September 19, 2012

OPINION

SPORTS

SGA President Samantha Zwerling writes in p. 4

Terps football struggles to settle on starting running back p. 8

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

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WEdnesday, september 19, 2012

Mont. County police confirm Sat. incident U. Police say off-duty officer pulled gun in Lot 1

By Fola Akinnibi Staff writer Montgomery County Police have confirmed an off-duty county police officer’s involvement in a traffic dispute on the campus Saturday, in which he reportedly pulled a weapon on an individual.

For now,University Police are in charge of determining what occurred in the Saturday afternoon incident, in which an officer allegedly struck a man with his car in Lot 1 and then drew his weapon to subdue an in-

dividual on the scene,Montgomery County Police spokesman Capt. Paul Starks said.

Montgomery County Police Internal Affairs will then decide whether disciplinary action is necessary.

“Clearly there’s allegations from both sides,”Starks said.“When that investigation is complete, or close to complete, then our [Internal Affairs] will determine if any of our departmental rules have been violated.”

Montgomery County Police have not See UPDATE, Page 2

Federal aid program cuts slated for January No alternatives to debt ceiling triggers voted on

By Jim Bach Senior staff writer The happiness foundation seeks to honor university student John Hoover and Magruder High School students Spencer Datt and Haeley McGuire, who died in a drunk driving accident last year. Students and Terps athlete members encourage others to value life and not take it for granted. photos courtesy of kushal choxi

HAPPY DAYS After drunk driving accident kills three, students join Happiness Foundation

By Savannah Doane-Malotte Staff writer Sporting neon shirts and wide smiles, university students have jumped onboard a campaign for happiness in the hopes of brightening and

empowering the community after the loss of three of their own.

Students and Terps athletes have worked to establish a campus presence for The Happiness Foundation, which was formed in the aftermath of a drunk driving accident in Mont-

gomery County that claimed the lives of university student John Hoover and Magruder High School students Spencer Datt and Haeley McGuire, last May. Sophomore economics major See happiness, Page 3

If what has become a bitterly divided Congress doesn’t compromise on how to reduce future deficits,budget-cutting measures are likely to come down hard on higher education federal aid programs next year.

After a congressional “super-committee” comprised of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to agree on long-term savings in November that would stabilize a mounting federal deficit, across-the-board cuts and tax hikes that automatically go into effect in January were instead set in motion. These budget reductions would affect several programs — and higher education is no exception.

“The fact that they’re cutting education at all is totally counterintuitive to the

“The fact that they’re cutting education at all is totally counterintuitive to the basic tenants of economics.”

SARAH BAUDER

Financial aid director

basic tenants of economics,” said Sarah Bauder, this university’s financial aid director. “When students receive degrees, they tend to get jobs and they tend to put more money back into the economy.”

A report by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget warned Friday automatic budget cuts, known as sequestration, would be “deeply destructive.”

See CUTS, Page 3

Telling her story Alumna now coming to terms with her abortion after being raped as a student

By Laura Blasey Staff writer It’s a fact that in 2002, 1.29 million abortions took place in the United States. It’s also a fact that the age group with the highest rate of unintended pregnancy in 2006 was women between 20 and 24.

It’s a fact that the 43 percent of unintended pregnancies in 2006 ended in abortion. In 2005, The Guttmacher Institute reported that there were 34 facilities that performed abortions in the state in 2008.

But those are just facts. They’re swapped like trading cards between politicians and organizations, tailored and even distorted to fit any given prolife or pro-choice argument.

Facts sound simple and clear, however accurate they may be. But

INDEX

as static as facts may seem, the issue of abortion isn’t so black and white.

Women who have been there say it’s anything but an easy decision, and the politics aren’t helping.

Anita Pathik Law is a wife, mother, author, lyricist, radio show host, spiritual life coach, 14-year veteran of the state criminal justice system and founder of Annapolis-based Dare Dreamers. She’s also a former university student and rape victim.

In 1988, 19-year-old Pathik Law went drinking with friends. One of the young men there took advantage of her after she was intoxicated.

