echoes of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours peppered into the harmonies of Dust.

COURTESY OF MYCHEMICALTOILET.COM

Calexico’s influences are varied and difficult to predict — the band has covered Joy Division, Love, Arcade Fire and The Clash all with equal sincerity. As interesting as it was to hear some of these influences shine through on Ruin, there’s no denying how much of a joy it is to hear the band return to the homier, brassier incarnation of its former self — even if it is under fairly gloomy circumstances. Burns and Convertino have carried over everything beautiful touched on in the last album with a fraction of the fury, applying all they’ve learned tactfully and sanding down the edges. Their talented guests (Sam Beam of Iron and Wine fame, Pieta Brown, Tortoise’s Doug McCombs) quietly shift in and out of focus, leaving only their vocal and instrumental whispers to linger in Dust’s simultaneous eulogy and celebration: the death of America and the rebirth of Calexico. zherrm@umd.edu

ALBUM: Carried to Dust | VERDICT:

1/2

REVIEW | JESSICA SIMPSON

Returning to her Texas roots Jessica Simpson goes country for her new album, Do You Know BY COURTNEY POMEROY Staff writer

Jessica Simpson has had a rough few years: divorce, a canceled reality show, horrible boxoffice ratings and the crumbling of not one, but two relationships. Now, as she so poignantly puts it in the new song “Back in My Old Boots” (one she wrote for beau Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, but isn’t included on the album), Simpson’s back to her Texan ways. In other words, the former pop princess has done gone country. The only problem with Simpson’s old boots? As many booing concert-goers noticed earlier this summer when she opened for country star Sara Evans, they don’t seem to fit quite right. The first single from Do You Know, “Come On Over,” is an attempt at a catchy summer song, but it ends up being far too breathy and somewhat forgettable. The chorus lags at an almost spoken pace — you can’t exactly sing along. While it was rated decently on the Billboard charts, the song was a weak contender next to competing singles, such as Taylor Swift’s “Our

Song” or even Jewel’s crossover hit, “Stronger Woman.” On the positive, Simpson doesn’t incorporate a fake twang to attract a country following. In fact, the only distinction between her pop

music and her first country single is the strategic use of steel guitar. Simpson does employ another regular characteristic of the country music genre. She’s finally coming through for that preacher papa of hers with a song all about God. “Pray Out Loud” even features a shout-out to daddy dearest. “And I think back to when I was a little girl/ My daddy said, ‘ R e m e m b e r, Jess, as you walk through this world/ When you’re down, don’t be afraid to pray out loud.’” But an inspirational religious anthem, it is not. Once a g a i n , Simpson’s voice is not reaching its full

potential, falling flat during points that would be opportune moments for her to show country music what she’s made of. Simpson tries just a bit too hard a few songs later in a tune entitled “Sipping on History.” She attempts to pull the heartstrings of country die-hards with some pointed lyrics about the Cash family. “I could’ve been/ Your June Carter Cash/ Waltzed right along with you/ All through this life with you,” she sings. Who knows which past love she’s reminiscing about, but these vocals just seem contrived based on her crossover. The second half of Do You Know is chock full of slow-paced, throw-away love songs that bleed into each other and leave little chance of a second successful single from the album. If anyone listens past these tunes, they might find the closer — a duet with Dolly Parton — to be a refreshing finish. The title track finally gives Simpson a chance to use the full range of her voice. But next to Parton’s classic crooning, the payoff (11 songs in the making) seems a little unimpressive. Do You Know asks a question Simpson might want to start asking herself: Does she know what kind of music she really wants to make? Furthermore, can she stand out from the ever-growing pack of female country solo artists? As of now, all signs point to no. courtney.pomeroy@yahoo.com

ALBUM: Do You Know | VERDICT:


