091108 by The Diamondback

STEPPING DOWN

BURN AFTER READING

Columnist Greg Schimmel is tired of the Terps playing below their potential

The Coen brothers look back and let loose

SPORTS | PAGE 14

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 8

THE DIAMONDBACK THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

99TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 8

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

DEVOURING DOLLAR T H E

Poor exchange rates leave some study abroad students on a tight budget

Transit projects hit a roadblock Weak economy delays funding for Route 1 redevelopment, Purple Line BY KEVIN ROBILLARD Senior staff writer

Route 1 redevelopment and the Purple Line were two victims of state-wide transportation cuts yesterday — losing millions of dollars to be allocated next year — as Transportation Secretary John Porcari deferred more than $1.1 billion in transportation projects because of falling tax and fee revenues.

This announcement comes on the heels of Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) stating Tuesday that $432 million in cuts would need to be made to the state’s budget to accommodate lower-than-predicted tax revenue. The two announcements are unrelated, as the Transportation Department gets its funding from a different pool of money than the state’s general funds, but both

Please See FUNDING, Page 3

Athletics ramps up green initiatives Nearly one-third of waste from Del. football game recycled, composted BY JEFF AMOROS Senior staff writer

Tailgating before Saturday’s football game against California will transform on-campus parking lots into seas of red. But a new Athletics Department initiative will give Terp fans a chance to go green. Hundreds of recycling bags and composting bins are part of a proBY PATSY MORROW Staff writer

Money can be a major concern for college students. Books, food and Cornerstone happy hours drain bank accounts in the blink of an eye. But as quickly as money disappears in College Park, students studying abroad have had a crash course in financial management while overseas. On a program in London this summer, senior government and politics and operations management major Sarah Wieselthier spent $20 on a generic hamburger but told herself

Activists push for clean energy pledge

Please See ABROAD, Page 3

A recycling bin in Byrd Stadium has separate containers for compost, cans and bottles and trash. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Campus radio broadcasts SGA meetings

TOUCHDOWN TOUCH-UP

Student legislature holds its first full meeting of the year

Staff writer

BY MICHAEL LEMAIRE Staff writer

In gearing up for the Terrapin football team’s big Saturday matchup against No. 23 California, Byrd Stadium’s end zones have a new look. The state flag has replaced the traditional “MARYLAND” and “TERRAPIN.” JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

In its first full meeting of the year, the SGA unveiled a new medium of transparency through a streaming broadcast of the proceedings on student radio station WMUC 88.1 FM. “I think last year not a lot of people knew what the SGA was about or what we did,” Student Government Association President Jonathan Sachs said. “This audio will give students easy access, and people will be able

Please See PLEDGE, Page 2

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

Please See GREEN, Page 2

not to worry too much because the program was only for three weeks. “I didn’t want to think about it,” Wieselthier said. But students who spend a semester or year abroad have to be a little more proactive about their finances. Senior Spanish major Emily Gordon spent a year in Barcelona, Spain and found herself entering her expenses into an Excel spreadsheet for the year. She was adamant that “food in Spain is cheaper than the U.S., so even with the exchange rate, it wasn’t that bad ... it was just

BY ALLISON STICE Activists will target students throughout the next few months as part of a national nonpartisan movement to make clean energy the biggest priority of the youth vote on Election Day. Groups such as Clean Energy for UMD and Maryland Student Climate Coalition have joined up with the Energy Action Coalition’s Power Vote campaign, which is aiming for one million youths nationwide to pledge to vote for solutions to the climate crisis and hold leaders accountable, with a goal of more than 7,000 signatures from this university. Activists have been asking students to sign the

gram being developed in part by the Athletics Department as part of the “Feed the Turtle” campaign, a campus-wide push to bring the university to carbon-neutral status, according to Director of Campus Sustainability Scott Lupin. Lupin said the effort to get more fans recycling and composting their

Showers/70s

Please See SGA Page 3

INDEX

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

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

DIVERSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . .7 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

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The Learning Process: Terps vs. Middle Tennessee Adi Joseph Da’Rel Scott and Darrius Heyward-Bey were, once again, enormous diamonds in a murky rough. Getting the ball into their hands and also increasing touches for true freshman Davin Meggett, who can ease some of the stress on Scott, is the only way the Terps can expect to consistently make plays for now. No pressure on the line of scrimmage is a serious issue. The Terps MUST bring their deep and talented linebacking corps up on blitz packages more often or they will continue to allow teams to advance the ball, even if it’s not for major gains. The good news is the Blue Raider line didn’t manhandle the Terps’ smaller line as easily as Delaware. –TERRAPINTRAIL.COM

Briefs Easton weighs ban on chickens EASTON — Poultry is the Eastern Shore’s bread and butter, but not for some residents of Easton. Ward 1 Councilwoman Maureen ScottTaylor says she has received several complaints from constituents in the Chapel East development about a neighbor who has a rooster. The residents say the rooster disturbs their sleep, because it crows every day at 4 a.m. Building code official Don Richardson says the town code doesn’t prohibit citizens from owning chickens. Scott-Taylor has asked a town attorney to draft an ordinance prohibiting ownership of chickens and roosters.

–Compiled from wire reports

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Game yields 6.8 tons of recyclables Univ. dubbed ‘an allGREEN, from Page 1 waste was created from one of the subgroups that brainstormed green strategies as part of the university’s Climate Action Plan. “It has the potential to really change people’s behaviors; it goes to outreach,” Lupin said. “These are things The new green campaign for the you can do at your own home University recycling program, or your own job.” Feed the Turtle. PHOTO COURTESY The plan, which is focused OF ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT on football games, came into being just a few months after Levick said. “We’ve gotten university President Dan lots of calls from other uniMote signed the American versities and from members College and University Presi- of the community about our dents Climate Commitment, a plan. It’s started a great dianationwide push in higher logue among people on [the] education to get institutions to campus about recycling. The more that we can get the become carbon neutral. At the Terps’ first home recycling idea out there in game on Aug. 30, 4.27 tons of and around the campus, the bottles and cans and 2.27 better.” The season-long recycling tons of cardboard were recycled and 0.3 tons of food and and composting effort is packaging material were being used as a pilot for other composted, Lupin said. Ath- similar programs Lupin and letics Department Chief of Levick said could be impleStaff Cheryl Levick said the mented across the campus to total recycled material for make the university greener. the game came to 6.84 tons, The personnel assigned to or 31 percent of the 21.72 recycling and composting tons of the total waste col- duty includes staff from five different departments, lected at the game. According to Levick, 2.42 including athletics, sustaintons of bottles and cans were ability, Dining Services and recycled at the first game of Transportation Services. While Levick and Lupin the 2007 football season at Byrd Stadium, but she said no dubbed the opening game a data was collected on card- success, both said they board recycling or compost- believe the numbers for recycling and composting will go ing. “The feedback’s been very up as the season progresses positive; the fans loved it,” and fans learn more about the

program. Levick said the goal is to recycle at least five tons of bottles and cans per game by the end of the season. Dining Services Associate Director Joe Mullineaux — whose department manages the concession stands, suites and press box in Tyser Tower, as well as the tailgate at Riggs Alumni Center — said the department will focus on adjusting its approach to composting in an effort to get more fans involved in the process. “I think the biggest challenge is that while most people recycle bottles and cans at home, very few people understand composting,” Mullineaux said. “From the guest end, this is very new to them.” Despite the relatively small impact the recycling and composting at football games will have on the university’s overall carbon footprint, Lupin noted the visibility of such efforts will hopefully get students and fans in a greener mindset. “If we didn’t have any recycling, the only greenhouse gas would be generated by throwing trash into a landfill, which is a very small percentage,” Lupin added. “But we need to change people’s mindsets and get people to think in a more sustainable way. If we get people to do more recycling, we hope they start thinking in a more sustainable way.” jeff.amoros@gmail.com

star’ in green activism PLEDGE, from Page 1 pledge this week on the campus as well as at Towson University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland and other schools across the state, hoping to add 40,000 signatures from the state to cement its reputation as a progressive state committed to energy reform. Clean Energy for UMD tried to get 900 signatures on the first day of the campaign, roughly 20 signatures per volunteer each hour. Communications Director Mark Conway, a junior government and politics major, estimated that a few hundred signed up. Campaign director for MSCC, junior government and politics major Andrew Nazdin, said as of yesterday 102,412 young Americans had signed the pledge. Power Vote asks students to research the candidates’ positions on energy and get to the polls on Nov. 4. After signers provide their contact information, the EAC sends weekly e-mails with updates on energy reform, EAC Communications Director Brianna Cayo Cotter said. “We have national calls where everyone checks in with how many pledges they’ve signed, and University of Maryland is an all-star,” Cotter said. On the campus, students have shown their support for