Pathik Law said because of the alcohol-induced haze of the evening and the traumatic experience of being assaulted, she couldn’t remember exactly See abortion. Page 3

cumberland hall is one of several dorms that will receive a more reliable wireless Internet connection. The initiative is part of the five-year Network Research Project to establish modern wireless services on the campus. The project includes 250 buildings, 90 of which have already been upgraded. file photo/the diamondback

More dorms receiving better Internet Network Research Project includes 250 buildings, 90 upgraded so far

By Fatimah Waseem Staff writer Several more dorms will have a faster, more reliable Internet connection in the coming months as the university nears the final stages of a five-year project to bring the campus up to speed with modern

NEWS 2 OPINION 4 FEATURES 5 DIVERSIONS 6 CLASSIFIED 6 SPORTS 8

wireless services.

Three years since the university launched the Network Research Project, which spans 250 buildings, the project has upgraded more than 90 facilities on the campus, including Leonardtown apartments 1 to 12 and Prince George’s, Montgomery and Queen Anne’s halls. The

Submit tips to The Diamondback at news@umdbk.com

residence halls where students experienced the most problems logging on to the Internet, including Bel Air, Calvert, Cambridge, Cecil, Chestertown, Easton and Dorchester, received an additional 117 routers to improve connectivity over

For breaking news, alerts and more follow us on Twitter @thedbk

See wireless, Page 2

© 2012 THE DIAMONDBACK

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

WIRELESS

UPDATE

ON THE BLOG

From PAGE 1 the summer.

Other residence halls will be refreshed in the next two years, including Anne Arundel, Cumberland, Denton, Ellicott, Hagerstown, La Plata and Kent halls, as well as apartments in South Campus Commons and The Courtyards. A committee determined the order in which the Division of Information Technology would update the buildings based on college and school priorities, taking into account Facilities Management plans for construction and renovations, according to DIT spokeswoman Phyllis Johnson.

“Seventy percent of t he network’s equ ipment wa s categorized as obsolete [in 2009], and about 80 percent of ca mpu s bu i ld i ngs were cabled with wiring that did not support modern network speeds,” she said.

The university has one of the largest-known wireless networks among public research universities, and the campus identifies more than 20 weak spots for Internet connectivity, including Byrd Stadium, Reckord Armory, Turner Hall, the Cambridge Community Center and Comcast Center, according to a DIT coverage report updated in July.

DIT aims to improve connectivity speeds across the campus by 2014, as well as revamp the university’s wireless security and increase available bandw idth, ma k i ng it easier to stream video. The project will cost more than $61 million, funded by university central funds, student technology fees and data user service fees, Johnson said.

In addition to improving connectivity, the project will also enable Internet telephony, the type of service that includes Skype and Google Talk, for university employees, and enhanced 911 phone services. It will unify campus communication systems, many of which are mandated by state auditors for security purposes, putting the whole campus on the same level when it comes to access and security, according to Gerry Sneeringer, DIT security, privacy and policy director.

“All academic buildings and residence halls and many public areas have full wireless coverage,” Sneeringer said. “This project is about making something good better.”

In order to boost Internet security, the division will use wired network authentication, fi rewall services for university departments and intrusion prevention, and will possibly install equipment mandated by the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, Sneeringer added.

Senior accounting and marketing major Joseph Sakla said he has seen the Internet connectivity improve.

“The only issues I’ve had with connection signal problems was my freshman year living in Centreville — my room just d id n’t get g reat signal,” he said.

Some st udents, s uch a s senior elementary education major Sarah Colleen Craynon, said problems still arise when numerous people log on to t h e u n i v e r s i t y ’s n e t w o rk simultaneously.

“I think that the quality of connection isn’t equipped to keep up when a whole class needs to get online, or like in Stamp [Student Union], when so many people log on, it gets slow,” Craynon said. “I am in the Benjamin Building almost 24/7, and so many times it just makes us log on again every 10 minutes, because we lost connection.”

Officials said the university is on track to complete the upgrades by 2014 after cutting the in itiative dow n from a 10-year plan.