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

9

Pensky relying on young group SOCCER, from Page 10

Linebacker Dave Philistin and the Terp defense struggled to control the line of scrimmage against Middle Tennessee. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

stepped in [as goalkeeper] and provided tremendous leadership in the back.” Although the Terps got the win against Temple, going into halftime it was anyone’s guess as to whether or not the Terps could put the ball in the back of the net and avoid another disappointing outcome. In the second half, some tactical changes in the offense led to more scoring chances. “We talked about bringing the ball central to get [Temple] to drop in and tighten up, and then we can spray it wide again, which is how we scored our second goal,” Pensky said. Deegan and Schulmann’s goals relieved the pressure hanging over the Terps that had accumulated over the past few games. But the Terps know they still have plenty to improve upon

before these games, especially in finishing goals, if they want to carry this momentum into conference play. “Moving forward, we need to continue to be dangerous in the final third of the field, both with our crosses and our runs in the box,” Pensky said. “This goes for set plays as well. We need to be far more effective on corner kicks and free kicks situations.” While Pensky and the rest of the coaching staff expect big things from this team this year, he knows with 12 freshmen and nine sophomores on the squad there will be a learning curve early in the season. After losing to Bucknell and Elon and tying American so far this season, the Terps are hoping the growing pains are over and the momentum is here to stay. dmorrisondbk@gmail.com

Heyward-Bey: “This is a reality check” FOOTBALL, from Page 10 that rolled to a 66-3 win at Washington State on Saturday. The defense needs to make more big plays, lock down in the secondary and pressure the quarterback. The Blue Raiders controlled the ball for nearly 40 minutes and put up more than 400 yards of total offense. The offense must get consistent quarterback play, as quarterback Chris Turner struggled in his first start of the season. The Terps scored on a pair of big plays against Middle Tennessee, but still have yet to put together long scoring drives. The Terps’ four touchdowns this season have come on short drives that, combined, took just eight plays. Senior kicker Obi Egekeze is now 0-for-4 on field goal attempts this season. “We’ve got to get them fixed,” head coach Ralph Friedgen said Sunday when asked if the Terps’ problems have easy solutions. “I think the players will realize what they need to do to get better. It’s just a matter of hanging in there and working together like we’ve done in the past.” His main aim is to get consistency from his players. Even after a loss he called “embarrassing,” Friedgen feels the Terps were just a few plays away from being 2-0. Friedgen said Sunday he would “marinate” overnight on some possible personnel changes to the offense, defense

“It’s not going to be easy, but I wouldn’t say it’s going to be tough. It’s something we can definitely recover from.” CHRIS TURNER JUNIOR QUARTERBACK

Chris Turner must regain his focus after a shaky, three-interception performance at Middle Tennessee. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

and special teams. He did not specifically name any players. “If it was just one person, then it’s easier to put your finger on it,” Friedgen said. “But it’s kind of the whole deal.” The players aren’t panick-

ing yet, either. Receiver Darrius HeywardBey said his main goals for the season are not affected by the loss. It doesn’t affect the team’s ACC standing, and he’s confident the team will hit its

stride by the time conference play begins. “This is a reality check,” said Heyward-Bey, who leads the Terps with two touchdowns this season. “We’ve got to get going so we can contend for that championship.” Turner said the turnaround won’t be as tough as it seems. He thinks the experience the team gained during last year’s 6-7 season, which included a pair of wins against teams in the nation’s top 10 but also a few losses to the ACC’s lower class, will be a major advantage. Playing Cal, a team that has moved into the top 25 with a pair of impressive wins against BCS Conference teams to start the season, is the first opportunity to show their resilience. “It’s not going to be easy, but I wouldn’t say it’s going to be tough,” Turner said. “It’s something we can definitely recover from, and beating Cal will put us right back on track.” edetweilerdbk@gmail.com

Volleyball coach Tim Horsman called senior Maggie Schmelzle one of the only consistent players on his 1-5 Terp team that lost three matches this weekend. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Horsmon not sure how to correct team’s struggles ISSUES, from Page 10 well and grabs an early lead, they often lose focus and miss opportunities for easy plays. St. John’s fourth-set comeback Saturday was just the most recent example of the Terps allowing an opponent to crawl back into contention. Even down seven points, the Red Storm took advantage of the Terps’ loss of focus and went on a 9-2 run to win with the key set 26-24. The Terps know they must focus on “the little things that make the big plays,” as setter Hayley Hanson put it. Horsmon praised outside hitter Maggie Schmelzle as “the player who’s really held it together for us.” Schmelzle

has found and exploited open spots on the court, and often stepped in this weekend to fill gaps in coverage, earning 24 kills and 37 digs. “I worked to improve my overall game, because we want to prove we’re a different team than last year,” Schmelzle said. Her teammates reflected the same attitude: They want to improve. The only question is how long it will take. “I have no idea,” Horsmon said. “I have not been able to get a pulse yet from the team. If they play hard, like they did against St. John’s, good things could happen. If they don’t, it could be like Missouri and Kentucky again. Flip a coin.” kyanchulisdbk@gmail.com