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energy reform in the past, most notably in April 2007, when 91 percent of the student body voted to increase their fees to fund clean energy. EAC has also partnered with university student activists to launch the Campus Climate Challenge that led university President Dan Mote to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in May 2007 to move toward carbon neutrality. The university also hosted EAC’s Power Shift 2007, a 4-day grassroots campaign attended by more than 5,000 youths. Cotter said young voters are part of the first American generation to face a lower standard of living than their parents and that investing in a clean energy economy would create millions of green jobs. “Clean energy is tied to the issues that young people care about, whether it’s health care, gas prices, the war in Iraq, the tanking economy — every single one is intimately connected with clean energy,” Cotter said. If Power Vote succeeds in its one million goal, Nazdin predicted the group’s Power Shift in February 2009 will have twice the attendance, or more. “We’ll go to Capitol Hill and be the barbarians at the gate, demanding energy reform,” he said.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

Purple Line receives $25 million less than expected FUNDING from Page 1 stem from a weak economy affecting governments across the country. “The revenues received from the motor fuel tax, the vehicle titling tax and vehicle registrations are all coming in below projected levels. These revenues are three of the largest funding sources for transportation projects across the state. Without the expected revenue, we have to defer new projects until we can

afford them,” Porcari said in the press release. Route 1 redevelopment, which city officials have championed for years, had its funding completely eliminated. It was scheduled to receive $7.1 million, including $1 million a year for the next three years and $4.1 million in 2012. The now-deferred money was intended to help the State Highway Administration widen Route 1 and add bus pulloff lanes and sidewalks, which would reduce congestion in the

area near the intersection of Route 1 and Route 193. “We’ve been waiting forever to see these improvements,” said Stephanie Stullich, the District 3 Councilwoman. Stullich bemoaned the lack of funds for existing roads such as Route 1 when millions were still being spent to build the Intercounty Connector. District 2 councilman Jack Perry shared Stullich’s frustration. He said the longer the state delays the project, the higher

construction costs will become because of upcoming housing and commercial developments and their impact on Route 1. “They’ll look at their plan and say, ‘This plan can’t be right. Look at all the new development. We’ll have to study it again,’” Perry said. “We’ve studied this thing to death. ... We finally have a plan, and now there’s no money.” City council members have called Route 1 physically unattractive and dangerous. Its twolane width often causes conges-

tion during rush hour and large university events, including athletic games and Maryland Day. “[Route 1] needs basic maintenance in addition to reconstruction,” Stullich said. The Purple Line — a new Metro line that would connect College Park with Bethesda and New Carrollton — will receive just less than $75 million over six years, though the project was initially budgeted for $100 million. However, according to a press release from the Transportation

Department, the project will remain on track. The funding for both projects was originally allocated in a sixyear transportation plan released by the state in January and was scheduled to come from the state’s transportation trust fund. The trust fund will receive $115 million less than projected due to declining revenues from state fees and taxes, as well as an “unprecedented disruption in federal aid payments,” according to the press release. Reporter Brady Holt contributed to this report. robillarddbk@gmail.com

Alternative trip the ‘luckiest decision I ever made’

SGA to focus on clean energy issues

ABROAD, from Page 1

SGA from Page 1

the frustration of the exchange rate going up and down.” Recently, university students are seeking study abroad opportunities outside of western Europe for cultural immersion, but with that comes a much more favorable exchange rate. $1 is equal to .72 euros or .57 British pounds. In Ghana, however, $1 is equal to 11,768 Ghanaian Cedi, the accepted currency. “There is an increasing trend [of students going] to where one would regard as nontraditional destinations, but I would say that it is a lot more complex than just the dollar,” said Rajika Bhandari, director of research at the Institute of International Education. “Probably the dollar plays some part, but we’ve been seeing over the past few years the trend has been shifting.” Nationally, students studying in Africa and Asia both increased between 2005 and 2006,

while students traveling to Europe fell by 2 percent to 58 percent in 2005-2006. Europe still draws the greatest percentage of students, but nontraditional locations are slowly gaining popularity. The university saw a record increase in study abroad students, with 23 percent more choosing to travel in the 20072008 school year than the previous academic year. “Our programs in Europe are still popular with students, so it would be difficult to conclude that costs are discouraging students from studying there,” Director of Study Abroad Michael Ulrich said. “But there is a growing interest in Africa and Asia, and we offer more short-term faculty-led programs to those regions and so are able to attract students to less traditional destinations.” Senior psychology major Noah Abelson studied in Ghana for a semester and said it was the

“luckiest decision I ever made.” “I have two older brothers, and both went to Australia. And I could have easily gone there and done that,” Abelson said. “But I spent a year in Israel before college, and the best times were when I just went off with Israelis. I wanted to immerse myself in a different culture.” In Ghana, Abelson found himself paying only $1 for meals. Junior American studies major Erin Ryan, who is studying in Egypt this semester, said she can eat “extremely well on $5 a day.” While neither Abelson nor Ryan picked their destinations for financial reasons, they were not burdened by keeping track of money to the penny or having to pass on excursions to neighboring countries. “Take the chance,” Abelson said. “Not all places in Africa are bad. Not all third-world countries have wars going on.” morrowdbk@gmail.com

to learn more about the proceedings that occur.” Last year the SGA was criticized for keeping its finance meetings closed to both the media and non-SGA members. However, Sachs said the new live stream was not a result of that issue. “All things considered, it was necessary to have,” Sachs said. “It was not reactionary; it was a more forward-thinking idea. All other governments have forms of transparency, and we have the infrastructure to make it happen. Why not do it?” This accessibility opens up a potential can of worms for the members of the SGA. Sachs addressed the concern that listeners would be able to hear members of the legislation whispering amongst themselves, adding that they would need to be careful of what they said during the meetings.