“We cut the project down to a five-year project to keep up with the technology curve,” Johnson said. “It’s a work in progress.” waseem@umdbk.com

From PAGE 1

photo courtesy of globalgrind.com

POLITICS: Romney’s campaign incompetence borders on absurd Last spring’s popular HBO political flick, Game Change, gave us a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when a dysfunctional, loudmouthed Republican campaign goes up against the logistically and politically savvy Barack Obama election machine. As the movie and preceding book show, verbal slip-ups and lack of rhetorical and political awareness can derail a campaign in a hurry.

To read more, check out The Diamondback’s student blogs at diamondbackonline.com.

suspended or disciplined the officer involved in the incident, Starks said, and University Police spokesman Capt.

Marc Limansky declined to identify the individual in question because the department did not make any arrests.

University Police responded to a call Saturday afternoon to assist the off-duty cop involved in a dispute with two men, aged 30 and 31. The individuals were reportedly walking in Lot 1 when the officer allegedly struck one ma n w ith h is ca r m i rror, who in response reportedly threw his water bottle onto the windshield of the officer’s Honda Civic.

The off-duty officer reportedly drew his weapon to subdue one of the individuals

until police arrived, though the events that prompted the officer to take action are unclear based on statements taken on the scene, Limansky said.

No injuries were reported and the individuals cooperated w it h t he of f-dut y officer until police arrived.

University Police conducted a field sobriety test and determined the off-duty cop was not intoxicated at the time of the incident.

A n o f f-d u t y o f f i c e r i s allowed to draw his weapon under certain circumstances, according to Starks.

“If an officer feels that he is threatened or someone else is threatened, there are circumstances where he can draw his service revolver,” he said.

One witness said the officer seemed belligerent and overly aggressive, but according to Limanksy, the

“if an officer feels that he is threatened, or someone else is threatened, there are circumstances where he can draw his service revolver.”

CAPT. PAUL STARKS

Montgomery County Police spokesman s t ate m e nt s t a ke n on t he scene con f l ict w it h each other. University Police plan to view video evidence and speak again with witnesses in order to paint a clearer picture of the incident.

“We’ll look at any video a n d i n t e r v i e w w i t n e s ses,” Limansky said. “If we believe there was a crime committed [on either side], we will file charges.” akinnibi@umdbk.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

ABORTION

cation, the debate can get very heated because it plays a lot on peoples’ morals,” Catholic Terps From PAGE 1 pro-life representative Becca w h a t h a p p e n e d m o n t h s Wagman said. “On a college later. So the incident went campus, it hits home more and becomes more personal .” unreported.

As a result, the politics of “I did not respond to the experience in the way that I had abortion are taking on multiple imagined myself,” she said. dimensions — there aren’t just “I was embarrassed, I was one or two points of view.

Other factors play into the ashamed. At that point in my maturity, I had put the blame debate: What should the law say and should there be exon myself.”

A few weeks later, Pathik ceptions? To whom does the Law discovered she was preg- government have a greater duty to protect? What are the nant with her rapist’s child.

“At that point, I couldn’t long-term effects?

“If a woma n ca n’t have imagine carrying the child of someone who had assaulted complete control over her me,” she said. “I couldn’t even body, it will put her out of work ... she’ll have to pay more see that as a choice.”

Accompanied by her mother money for health insurance,” and her mother’s assistant, said Jill Santos, Feminists for Pathik Law went to a local family Sexual Health vice president.

“I believe in the dignity of planning clinic and had an abortion, heckled and bombarded life and that each life is prewith insults from protesters as cious. It shouldn’t be the government telling me what the she walked through the doors.

“The experience of having an defi nition of a baby is, espeabortion after the rape was, on cially with Obamacare going some level, even more traumatic, on and making employers but at that point in time, I know it who don’t believe in abortion was the right decision,” she said. or contraception give it emThe upcoming November ployees,” said Beatrice Torelection has paved the way for ralba, a member of Catholic contentious issues like abor- Terps. “Women should have tion to come to the forefront a choice — but that choice should be whether to have of people’s minds.

“I think definitely in any lo- sex, not whether to keep the

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life created inside of them.”

Some politicians, such as conservative Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin, who made national headlines after stating that in cases of “legitimate rape,” a woman’s body can detect the offending sperm and prevent pregnancy, believe that abortion, under any circumstances, should be illegal. Republican Vice President candidate Paul Ryan has said he supports abortion only in cases where carrying the pregnancy to term puts the mother’s life at risk.