The Diamondback Is Online • Campus News • National & World News • Sports • Opinion • Diversions • Classified

www.diamondbackonline.com


10

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

Sports

Associated Press NCAA Football Top 10 School 1. USC 2. Georgia 3. Oklahoma 4. Florida 5. Ohio State

Record

Prev.

(1-0) (2-0) (2-0) (2-0) (2-0)

1 2 4 5 3

School 6. Missouri 7. LSU 8. Texas 9. Auburn 10. Wisconsin

Record

Prev.

(2-0) (1-0) (2-0) (2-0) (2-0)

6 7 10 9 11

1-5 record a sign of Terps’ bigger issues BY KATE YANCHULIS Staff writer

The Terrapin volleyball team wants to go after every ball in every minute of every game, playing as if each point could make or break its season. Coach Tim Horsmon has said it. Players have said it. It can even be the difference between winning and losing, as the Terps (1-5) learned in a five-set loss to St. John’s on Saturday. But after two weeks of missed opportunities, apparently the message has not sunk in yet. “I still don’t think we’ve

2008

VOLLEYBALL

learned how to compete,” Horsmon said. “I hope soon our players take some initiative and decide they want to play hard and be in the game for every point. When they do, maybe we’ll turn this around.” The team has struggled to put forth a consistent level of effort for even one complete set. When the team starts out

Please See ISSUES, Page 9

New momentum building Rare goals provide 2008 spark for Terps

WOMEN’S SOCCER

BY DAN MORRISON Staff writer

Now that the Terrapin women’s soccer team has some momentum, the next step is keeping it. The Terps (2-2-1) will try to build off their 2-0 win against Temple this week as they prepare for their first road games of the season. The Terps will play a pair of games in Charlottesville, Va., as part of the Virginia Soccer Classic when they take on Dartmouth Friday

and William & Mary Sunday. Looking ahead to the week of practice leading up to the games, coach Brian Pensky couldn’t overstate how important his team’s win over Temple was, especially for his younger players. “Sunday’s win was huge for our team’s confidence,” he said. “[Midfielders] Colleen Deegan and [freshman] Danielle Schulmann each scored their first collegiate goal, and Mary Casey

Please See SOCCER, Page 9

Running back Da’Rel Scott was one of the few players able to find success against Middle Tennessee on Saturday. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

Terps need speedy recovery With No. 23 Cal looming, team must refocus after shocking loss BY ERIC DETWEILER Senior staff writer

Jeremy Navarre exited the Floyd Stadium locker room after the Terrapin football team’s loss Saturday at Middle Tennessee bearing the look of a man who knew he had a long trip home ahead of him. After being thoroughly beaten on the road by a Sun Belt Conference opponent, the Terps know the season could

2008 FOOTBALL get away from them in a hurry. They will have to shake off the 24-14 loss to the Blue Raiders quickly as they prepare for a showdown with No. 23 California Saturday at Byrd Stadium. “It’s a wake-up call,” defen-

sive tackle Navarre said immediately following Saturday’s loss. “We’re going to come in Monday, and we’re going to start busting our asses and try to get this thing right.” And there’s a lot the Terps can do better after being controlled by Middle Tennessee in all phases of the game, especially against Cal, a team

Please See FOOTBALL, Page 9

LIVE ON TERRAPIN TRAIL The Learning Process: Sports editor Adi Joseph talks about all the room for improvement left after Saturday’s debacle. Lunch from the Fridge: Check in later this afternoon for a recap of what was said at the weekly football luncheon.


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