But Sachs thinks the accountability could be beneficial. “I think extra accountability will make members more careful and more active, which is a positive outcome,” Sachs explained. “It will keep legislators on their toes.” In its main move of the night, the SGA appointed Davey Rogner to be the SGA Environmental Affairs Liaison, becoming just the third student appointed to the position since its creation in 2006. Rogner, a senior environmental science and policy and management major, co-founded Clean Energy for UMD in 2006 with SGA Senior Vice President Joanna Calabrese. As Clean Energy for UMD grew, the group experienced a change in focus, something Rogner said initially led him to take the SGA position. “At the end of last year, there was a large overhaul of the priorities of the group, where we began to focus solely on clean en-

ergy issues,” Rogner said. “It was a change in the scope of the group, and some of the interests that I wanted to see were no longer being served by that group. A better way to get sustainability and visibility was through this position.” Rogner ran for the position last fall and lost. He said he fulfilled many of the same duties last year while serving as treasurer for Clean Energy for UMD, and Calabrese — who officially appointed Rogner to the position — is confident he will be the perfect fit for the position. “I have never felt more confident that environmental issues will be addressed than I have with Davey involved,” Calabrese stated. “I personally feel he is the most qualified student on campus for this position, and he has been jump-starting a lot of great initiatives that will be beneficial to the campus.” lemairedbk@gmail.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Opinion

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Staff Editorial

Letters to the editor

Cut to the bone

University Book Center blues

At the federal level, Congress has failed to increase the funding available he state of Maryland is in the hole, to the tune of about $195 million. Yesterday, the state announced a $432 million revenue short- for need-based scholarships in the form of Pell Grants. Despite efforts to fall that could approach $1 billion in the coming year. It is unlikely keep tuition affordable, education’s price tag has ballooned in recent years. that a stopgap measure, such as the recent initiative to legalize Even with tuition freezes for in-state students (to be exact, the cost has slots, would be able to account for such an enormous gap. That means increased by $18.20 since last year), the associated costs of food, housing, textbooks and parking have all risen far higher. Including there will be yet another round of painful cuts to a budget room and board, in-state students must plan on paying an already stretched thin. estimated $21,000 per year, while out-of-state students We cannot masquerade as experts on the state budget, and we cannot tell Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) where to find With state budgets cuts must come up with approximately $36,000 annually. In recent years, scholarships largely target the extremely $195 million to address this budget crisis. But the reasons on the horizon, higher needy and the exceptionally talented, but affordable for protecting higher education funding are compelling. The university’s strategic plan describes the university education should be a higher education is increasingly distant for the American middle class. as “a chronically under-funded institution ... [without] the priority. The university can weather lean years, but to continue funds to adequately maintain an infrastructure appropriate to a world-class university. For more than a decade, state appropria- cutting to the bone is to compromise the university’s long-term future. The tions have been at least $3,000 per student below state guidelines, which state cannot perpetually compromise on higher education and expect to are based on the average funding for our peers.” This lack of funding is an remain a leader in biotechnology, a center for advanced research by both enormous obstacle to achieving excellence, causing more than $600 million the public and private sectors and the nexus of a modern, literate and proin deferred facilities maintenance, struggling student services and under- gressive society. If we continue tightening our belt, we will cut off our circulation. funded academic programs.

Our View

Editorial Cartoon: Mike O’Brien

I had a very terrible experience at the University Book Center in Stamp Student Union and I am sure I am not the only one who has encountered this problem. I decided to drop a class today after realizing it was not what I thought it would be. It was MATH463: Complex Variables for Scientists and Engineers and, unfortunately, I bought two textbooks for the class from the University Book Center, totaling $250. I dropped the class today and immediately went to the Book Center, but found that I cannot get a refund for my textbooks. I do not know how it can be called the “University” Book Center if they do not allow students to return textbooks after dropping university classes in the appropriate time frame for the university drop date. The university drop date without receiving a “W” is Sept. 15, a full week after you can no longer get a full refund for your textbooks. It seems this policy is put into place to rip off students. This disgusts me, and I am again very upset that I dropped a class, came in with proof that I dropped the class on Sept. 9, and still cannot return the textbooks because I was one day late. This policy should have exceptions if students have proof they dropped a class, or the Book Center should at least move the deadline to refund textbooks so that it matches the deadline to drop a course at the university. I think this issue needs to be addressed and the policy needs to be revised. SARAH NIAZI ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SENIOR

Tailgating traditions

Book: A force that gives the campus meaning

omething missing in the educational experience students receive at this university is a common experience. The First-Year Book program, which offers freshmen a free book they can read together, tries to fill this gap. The trick is to find a book that is relevant; one that’s not too arduous to read and can interest people from all walks of life. Provost Nariman Farvardin hit it out of the park with this year’s selection: War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges. I read the book over the past few days, shouting quotes aloud to my roommates and doubting the school wanted everyone to read such a radical and insightful work. War Is a Force is partly a memoir of Hedges’ career as a war correspondent, and partly a theory about the seductive and destructive power of combat. Hedges doesn’t pull any punches, and the provost showed a great deal of courage — or a comparable lack of reading comprehen-

MALCOLM

HARRIS sion — in selecting his book. Hedges writes in the introduction, “Where else, but from the industrialized world, did the suicide hijackers learn that huge explosions and death above a city skyline are a peculiar and effective form of communication? They have mastered the language. They understand that the use of disproportionate violence against innocents is a way to make a statement. We leave the same calling cards.” This is pretty extreme material for the university to be endorsing and distributing. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s both insightful and accurate — but I wonder what the administration expects us to get from it. On the first page of the book is an

insert from Farvardin that says, “At a time when the United States is engaged in war, author Chris Hedges offers the university community the opportunity to examine the meaning of war, how wars begin, and the impact war has on our national psyche.” But Hedges doesn’t just give us the opportunity; he gives us his firsthand experience. And what he says is unambiguous. Hedges writes that war is meaningless. He writes that it’s started by the lies of politicians and turns all of us into blood-thirsty and racist “necrophiliacs.” If we believe Hedges (and I certainly do), then what are we to do, especially within our university community? The university is not exempt from the long tentacles of the military-industrial complex. University logos adorn ROTC posters and military recruiters stalk the halls. Anyone who walks into the engineering buildings need only look at the walls to see the companies that profit from bloodshed. They’re the corporations that fund

our school, and they don’t do it to be charitable. They do it because they need the next generation of engineers to make better bombs, planes and missiles — as if there were such things. Farvardin is the former dean of the engineering school; I wonder if he thought about why military contractors donate to the university when he read the book. We are complicit in the structures Hedges deplores. He didn’t write a book to open discussion — he wrote a polemic. War Is a Force is the agonized scream of someone who can’t watch any more mindless death. It deserves to be read by every student on the campus. Stop by the Mitchell Building and grab a copy. Maybe after you read it, you’ll look around you and ask some questions Farvardin and the rest of the administration aren’t ready for.

Malcolm Harris is a sophomore English major and government and politics. He can be reached at harrisdbk@gmail.com.

Slots: A risky bet to save the state budget

’m always a supporter of freedom of choice. I believe in people’s right to marry whoever they want and ingest whatever substances they want. I believe in a woman’s right to choose. I support your right to toss your money into a toilet bowl and flush it. And that’s essentially what slot machines are, but when it comes to the state’s plan to legalize them, I am completely against it. Don’t get me wrong; I think slots are great. It’s yet another way for the state to tax us less and get its nose out of our business. And while I accept gambling has been proven to breed addiction, debt, crime, violence and family breakups, these

problems don’t ever give the government the right to regulate private choices. But Gov. Martin O’Malley’s (D) plan to bring slots to the state reeks of the false pretenses O’Malley sold during his blitz to raise taxes during last year’s special session. State officials expect slot machines to raise $550 million in the first year of their implementation. Part of that money, as well as revenue from a corporate tax increase passed last fall, is budgeted for higher education. But just wait to see what happens if the slots bill is approved. Don’t count on lawmakers to keep their word. During the very session when representatives pushed slots, legisla-

NATHAN

COHEN

tors tried to cut millions from the University System of Maryland, including a sizable chunk of what they predict would be earned in the first year of having slot machines. In the spring last year, legislators drained $15 million from the Higher Education Investment Fund. And it’s already happening again. Tuesday, university President Dan Mote announced the state’s budget

shortfall could force cuts at the university. Besides, if the Board of Regents is so eager to jump on the slots bandwagon, why didn’t they push slots in any of Maryland’s college towns? To be fair, if slot machines are to benefit students, the students ought to participate in giving back. I want to see slots at Thirsty Turtle and Cornerstone. I want to see a fraternity member squatted over a video poker terminal, eyes fixed on the screen, tossing in quarter after quarter of his parents’ hard earned money. Nathan Cohen is a junior economics and journalism major. He can be reached at cohendbk@gmail.com.