Despite ru n n i ng on the ticket with Ryan, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney differs from his Republican counterparts, supporting abortion in case of rape or incest and for the mother’s health. Both Romney’s and Ryan’s political records have shown their positions evolving over time.

D u ri ng h is Sen ate r u n, Rom ney suppor ted abortion rights. And while Ryan was previously stricter on his pro-life stance, his stance has also loosened, most noticeably after Akin’s comments.

The liberal side of the spectrum has its own range of views.

“I am pro-life, I am absolutely pro-life,” Pathik Law said. “But I am also pro-choice.”

Pregnancy as a result of rape is relatively rare, occurring in

about 5 percent of cases, according to a 1996 Medical University of South Carolina study. Those pregnancies fall under the category of “unintentional” — the most common reason for seeking an abortion.

College women have the highest risk of becoming victims in the United States, according to the National Institute of Justice.

No factor raises the risk more than alcohol, and it’s one of the main reasons, experts say, that one in four female college students will become a victim of sexual assault before graduation.

“If you had asked me if that young man, that acquaintance, would ever do anything like that, I would have said absolutely not,” Pathik Law said. “But when you mix alcohol in, it’s just a dangerous combination.”

But Santos said she sees people on the campus becoming more proactive in voicing their beliefs.

“As it’s getting more attention in the election, I think more people are starting to realize what a big issue it is,” Santos said. “I still don’t think enough people really know all the effects that would happen if women did start to lose ... some of the rights that are up for debate, unfortunately, in this election.” blasey@umdbk.com

Spirit Squad members wear Team Happiness shirts after pledging to not drink and drive, inspired by the 2011 death of a university student and two others. photo courtesy of kushal choxi

HAPPINESS From PAGE 1 Kushal Choxi and two other friends helped launch Team Happiness, wanting to honor their classmates’ deaths by encouraging others to value their lives.

“The community and myself were devastated after the accident. Before this tragedy, I took life for granted,” he said. “Setting up The Happiness Foundation and reaching out to other peers really helped me and some of my friends to cope with the tragedy.”

The idea for Team Happiness began with a doodle, a drawing McGuire created years before and had saved as her sister’s computer screensaver. After her death, McGuire’s father designed a T-shirt with the logo to hand out to funeral attendees. The “Happiness” shirts and their simple design became a popular sight in the community, worn by dozens of students, parents and teachers.

Kushal, McGuire’s parents and other founding members began distributing them at Magruder’s sporting events in exchange for two promises from students: First, they will never drink and drive, and second, they will never get in a car with someone who is intoxicated.

“We didn’t want our child’s death to be in vain,” said Haeley’s mother, Elisa McGuire. “It’s such a preventable tragedy.”

More than a year and 15,000 T-shirts with the words “Don’t Drink and Drive” later, the foundation is continuing its fight against drunk driving beyond the Magruder community. Friends of the victims at several universities have requested shirts for their teams and organizations, and new Happiness clothing is being sold to benefit the foundation.

The movement is still growing and has shifted to an even stronger focus on helping communities stand against drunk driving, an issue that plays a dangerous role in students’ social lives on many college campuses. Last year, University Police arrested about 596 people for driving under the influence of alcohol, and about

cuts From PAGE 1 And higher education stands to take a hit.

T he Federal Work Study program, which helps students pay for college through subsidized employment, could see a $76.2 million cut, affecting 51,577 students nationwide, according to a July report by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). Bauder said this university has seen several cuts to this program over the years, which comes as a disadvantage to students who she said generally get good grades, graduate and learn time management skills.

This university’s program had about 3,900 students in 2006, but has dwindled to about 2,000, Bauder said.

“Why cut the very programs that actually benefit students in every other area of college?”

Bauder said.

While Pell grants are largely immune to drastic cuts, other need-based federal aid programs could see a reduction. For example, Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants could take a $57.3 million cut, with 110,543 fewer students receiving aid, Harkin’s report shows.

Sequestration came as an alternative solution, issuing indiscriminate cuts to programs both parties support in the hope that a Congress largely unwilling to compromise would come

220 people this year since June, according to the department.