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.

With the coming of each fall comes the annual tradition of Terrapin football and the pre-game tailgating that goes along with it. Many alumni, such as myself, come back to the campus in order to see friends, tailgate and support our Terps. However, it makes it very hard to enjoy a tailgate when you are being harassed by the police department. Throughout the day at the Aug. 30 football game against Delaware, I saw many instances of harassment by University Police in order to “keep the peace.” After the game, I saw a father walking around the parking lot with a beer in his hand and his young son by his side. An officer on a motorcycle approached him and told him that unless he threw out the beer, he would write him an open container citation. I understand the job of the police is to keep the peace and generally keep everyone safe on game days, but I do not understand tactics such as these. I cannot see how having a beer after the game would warrant such disrespectful conduct. I understand the spirit of the new regulations regarding tailgating; what I do not understand is the blatant disregard the police have for the campus community — members of Terrapin Club, a university athletics booster club, and students alike. We are not the enemy in situations such as these, but the rules put into place allow University Police to take the law into their own hands and look for trouble. One of my favorite pastimes is going to watch our football team play at other schools, and throughout all those trips, I have not been harassed by a single police officer. On the Saturday of the Delaware game, I was approached no fewer than four times by University Police officers telling me the rules in regard to tailgating. This is not the right way to treat a peaceful person who is trying to enjoy a great day with college friends and a few beers. I urge the university community to stand up to such atrocities, and I specifically urge the administration to allow our community to enjoy these tailgates. They provide a great way to come back to the campus and show our support for our university. SHAWN MAGNUSON CLASS OF 2008

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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S P I I K ME A S G ED I S T NK E A A K S

55 56 57 58 61

49 Immigration factor 50 Car with four doors 52 Milky Way unit 53 Identical

21 24

22 25

26 31

52 59

Tusked animal Fully qualified Cartel Dispatched Kitten’s plea

51 53

orn today, you may have to overcome perhaps more than your share of hardship in life, but as you do so, you will also gather so much learning and experience that enables you to fast become one of the most capable and confident individuals born under your sign — or any other sign, for that matter. You don’t do things halfway, and even while you are just starting out, you will do things in a way that is characterized by boldness and daring. There may be those who do not like what you do, but the way you do it is almost always to be admired, even by your harshest critics.

Life will be a constant and at times difficult process of learning and overcoming obstacles, and not all problems will come from without; those that come from within are often to be the most daunting — but those are the very ones that can be most satisfying to solve. Also born on this date are: Kristy McNichol, actress; Lola Falana, singer; Harry Connick Jr., singer and actor; Moby, musician; Brian De Palma, filmmaker; D.H. Lawrence, author; O. Henry, author.

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.

TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

L E E P I N TO CONS EWA Y N SURE EROS BUS RA T E ONE S S T ERS ERA T R I T E S E EM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Your contribution to another’s cause is likely to have a profound and lasting effect. Do what you can to do all you can. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Take the lead, and others will surely follow — though you needn’t, for a while, explain where you

are headed at all. Keep it a mystery. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — What appears straightforward is not likely to be what it seems when all is said and done — and vice versa. Interpret carefully. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — What are you waiting for? It’s about time you make a move in the direction of your primary goal; if you don’t, you may lose sight of it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Working out a tricky arrangement over the phone, long distance, may actually be much simpler than expected. Trust is a major factor. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You’re bound to be surprised by something you most deserve. You’ll find yourself in a position to share it with those around you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Don’t add fuel to the fire as others engage in the sharing of rumors and other falsehoods.

what you do with your resources will make all the difference at this time — and timing, again, is everything. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — This is a good day to dispel those myths and fears that others are still promoting — about you in particular. It’s time for more of the truth. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may be overdoing it these days, and now is the time to regain control and let self-discipline get you back on track. CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Don’t be so changeable and unpredictable that others are unwilling to give you any individual authority. Don’t stand in your own way. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You won’t be content doing the same old things — and you may be able to score a major victory in an unusual attempt. Be a little daring.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Take the ball and run with it;

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE SPONSORED BY:

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THURSDAY 8 pm-Close: $2 Domestics Rails $2 • Soco $3

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Happy Hour 4-7 pm: $2 Bud & Bud Light 16 oz. Drafts, 1/2 Price Appetizers

• R.J. BENTLEY’S •

M A H A L

A S T I

Sci-fi award Peace Prize city After which Dark as can be (hyph.) 41 Dental anesthetic

DOWN 1 Scratches 2 Inky, in verse 3 Timber wolf 4 Scent 5 Mesh 6 Sidekick 7 River in Russia 8 Banister post 9 Good jumper 10 Strolls 11 Gathers 12 K, to a jeweler 13 Downhill racer 21 Mama’s boy 23 Cash givers 25 Ready to streak 27 War club 28 Eddie Murphy’s — Foley 29 Caesar’s day 30 Switch positions 34 Seine moorage 35 Camel relative

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved: M E I R

36 37 38 40

• R.J. BENTLEY’S •

54 Meat on skewers 59 Play the trumpet 60 “Bonanza” brother 62 Highborn 63 Feed the kitty 64 Made an appearance 65 Hawk’s gripper 66 Pored over 67 Felt certain 68 On both feet

ACROSS 1 Juicy fruit 6 Spiky hair style 10 Places of refuge 14 Living quarters 15 Geometry problem 16 More than a snack 17 Sci-fi regular 18 Grassy expanse 19 Unadorned 20 Horse noises 22 Yellow tablet (2 wds.) 24 Type of microscope 26 Most current 27 “Material Girl” singer 31 Rental ad abbr. 32 Firing, slangily 33 Metric pounds 36 Steaming 39 Average grades 40 Mold filler (hyph.) 41 Talk effusively 42 Shade tree 43 Golden Fleece princess 44 Bird of prey 45 Make a note 46 Rainy season 48 Young pigeons 51 Craft or skill 52 Astronauts’ rides

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

CROSSWORD

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Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. For solutions, tips and computer program, see www.sudoku.com Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

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Easy one-day first jumps year round from 22-Jumper twin-engine airplane! Complete information is on WWW.SKYDIVEORANGE.COM or call (877) 348-3759.We offer complete courses of skydiving instruction for Skydiving certification & instructors ratings too! And don’t worry if you wet your pants.They’ll dry on the way down. GIFT CERTIFICATES!

TODAY’S SUDOKU PUZZLE SPONSORED BY:

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD POLICE DEPARTMENT Now hiring Police Officers! Starting salary $46,972$55,791 depending on prior law enforcement experience or military experience and up to $4000 in bilingual skills to include American Sign Language.

Minimum Requirements: - 60 College Credits - US Citizenship - Not less than 21 years of age at time of graduation from the Training Academy - Valid Drivers License - Successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation conducted by the department

“Make A Difference” PO3 Marc Verde Recruitment Officer marc.verde@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-773-5314 www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Classified RATES

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

CALL

301-314-8000

TO PLACE YOUR AD, OR BY EMAIL: ADVERTISING@DBK.UMD.EDU BY FAX: 301-314-8358

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DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM All Classifieds and Classified Display ads will run on our online edition at no additional charge.

SPECIAL Run the same classified or classified display ad for four consecutive days and get the 5th day

EMPLOYMENT

Mad Scientists!

Need Some Easy Spending $$...?

Up to $35/Class Hr.

Looking for a responsible college student to help single mom with twin boys after school 2 days a week, until around 8 pm. Help includes homework and household chores. We live in Silver Spring inside the Beltway at Georgia Ave. Rates negotiable. Call Beth at 301-588-2771.

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.

PT/FT VET TECH. In Potomac/Rockville. 1 deal for pre-vet. 301-299-6900.

OPENING SOON! Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse. All positions available: servers, box office, kitchen, etc. Apply ASAP: 11106 Veirs Mill Rd., adjacent to Wheaton Mall. jobs@montgomerydrafthouse.com Sitters Wanted. $10+ per hour. Register free for jobs near campus or home. www.student-sitters.com.

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

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.

GAIN FORTUNE 500 EXPERIENCE AND EARN $$$ Aflac needs motivated individuals for Intern, Part-Time, and Full-Time positions. Flexible work hours. Sales training is provided; earn a professional license in the process. #1 team in the US, work with the best! Contact David Miller, Aflac Special Projects Coordinator, 301-641-4446, d3_miller@us.aflac.com. 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.

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.

$$ PART-TIME HOURS/ FULL-TIME COMPENSATION $$ Starting $300-$600/week or more. Part-time evenings/Saturdays. Marketing/Sales. Call to meet Jon Mathers, 571-201-9983, or email talan@redcarpetremodeling.com. Located in N. Virginia area. www.redcarpetremodeling.com. Sales makes $250-$1000/hr.

Sheraton Washington North Hotel Looking for a Sales Manager. Experience preferred. Preferably looking for college graduate. Fax resumes to Shyni Poddar at 301-937-6307.

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.

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. 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.

Mad Science 301-593-4777 www.madscience.org/DC

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.

THE DIAMONDBACK is hiring

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

Part Time Physical Therapy Aide Needed for clinic in Rockville. 15-20 hours per week, must be available Mon. and Wed. afternoon and evening until 7:00 pm. Additional shifts also available. Please email resume to tsichelman@clarkept.com.

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

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

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

v m A

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

OFFICE HOURS

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

SERVICES

EBAY SALES

COLLEGE PARK

Knox Box Apts.

ROOM IN ALL GIRL HOUSE. THREE BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS. CONTACT 301-937-9500.

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

FAX SERVICE

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.

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

301-937-4230 CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP. Great pay, flexible hours! Small financial firm near Bethesda Metro. Excellent communication skills. $13/hour. PT or FT. Email resume: bethesdafinancialfirm@gmail.com. Bartending! $250/Day Potential. No Experience Necessary. Training Provided. 1-800-965-6520 x116

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

FOR SALE Furniture for Sale — 84 inch contemporary couch, gold, $100; white dresser with six drawers, $75; small wingback chair, recliner, mauve, $75; Ethan Allen dining room furniture table, hutch, 4 chairs, $400; table lamps (2), $25. 301-603-0837.

FOR RENT Houses/ Apts/ Rooms. College Park. 4/5/6 BRs. 410-544-4438. Apartments, Sublets & Roommates. List & Browse Free! 1-877-FOR-RENT/ 201-845-7300 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. 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. Walk to campus. Nice 5 bedroom house. Rent entire house or individual rooms. 301-918-0203 ROOM FOR RENT. Located at 8307 Potomac Ave., College Park. Available now. Close walk campus. $500/month. Call immediately. 301-509-7874

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

STUDENT HOUSE 4806 Hollywood Rd. College Park, MD 20740 3 bedrooms available $525 plus utilities Fully furnished Air conditioning Washer and dryer 2 blocks from Metro

7917 25th Ave. Hyattsville, MD 20783 1 bedroom available $485 with utilities included Fully furnished Air conditioning Washer and dryer 1 block from Metro

Call 301-580-0434 or email tomr1942@yahoo.com Apartment, 1 bedroom. Walking distance. College Park metro. $895. 301-335-7345 Hyattsville 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath house near UM shuttle and Hyattsville Metro. $1750. Ed 240-473-0820

WANTED

EARN $10.00 Enter Raffle for $50.00 * Participate in a study * One-time visit to UMD College Park * Complete questionnaires * Have your blood pressure taken

You May Be Eligible IF: * You are an Hispanic female * You are able to read and write in English * You are between the ages of 18-40 yrs.

EMAIL: csadak@psyc.umd.edu

SERVICES

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.

GOT EXTRA STUFF? THE DIAMONDBACK CLASSIFIEDS

ARE THE PERFECT PLACE TO SELL YOUR EXTRA STUFF. CALL 301-314-8000 MON.-FRI. 9:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. TO PLACE YOUR AD WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD.

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

Diamondback Business Office 3136 South Campus Dining Hall PHONE: 301-314-8000 Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

MISCELLANEOUS LOSE 16 POUNDS IN 30 DAYS. Satisfaction guaranteed. 1-800-805-6814. Ask for Tim

EARN $75 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. FEMINISM AND YOUR LIFE. Local consciousness-raising group for women. Please contact elzbss@gmail.com 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.

PERSONALS MICHAELA, WE DON’T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY!! HAPPY 21ST!!!! LIVE IT UP AND DO IT IN STYLE!! WE’LL BE THERE TO PICK YOU UP! LOVE, THE GIRLIES (A.K.A. MELISSA, KRISTA, PATTI, AND IRENE.... IN CASE YOU FORGOT :) )

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

Diversions

arts. music. living. movies. weekend. trailer watch MILK OPENS NOV. 26 Director Gus Van Sant has put aside his quiet, meditative feature work for what looks to be a triumphant return to mainstream cinema. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, the real-life gay rights activist and San Francisco’s first openly gay city supervisor, who was assassinated in 1978. The dusty, 1970s-authentic photography is spot-on in the trailer — just a glimpse of the good things to come.

BOLT OPENS NOV. 21 Disney’s non-Pixar animated affairs have been lacking as of late. But with Pixar-guru John Lasseter helping oversee work on Bolt, the dismal streak could come to an end. The trailer panders to a younger audience, but there’s a glimmer of the old Disney magic buried in the digital animation.

FAST AND FURIOUS OPENS JUNE 5 There’s really not much to be said of this one — pimpedout cars, airbrushed babes and the reunion of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Perhaps Universal thought dropping “the” from the title might help when audiences can’t differentiate between Fast and Furious and the first installment of the series. Or maybe the studio realized Dumb and Dumberer was already taken.

ALSO OPENING TOMORROW: ≠ The Women Starring: Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Annette Bening and Debra Messing

Eva Mendes in The Women

≠ Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys Starring: Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Tyler Perry and Cole Hauser