And in the first week of school, alcohol transports reached a three-year high of 28.

Several university sports teams and colleges have requested shirts, including sophomore Terps gymnast Katy Dodds, a Magruder High School graduate who shared her friends’ story with her team and gave them all shirts in return for their pledges.

Senior accounting and information systems major Girish Chaskar, Smith Undergraduate Student Association’s marketing vice president, invited the Happiness crew to the business school’s annual spring festival, Smithstock, to hand out T-shirts and raise awareness for their cause.

“Together I think Team Happiness and UMD can make the world a better place,” Kushal said.

Junior family science major Alison Iovino said losing her friends, McGuire, Datt and Hoover, hit close to home and pushed her to get the word out about the dangers of drunk driving. To get the university’s cheerleading team involved, she and other team members sported their Happiness Tshirts at the Terps football home game before more than 30,000 people last Saturday.

“I know that many kids think that they’re invincible and won’t think twice about drinking and driving,” Iovino said. “When it happens to you or someone you know, it really opens your eyes to the issue and makes you want to do something about it.”

Team Happiness hopes to establish a club at the university to promote their cause, Choxi said, and the founders hope through their efforts, they can prevent the devastation of drunk driving.

“I get a good feeling when I see random people wearing the shirts or hear stories about individuals who were going to drive home intoxicated, but then saw a Happiness shirt or sticker on a car and decided to get another ride home,” Choxi said. “It makes all the time invested worth it.” doanemalotte@umdbk.com

up with thoughtful, long-term budget solutions, rather than risk devastating cuts.

“It was intentionally designed to be stupid, to be across-theboard cuts that don’t define between a program that should be eliminated entirely or a program that has such great returns on investment that we should probably be increasing funding to,” said Brian Kessler, an economist for Moody’s Analytics.

As it stands, sequestration will go into effect. Kessler said Congress needs to find a way to reduce future deficits. Every year since 2009 has seen $1 trillion added to the federal debt.

“The unsustainable path that the deficit is on is something that has to be addressed sooner or later,” Kessler said. “I think the question is how to do it in the smartest way possible.”

With an election less than two months away and both parties vying for power, it’s unlikely anyone will come up with a plan in lieu of sequestration, Kessler said. Hesitancy to act amid political pressures has fueled some students’ criticisms that Congress is dragging its feet while important programs hang in the balance.

“I think it’s really concerning,” said Evan Pappas, a senior government and politics major. “It just shows that divided government isn’t effective.” bach@umdbk.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Opinion

YASMEEN ABUTALEB Editor in Chief

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mike King

Managing Editor

Tyler Weyant

Managing Editor

maria romas Opinion Editor

nadav karasov

Assistant Opinion Editor

CONTACT US 3150 South Campus Dining Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | news@umdbk.com OR opinion@umdbk.com PHONE (301) 314-8200 FAX (301) 314-8358

GUEST FEATURE

From the SGA president: Help us help you SAMANTHA ZWERLING It’s that time of year again, when the student body president writes an introductory letter in The Diamondback and tells everyone how great the Student Government Association is, and explains all about how students can get involved. Although I am going to touch on all of those things, I’m also going to tell you tangible steps we’ve already accomplished and describe how we’re improving the organization.

First, I’m extremely proud of our kick-ass communications team.

Everyone reading this should like our page on Facebook (facebook. com /UMDSGA) and follow us on Twitter (@UMDSGA). We have a great photographer and a very

talented graphic designer who are making sure our pages are interactive and visually appealing. Those pages will give you the most up-to-date information on what we’re working on, who said what at the meetings and how you can get involved.

On the student involvement front, we are hoping to form more Dean’s Student Advisory Councils. Within the next two weeks, the business school will see its first DSAC thanks to the hard work of the SGA vice president of academic affairs, the SGA business school representatives and Associate Dean Victor Mullins. This is a huge step in providing students with input on their own education.

The quick progress with the business school offers confidence that we will be able to replicate this throughout the university.

One of the biggest ways the SGA is working to connect with the student

body is through weekly polling. I campaigned on the need to focus more on outreach, and implementing this system is a major step to promote student engagement. The SGA legislature will poll its constituencies on campus issues, talking to about 1,000 students every week. Obviously, we’re not Gallup, and the polls will be subject to human error, but this will give us a loose understanding of how the campus feels on the given issues.