REVIEW | I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND

Dining with the King of hearts Czech submission to last year’s Oscars carries a lust for life and cinema server in a pub, working his way up to the top of his craft in the city’s landmark, Hotel Paris. We really know To say that Czech auteur Jirí Men- very little about the quirky protagozel’s I Served the King of England gives nist, aside from his childlike glee dean accurate picture of Prague before, rived from watching millionaires pick during and after World War II would up loose change he intentionally drops be somewhat misleading — without at their feet. Along his way to the upper echelons proper context. In the spirit of Charlie Chaplin and the many New Wave cine- of the waiting profession, the verticalmas, King of England casts realism ly challenged romantic falls in and out aside for a hyper-saturated reflection of bed with several beauties. He of what Menzel finds emotionally true. adorns each with flowers, money and The film, based on a Bohumil Hrabal fruit respectively, holding a mirror to novel, despises logic in a startling his nude masterpieces so they may lie world of eye-popping image and sound side by side with their reflections. Just as Díte gets his kicks in bed (or, (so startling, the Academy passed it over, as it did so many other incredible on a revolving table in one scene), films, for last year’s Best Foreign Lan- Menzel appears to get his own rush guage Film Oscar). Menzel’s lucid, from conducting Díte’s vivid musical dreamy style glosses over pre-war past. Rather than bathe everything in Jirí Menzel’s latest film may seem like a simple moral tale, but uses exciting visuals Prague, clashing against the drab a nostalgic light, Menzel and his ace and insightful dialogue to become much more. COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB grays of the German occupation and cinematographer, Jaromír Sofr, inject a shot of love into their bizarre, playful army woman, Líza (Julia Jentsch, So- money and Nazi Germany’s rise and the eventual Communist regime. phie Scholl: The Final Days), Díte be- fall as a backdrop — the individual Downplaying the dialogue (gratu- imagery. While serving his absurdly wealthy trays his Czech heritage for the only pieces may be greater than the puzitous narration aside), the director/writer composes a symphony (and slightly kinky) patrons at the se- woman he could literally see eye-to- zle. Still, it would be unfair (and incorrect) to reduce King of England to of food, money and sex. The pleasures cluded Hotel Tichota, Díte recalls the eye with. King of England prefers to keep a jazzed-up moral tale. of life inevitably succumb to the rise of comings and goings of shapely brothel Díte’s desire to become a millionNazi Germany as dreams beget night- women and cavorting millionaires set Díte’s moral struggle largely implicit mares, but the flare behind the camera to period music and a pitch-perfect — his recognition of the atrocities com- aire is not greedy so much as it is score. Their carefree, erotic ballet pro- mitted during World War II amounts to naïve. His motivations are not entirenever ceases. After a 15-year stint in a Czech vides an eerie juxtaposition later in the very little, save a heavy heart in his ly clear, and the reappearance of his prison, Jan Díte (Oldrich Kaiser, Shark film, when the hotel serves as the home post-prison years. He expresses some guiding figure, the clever businessvague regrets, but mostly, he just longs man Walden (Marián Labuda, Facing in the Head) gets released to a desolate to a Nazi, Aryan breeding ground. the Enemy), doesn’t help clear much Moving not as dancers and lovers for the past. area near the German border, where As he should — the earlier flash- up, either. he finds lodging in a pub long since but as machine work, the stunning But ambiguity serves King of Engabandoned by German villagers. naked blondes lose all their seductive backs intentionally outshine the latter Thrust back into his memories, Díte qualities. The SS men follow, not out of wartime sequences in decadence and land well. That the film never really visual excitement. The aforemen- ties together into any one intellectual narrates the years leading up to the passion but out of a sense of duty. In the same hall, Barnev’s Díte (now tioned revolving table scene — dur- theme only underscores the fleeting completion of his life goal: to become a tailored to more of a blonde Hitler than ing which rich men feed a scantily nature of Díte’s (i.e. Menzel’s) memomillionaire and open his own hotel. In his youth, Díte (Ivan Barnev, a Chaplin) has the first lifeless sexual dressed, Hotel Paris beauty — puts ry. It seems pointless to question a Night and Day) worked in Prague as a encounter of his life. Married to a Nazi on a wordless trance well-worth pin- film so delightful and unassuming — King of England simply needs to be ing over. An Ethiopian feast, a brothel seen and heard. called Paradise, a cabin room full of MOVIE:I Served the King of England | VERDICT: mirrors, musical trees, raining zherrm@umd.edu BY ZACHARY HERRMANN Senior staff writer

THE DIAMONDBACK | DIVERSIONS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Burn After Reading marks yet another wild success for the Coens

The Coen Brothers dial down the tragedy of No Country for Old Men and harken back to their days of absolute absurdity in Burn After Reading.

BY THOMAS FLOYD Senior staff writer

What could Joel and Ethan possibly do for an encore? After their grim masterpiece No Country for Old Men won the Oscar for Best Picture in February, the Coen Brothers had that, um, burning question to deal with. And to answer it, they assembled a renowned cast featuring three Oscar winners and two nominees — but to collaborate for a screwball black comedy, not another grisly drama. You have to give it to the Coens — no filmmakers transcend genres quite like they do. Returning to the darkly comic style they so

stunningly brought to life in Fargo, the brothers penned Burn After Reading as their next release after No Country for Old Men. A twisted and violent take on an otherwise frothy premise, this film really had little chance of ever going awry. Whether it be transporting Homer’s The Odyssey to Depression-era Mississippi in O Brother, Where Art Thou? or having stoner comedy-meets-L.A. noir with The Big Lebowski, nothing can beat the Coens when they are in fine genre-splicing form. So is Burn After Reading the next Fargo or Lebowski? No, but it is certainly a step up from Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers, the two most recent comedic turns from the brothers. And even though the film feels like a selfindulgent pleasure for the Coens, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it as well. Burn After Reading opens at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., where analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich, Beowulf) quits his job rather than face the indignity of demotion. His cheating wife, Katie (an icy Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton), sees this breakdown as the last straw in their crumbling marriage and compiles her husband’s financial records onto a CD as preparation for the divorce settlement. When the disc finds its way into a Washington gym’s locker room, overzealous trainer Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt, The Assassina-

tion of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) discovers Cox’s memoirs on the CD, which he believes to be “secret CIA shit.” The finding also intrigues Feldheimer’s coworker, Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand, who also happens to be Joel Coen’s wife, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), a 40-something bachelorette with a craving for drastic cosmetic surgery, though nervous manager Ted Treffon (Richard Jenkins, Step Brothers) thinks she is perfect as is. Along with Feldheimer, she decides to hold on to the CD and blackmail Cox, seeing a hefty fee as the gateway to her new look. Unwittingly caught in the middle of it all is twitchy treasury agent Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney, Leatherheads), who, while struggling through starkly mixed emotions about his own marriage, ends up bedding both Katie and Litzke. On its most basic level, Burn After Readingis the ultimate anti-conspiracy thriller. Paranoia takes over when everyone believes they are in way over their heads, even though their bumbling actions couldn’t be more inconsequential. Pitt, in particular, shines in a hilariously foolish role, with his campy performance fitting the part perfectly. As various paths are crossed and fates intertwined, the inept characters become all the more enthralling. Yes, the Coens make your sides hurt at times, but that isn’t their sole purpose — they thoroughly invest you in the story as well.

COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB

The film’s middle section does drag as the brothers weave the eccentric narrative threads together, including a subplot where Litzke tries to sell Cox’s memoirs to the unassuming Russian Embassy. But an unexpected twist gives the movie just the jolt it needs while heading into the final act. And as a warning to those still waiting to see Llewelyn Moss’ fate in No Country: The Coens once again shuffle some climactic scenes offscreen and leave us with an ending as abrupt as it is ambiguous. By the time the conclusion arrives, though, the intersecting plotlines are so tangled that the sudden finale comes as a welcome relief from the bedlam. Toward the end, David Rasche (All My Children) and J.K. Simmons (Juno) nearly steal the film in two hilarious scenes as bewildered CIA officials futilely attempting to piece together the puzzle. Eventually, it is Simmons’ character who dejectedly puts it best: “Jesus, what a clusterf---!” tfloyd1@umd.edu

MOVIE: Burn After Reading | VERDICT:

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM STONE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

Horsmon playing Terp lineup shuffle BY KATE YANCHULIS

2008

Staff writer

Senior Mary Beth Brown has been in and out of the Terps’ rotation this season. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

After a loss, coaches will often mix up their starting lineups. Terrapin volleyball coach Tim Horsmon is beginning to run out of combinations. The Terps (1-5) have not played as a cohesive unit, so they have tried combination after combination of players, all in an attempt to lift the team out of its current funk. “It’s been a revolving door for us,” Horsmon said. “We’ve been waiting for players to emerge and take control of the situation, but no one’s really stepped up to establish themselves.” The team’s struggles are not confined to just one position, so the team has not been able to establish any

VOLLEYBALL

consistency on the court. Different players are constantly pulled in and out of the rotation. At setter, Tedi Doucet and Hayley Hanson have been competing for the starting role. Doucet, a senior, was the starter last year. But previous injuries have limited her playing time, so the Terps have been forced to start Hanson in a two-setter rotation. Hanson has nearly two-thirds of all the Terps’ assists this year with 124 but still has not had the breakout performance coaches are looking for.

“Hayley has stepped up, but we still need to locate the ball a little better and communicate with our attackers a little bit better to improve not just our setting but our team overall,” Horsmon said. Even senior outside hitter Mary Beth Brown, who was named to the preseason All-ACC team, has not been immune to the rotation changes. She lost her starting job to freshman Maddi Lee for the VCU and Missouri matches after underwhelming performances in the first two matches. But despite an attacking percentage that is negative for the year at -.018, Brown has since earned back her starting job because neither Lee nor another outside hitter could take advantage of the opportunity.

And the musical chairs on the court continues. “Changing the lineup is always difficult in the beginning, but we’re trying to find our groove,” said outside hitter Maggie Schmelzle, perhaps the Terps’ most consistent performer. “We are still trying to find that group that clicks together and communicates well.” And until that happens, the team will continue to try new rotations and get the best team on the court as possible. “It’s still up in the air, even through the weekend,” Horsmon said. “We may actually try a couple new combinations this weekend. I just hope someone will step up to the plate.” kyanchulisdbk@gmail.com

SCHIMMEL

Terps have played up to opponents, as well SCHIMMEL, from Page 14 that the season started, and the Terps are playing meaningful football games, have gotten the team going? The Terps were simply not ready to play these first two weeks of the season against low-profile teams, and Saturday they got burned. “I really don’t have any explanation for it,” said cornerback Kevin Barnes, who allowed Blue Raider receiver Malcolm Beyah to scamper past him with just one shoe for a touchdown in Saturday’s game. “It’s really inexcusable. I’m part of it, so I’m just as guilty as anybody else.” The Terps spent a lot of time this week saying they need to learn from their mistakes against Middle Tennessee and move forward. But this is not the first time a loss like this has happened. Friedgen counted three losses last season that he figured the Terps should have won. That’s the difference between a very successful 9-3 regular season and the mediocre 6-7 season that occurred (including the loss to Oregon State at the Emerald Bowl). How many more winnable games do the Terps need to lose before they learn they have to be ready for every opponent on their schedule? “It’s frustrating considering every

win is important if you want to go to a good bowl, and this and that,” quarterback Chris Turner said. “But in the long run, [the loss] could be a good thing. … Hopefully we can learn from it, and hopefully it doesn’t bring us down and doesn’t divide us.” It is true Turner’s two best games last season, against Rutgers and Boston College, did come after bad losses the week before. So maybe he’ll be able to right the ship Saturday against a very good No. 23-ranked Cal team that is coming off a 66-3 win. As shocking as some of their bad losses are, the Terps do have a history of playing up to the level of superior competition as well, especially when people start counting them out. Rutgers and Boston College were two of the best teams on the Terps’ schedule last year, and it’s hard to ignore the parallels of those weeks with the current situation heading into the Cal game. But even if Turner does figure things out and the Terps somehow find a way to win, it should not have taken one of the worst losses in recent program history for the Terps to get ready to play. They should have been ready to go from the beginning. schimmeldbk@gmail.com

Backup quarterback Josh Portis and the Terps will face their toughest opponent yet Saturday. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

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THE DIAMONDBACK | SPORTS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Pensky experimenting with freshmen and veterans BY DAN MORRISON

2008

Staff writer

WOMEN’S SOCCER Terrapin women’s soccer coach Brian Pensky enjoys puzzles, but the one he’s faced One of the major positions Pensky is still with right now is taking a bit longer to solve trying to figure out who is best at is goalthan he’d like. In the off-season, Pensky brought in 12 keeper. Yewande Balogun started the first four freshmen and one junior in hopes of getting games of the season before defender/goalyounger while getting better. Now, the sixth-year head coach faces the keeper Mary Casey started in net in Sunchallenge of putting those players in spots on day’s win over Temple. Casey backed up Balogun last season and started the final the field where they can thrive. three games in goal after Balogun So far, it hasn’t been an easy broke her foot in the 15th game of task. the year. Through the first five games, When Casey is not in goal, she Pensky has sported a variety of anchors the defense at centerback. lineups. Only six players have If Casey remains the team’s starting started every game this season. On goalkeeper, Pensky must find a more than one occasion, the Terps replacement for her in the backline. have fielded a lineup of mostly At Wednesday’s practice, freshfreshmen and sophomores. man Becky Kaplan saw time in As the Terps finish their last few Casey’s defender spot, hinting that non-conference games in the next the junior may be starting her sectwo weeks, they will be focused on ond-straight game in net Friday. becoming more comfortable on the Pensky made no statement about field, no matter who’s out there. a definite starter. Pensky said it takes time to work BRIAN “We’re kind of treating it like an out the kinks but refused to use PENSKY that as a reason for the Terps’ lack WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH open competition,” Pensky said. “We haven’t made a final decision of production in the non-conference schedule. Though he’d rather find a yet, but right now we’re training as if lineup that clicks sooner than later, he said [Casey] was to be in goal on Friday night, but he sees this as an opportunity for the veteran that’s not an absolute yet.” With no absolutes in Pensky’s mind and younger players to share the field and regarding positions right now, the lineup grow as a team. “We have 13 new players,” Pensky said. puzzle remains unsolved. “It’s hard to figure out who belongs where and who’s best where.” dmorrisondbk@gmail.com

“It’s hard to figure out who belongs where and who’s best where.”

Mary Casey has shuffled between centerback and goalkeeper this season.

ALLISON AKERS/THE DIAMONDBACK

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

Terps figuring out set pieces Kassel, Zusi have led improvements on corner kicks BY AARON KRAUT

2008

Senior staff writer

MEN’S SOCCER The No. 8 Terrapin men’s soccer team scored on set pieces at such a dizzying rate last weekend that it’s hard to 14 UCLA. Even as the personnel has improved, believe the team ever struggled with coach Sasho Cirovski admitted there is them. That was the case during much of last some luck involved. “I thought we were pretty good at it season, but whether it’s because of betlast year, but I think we were a ter luck or the arrival of new little bit unfortunate. We were talent, the Terps are now hitting a lot of goal posts,” excelling at creating quality Cirovski said. “You always want chances off corner and free to be good in that area, and I’m kicks. glad we’re off to a good start.” In last weekend’s victories That doesn’t mean Cirovski over Hartford and Davidson, doesn’t prepare his team in the Terps scored three goals off practice for free kick situations. corner kicks from midfielder The Terps spend time practicMatt Kassel and one off a free ing their timing and spacing kick from midfielder Graham and even specific plays. Zusi. In the Terps’ 3-0 win against “I think it’s just personnel. I Hartford Friday, the team ran a know we have a lot of guys special corner kick play, similar back, but Kassel came in, and to one they saw Japan run in the he can serve a ball, and Zusi is Beijing Olympics in August. serving great this year,” said Kassel took the corner, but midfielder Drew Yates on the instead of playing it into the Terps’ improvement. “Put them box, the freshman made a short two together and a lot of athpass to midfielder Jeremy Hall. letic guys running in there, and Kassel cut toward the end line, the play just works.” got the ball back from Hall and Perhaps the most important set piece of the team’s first four DREW YATES quickly made a low cross in front of the net, where midgames came in its very first JUNIOR MIDFIELDER fielder Doug Rodkey kicked it game. Defender Sean Flatley on a Zusi corner connected for the in from close range. “We worked on it in California, but we equalizer in the 90th minute of the Terps’ 2-1 overtime win against then-No. didn’t get to run it during those games.

“I know we have a lot of guys back, but Kassel came in, and he can serve a ball, and Zusi is serving great this year.”