The polling will accomplish a few things. First, it will help students understand what the SGA is working on. Students only hear from the SGA during campaign time, and that’s a disservice to us all. When students know what we’re working on, they’re more likely be engaged in the decisions that shape their student experiences. Second, it will allow the SGA to gather student input and reveal the

Why I write

issues students really care about. We can’t be a representative body if we aren’t talking to students. The SGA needs to know what students care about in order to effectively advocate for them. Third, it will give the SGA leverage when talking with university administrators. In using specific data, the SGA can more clearly articulate student opinion.

And really, the SGA needs a mechanism to mobilize students at the drop of a dime. We don’t know what issues may arise, but I want to ensure the SGA is ready to rally and organize students if necessary. With such a system in place, the SGA will be able to generate thousands of letters to the university, city or state. It will make us a formidable body on campus by effectively organizing the undergraduate population.

Polling will fundamentally change the focus of the SGA. When you’re

in the organization, it’s easy to lose sight of the SGA’s role while meeting with university administrators and state officials. I know there’s a perception that the SGA is an insular group of highly engaged students, and my hope is polling will give the SGA an institutionalized way to reach out to students. At the end of the day, if we’re not connected to you, then what are we here for?

If you believe in this vision, visit our jobs board (sgajobs.wordpress. com). There, you can find applications for all of our open positions, as well as where and when our committees meet.

Samantha Zwerling is a junior e n v i ro n m e n t a l s c i e n c e a n d policy major and the president of the SGA. She can be reached at sgapresident@umd.edu.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

And why you should read OSAMA ESHERA In the past year, I’ve written 16 columns for The Diamondback.

Though I wrote on a wide variety of topics, I feel I’ve grown to develop a unique voice for myself. But as I reflected on that experience and forecast this year, I found myself questioning the real impact of my writings — am I really able to motivate people to change their actions, or are my words just empty rhetoric? Can I at least expose my peers to new perspectives on old issues in any memorable way?

I thought it might be useful — for myself and for my readers — to be a bit more explicit about why I write (and in turn, why you should read).

Near the beginning of summer 2011, I was listening to a lecture in which the professor used a metaphor that perfectly captures my motivation. The professor argued that most people in our society are “bonsai-ed.”

Bonsai is a rich art form of Japanese and Chinese origin in which miniature trees are grown in containers.

In order to keep the plants confined to their containers, the roots must be substantially and consistently pruned until they fit in the desired pot. The objective of bonsai is to keep the trees the same size and prevent them from growing. This is done by periodically pruning the roots and re-potting the plant into the same container.

In short, bonsai trees appear to be mature and developed but are, in fact, restrained. Bonsai-ed people are much the same way — they give the illusion of being objective and sophisticated but have, in fact, been pruned to fit

into the pot society made for them.

This is done through various means, such as our education system, corporatist culture, dogmatic faith institutions and many other distractions.

Regardless of the source, this sort of indoctrination is present in all our lives, and it fundamentally inhibits our ability to think freely and consciously about the world and how we operate in it.

This metaphor really resonated with me because it perfectly captured my struggle for understanding. Unlike the bonsai tree, we have the capacity to reject the constructs others have placed around us and strive to think without the box. My motivation in writing is to articulate my struggle in hopes that it will prompt others along their own journeys.

I realize I can theorize about this understanding all I want, but won’t be able to have much impact unless I write with a bit more pragmatism. So, just as I humbly ask my readers to be more deliberate, I, too, will attempt to be more deliberate in my writings.

Throughout the next few weeks, I will write on social topics that have piqued my curiosity and probed me to think differently about my social constructs and do so in a practical way that identifies tangible steps toward more thoughtful understanding.

As the provocative American author Robert Greene put it, my goal in writing is to help us, “Understand this: The world wants to assign you a role in life.

And once you accept that role you are doomed.” Perhaps that’s a bit dramatic, but I think you get my point.

Osama Eshera is a senior bioengineering major. He can be reached at eshera@umdbk.com.