We tried it out here, and it was perfect,” Hall said. “Our service this year has just been perfect — right on the head or at the foot — so that’s helped us out a lot.” While Kassel’s arrival has helped in that area, he said the key to a good service isn’t very complicated. “It’s just about getting a good service in there and letting the guys battle for it in there,” Kassel said. “You want to make it easy for them to put it on with a header or a little neck notch or something. It’s not much more than that.” To their credit, the Terp goal finishers have been equally impressive in their execution of set pieces this season. With athletes like Hall, who headed in a set piece last weekend, and defender Omar Gonzalez, who at 6-foot-5 provides a large target, the job of Zusi and Kassel becomes easier. Though Yates hasn’t been on the scoring end of a Zusi or Kassel delivery this season, he said, sometimes, a finisher’s job is to create openings for his teammates. “Everyone wants to score, and everyone is making hard runs,” said Yates, who led the Terps with eight goals last season. “If you make a hard run, even if you don’t get the ball, you’re pulling guys with you and leaving someone else open.” With the way the Terps have been performing on set pieces so far, Yates and his teammates might find themselves open for goals all season long. akrautdbk@gmail.com

Midfielder Rodney Wallace celebrates after scoring a goal off a corner kick from freshman midfielder Matt Kassel. Wallace’s athleticism makes him a potent target. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

FREE CLASSIFIEDS Run your classified for 4 consecutive days and receive the 5th day Midfielder Matt Kassel has been a key ingredient in the Terps’ newfound success on corner kicks thanks to his excellent service placement. Last weekend, he assisted on three goals off corner kicks in two games. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

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THE DIAMONDBACK | SPORTS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Perez impressing his teammates PEREZ, from Page 14 go out there and make some plays and try to get back on the map, get our team back on the map.” Perez has been waiting for the chance since he left USC after his freshman season. He played in seven games and recorded three tackles on a Trojan defense stacked with future NFL players, including 2008 NFL Draft top-10 choices Keith Rivers and Sedrick Ellis. But Perez, who graduated from high school early to join the Trojans for spring practice in 2006, missed his family and questioned if his playing time would increase. After consulting with former Terp defensive end Kevin Eli and current linebacker Jeff Clement, who both lived in his neighborhood in southern New Jersey, Perez decided to become a Terp. “I just felt I had a better opportunity to come back closer to home and have a new start somewhere else,” said Perez, who has notched four tackles in two games this season. Senior cornerback Kevin Barnes said he initially wondered why a guy from USC would want to leave the glamour of a perennial national powerhouse to become a Terp. He stopped caring when he saw the

Terrell Skinner’s injury Saturday left Antwine Perez in line to inherit the starting position against No. 23 Cal this weekend. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

highlight video Perez brought with him of big hits he’d leveled at Trojan practices. “He was destroying guys,” Barnes said. “I think one time he crushed [current Carolina Panther] Dwayne Jarrett on a post route. I was like, ‘OK, I’m glad he’s on my team.’” But before Perez could show his

abilities in a Terp uniform, he had to sit out a year and get comfortable with life at a new school. Early on, Perez fell behind with his schoolwork and went through a tough adjustment period. At one point, coach Ralph Friedgen even called his parents in for a talk. Perez said he just needed to focus

and “get my head on straight.” “There were just a lot of things that were going on that contributed to me not doing what I was supposed to do,” Perez said. “Everything is going pretty good now. I’m doing extremely well in the classroom.” And after playing on the scout team last season, he’s finally getting a chance on the field. Skinner beat out Perez in preseason camp for the starting spot, but coaches have worked Perez into games in situations where he can use his hitting ability. Perez said with the way Skinner performed in camp and the first two games (14 tackles and an interception), he didn’t feel slighted to be on the depth chart behind his friend. But with Skinner out of the lineup, the Terps will need big production from the player linebacker Dave Philistin called the “John Lynch of our defense,” a reference to the former All-Pro safety known for dealing out crushing blows. Friedgen said Perez will need to work on his pass coverage skills to be successful this season, and the Terps will rotate in junior Jamari McCollough, who has better pass defense skills, in certain situations. Defensive coordinator Chris Cosh said there’s a reason Skinner was No.

“He was destroying guys. I think one time he crushed [current Carolina Panther] Dwayne Jarrett on a post route. I was like, ‘OK, I’m glad he’s on my team.’” KEVIN BARNES SENIOR CORNERBACK

1 on the depth chart out of camp, but believes Perez can raise his game. That’s a good bet if Perez, who still talks with many of his former Trojan teammates on a weekly basis, can tap into the potential that earned him a chance to play in one of the nation’s elite football programs. And Perez, ranked No. 29 in the 2006 high school class by Rivals.com, has a gut instinct for dealing out punishment on the field that translates to any team he plays for. “He’s always been that way,” Friedgen said of his new starting safety. “I don’t worry about that. He’ll hit you.” edetweilerdbk@gmail.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Sports

STX/NFHCA NCAA D1 Field Hockey Coaches’ Poll Top 10 School 1. TERRAPINS 2. Wake Forest 3. North Carolina 4. Iowa 5. Connecticut

Record

Prev.

(4-0) (4-0) (2-2) (2-2) (3-0)

2 3 1 5 4

P LAYING D OWN PLAYING DOWN T OT HEIR TO THEIR C OMPETITION COMPETITION

School

Record

Prev.

6. Duke (3-1) 7. Syracuse (4-0) 8. Virginia (4-0) 9. James Madison (2-1) 10. Michigan State (3-1)

12 18 11 7 10

From powerhouse to playing time USC transfer Perez to start for sidelined Skinner BY ERIC DETWEILER Senior staff writer

Kick returner Torrey Smith and the Terps have struggled in the past with consistency, especially against weaker opponents. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

GREG

SCHIMMEL

lot of things were frustrating about the Terrapin football team’s 24-14 loss to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. A stagnant offense that couldn’t move the ball, other than for two big plays, was not very good.

The defense’s inability to put any pressure whatsoever on Blue Raider quarterback Joe Craddock didn’t sit too well, either. But the thing that is most troublesome about the Murfreesboro debacle is it continues a disturbing trend for the Terps these past few seasons — playing down to the level of their inferior competition. “I don’t want to rationalize, but I don’t think we were as focused as we needed to be,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. Why does this so often

“I don’t want to rationalize, but I don’t think we were as focused as we needed to be.” RALPH FRIEDGEN TERRAPIN FOOTBALL COACH

seem to be the case? Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey called Saturday’s loss a “reality check.” Center Edwin Williams said the Terps now know they

have to work harder in practice this week if they’re going to be ready to beat California. “We need to take our game to another level,” Williams said. But why should a team with this many veterans have to lose a game against a bad team before its players realize they need to wake up? Shouldn’t the Terps’ muchtoo-close-for-comfort win against Delaware have set off some alarms? Shouldn’t the simple fact

Please See SCHIMMEL, Page 9

2008

Antwine Perez was shocked FOOTBALL when he began classes at this university. The campus was much big- when he transferred from USC ger than the one he was used to in January 2007. But after sitat the University of Southern ting out a season due to NCAA transfer rules, Perez says he is California. exactly where he The football prowants to be. gram was not. The 6-foot-1, 200“Out there, pound sophomore you’re on such a known for his feropedestal to everycious hitting came one,” said Perez, off the bench in the whose Trojan team Terps’ first two won the Rose Bowl games this season, and finished No. 4 but starter Terrell in the nation in his Skinner sustained a lone season. “It’s right high-ankle just so traditional sprain in Saturout there. With all ANTWINE PEREZ day’s loss at Middle the history of foot- SOPHOMORE SAFETY Tennessee. Skinner ball, champiwill be out two to onships [and] Heisman Trophies, there’s so much three weeks, and Perez will expectation you’ve got to live make his first career start Saturday against No. 23 Califorup to.” All the differences were a nia. “It is a big opportunity,” little overwhelming to the TerPerez said. “I get a chance to rapin free safety. Perez initially struggled to adjust to life at the university Please See PEREZ, Page 12