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to Maria Romas and Nadav Karasov at opinion@umdbk.com. All submissions must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and phone number. Please limit letters to 300 words and guest columns to between 500 and 600 words. Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright of the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

JOEY LOCKWOOD/the diamondback

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Students outraged at DOTS

After the department decided to eliminate three bus routes students and staff depend on to get to the campus, riders are in an uproar

I

am writing on behalf of the students who ride the Shuttle-UM routes meant to be canceled next month. As a student depending on these buses to get to class as early as 8 a.m., I wanted to make sure the Department of Transportation Services confronts my clear distress. This decision affects not only me and many other students who ride the Burtonsville Park and Ride, Bowie Park and Ride or Laurel Park and Ride, but also faculty members who rely on these routes.

Not only were the people most affected by this decision not consulted, we now have less than a month to prepare for when the buses stop running on Oct. 12. On top of the stress of classes, we have to seriously worry about whether or not we can get to class every day for the rest of the semester.

What alternatives do we have? It’s unlikely parents or friends can go out of their way to give us rides every day, and the Metro system is inconvenient and expensive — I

would have to take two buses, spend $3 each way and waste more than two hours every day if I take the train.

With rising tuition and textbook prices, commuters like myself will continue to sink lower in debt trying to get an education.

I understand the attempt by DOTS to save money and use the buses where they are needed most. But if that is the case, why do they target three routes that only run twice a day?

The Silver Spring Park and Ride runs almost every 40 minutes when active, and rarely have I seen more than five people on the bus when it’s running during the middle of the day. How about assigning a few of those buses to where they would be actually be used, instead of eliminating muchneeded routes?

Also, for an institution trying to “go green,” eliminating these routes only forces more cars onto the road and increases the carbon footprint of everyone who could have ridden buses. How can this university “go green” when it takes away access to

public transportation?

I am very sad to hear about this decision, and, like many others, I will have a hard time finding a way to campus now. It will certainly be a daily battle, but I write to you with the hope that my words bring awareness to the effects of this decision.

Abigia Yitagesu is a sophomore neurobiology and physiology major.

She can be reached at abigiayitagesu@ gmail.com.

MORE ONLINE For other letters about the Department of Transportation Services’ decision regarding the Burtonsville Park and Ride, Bowie Park and Ride or Laurel Park and Ride, or weigh in yourself by submitting your story, visit umdbk.com/opinion.

Who needs football? This university has pride MADELEINE LIST The crowd roars. The stadium is a sea of color. Everyone is there rooting for the home team as if it were a matter of life or death. This is the scene of the opening-day football game … at some schools.

This year, our team’s opening game against William & Mary drew the smallest crowd for a season opener since 1997. A staff editorial on Sept.

14, “Win or lose, root for the home team,” commented on this disappointing turnout, saying fans need to amp up their school spirit if they want the Terps to play better. I say, why?

Football is not the pride of this university, nor should it be the top concern of students. When I think of major football schools, I think of Penn State — a perfect example of an institution corrupted by football pride.

At a panel discussion in Knight Hall last Friday, former Penn State football player LaVar Arrington defended Penn State’s football program, in light of the sex abuse scandal that broke in 2011. He said the cover-up of the scandal had nothing to do with the school having one of the largest football programs in the country — it was just sick people who did the wrong thing. But Arrington must be blinded by his love for the game.

Former head coach Joe Paterno, and several other school officials, knew about the atrocities being commit-

ted by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and apparently actively worked to cover them up. Sandusky was allowed to molest and abuse young boys for 15 years before his actions were finally uncovered. It is no coincidence that the conspirators of these crimes had a nationally-renowned reputation to protect. This is an indisputable example of a group valuing football over justice.

This kind of die-hard sports culture is not something we should aspire to at this university. We have a culture of our own to be proud of. We are a campus of incredible diversity, not only of race, ethnicity and nationality, but of ideas, interests and passions. Not to mention we are nationally renowned for things exceedingly more important than foot-

ball. The Princeton Review recently listed this university as one of the top 20 politically active U.S. schools. We were recognized as a leader in campus sustainability by The College Sustainability Report Card for 2011. And this newspaper was ranked one of the top 10 best college newspapers in America by the Princeton Review.

That is not to say our school is perfect. University workers have reported many instances of workplace abuse, crime rates are extremely high and sexual harassment and assault are still major problems on the campus.

These are the issues we need to be focusing on — not intensifying the morale of our football fans.

When I walk across this campus, I see students from all over the world,

united not by the love of a sport, but the love of our school. When I see the slogan, “Hey Impossible, Fear the Turtle,” I don’t picture opposing teams cringing in terror. I see graduates of this university going out into a world of uncertainty and injustice, and changing it with their unstoppable minds and undying spirits.

So next time you go to a game — if you even go at all — cheer on your team, but don’t be discouraged if we lose. Remember what we have to be proud of.

We may not have the strongest football team, but we still have strong spirit and even stronger students.

Ma d e l e i n e L i s t i s a so p h o m o re journalism major. She can be reached at list@umdbk.com.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 -- down (get strict) 6 Tournament rating 10 Gulp down 14 Snert’s master 15 Billowing garment 16 Space lead-in 17 BP acquisition 18 General vicinity 19 Talk big 20 Good read (hyph.)

22 Woody’s son 23 Switch positions 24 Rand of “Atlas Shrugged” 26 Gambling dens 30 Cell predecessor (2 wds.)

34 Scandinavian royals 35 Weeps loudly 36 Spooky, maybe 37 Type of wolf 38 Glistening 40 Ad award 41 Trendy meat 42 Wild guess 43 Crayola choice 44 Single (2 wds.)

46 Vanna and Pat 48 Antenna type 49 Graceful wrap 50 Catch a fly ball

53 Dining nicety (2 wds.)

59 Grind, maybe 60 Jacket style 61 Cookout spot 62 Inky, to a poet 63 Dried-up 64 Word from the king 65 Over with 66 Playing card 67 Cubicle fillers

30 Debate side 31 Guys’ partners 32 -- box 33 Nose stimuli 35 Bro or sis 38 Most rigid 39 Derby or fedora

40 Crib murmur 42 “Quiet!”

43 Peeped 45 Conductor -- Ormandy 46 Lacey’s partner

47 Forty-niner’s quest 49 Night racket 50 Lose leaves 51 Drifter 52 Erelong

DOWN 1 Bloke 2 Prayer-wheel turner 3 Beside oneself 4 Knight’s weapon 5 They’re positive 6 Mufflers 7 Pulls down 8 “En garde” weapon 9 Advice column (2 wds.)

10 Beach hut 11 Frau’s spouse 12 Mountains or river 13 Kind of dancer (hyph.)

21 Roswell crasher 25 Cen. fractions 26 “People” person 27 Bakery come-on 28 Kind of cavity 29 Motel amenity

© 2012 United Features Syndicate

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

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Also born on this date are: Alison Sweeney, actress; Jimmy Fallon, comedian and latenight host; Jim Abbott, baseball player; Trisha Yearwood, singer; Joan Lunden, morning TV host; Twiggy, model; Jeremy Irons, actor; “Mama” Cass Elliot, singer; Paul Williams, songwriter; Adam West, actor; Duke Snider, baseball player.

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -You may have to wait for machinery to be repaired or refurbished before you can take advantage of what it has to offer. Is it worth it?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may be tempted to do something today that you would normally never even consider doing. The reasons are surely compelling.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You will want to be honest with everyone today, even with those who are not, or who have not been, honest with you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You have come up with a sound strategy, now all you have to do is devise tactics that are just as sound and effective.

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Others may be enjoying a little time off today, but you have much to accomplish before you can indulge in any real downtime.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Talking with friends and allies may enable you to come up with a solid plan. Before day’s end, however, you’ll have to put it into motion.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | wednesDAY, september 19, 2012

Diversions communication between cultures POLITICALLY INCORRECT

ALL THE CRAP YOU CARE ABOUT

Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly are debating, presidential candidate style, at George Washington University. Given that he will be surrounded by GW students, this may be the first time that O’Reilly isn’t the biggest douchebag in the room.

FEATURE | SERIES PART 2: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

The first onstage rehearsal for A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a crisscrossing of cultures, presenting both difficulties and bonding opportunities

By Beena Raghavendran Staff writer

major, made every call over the microphone in both English and Chinese.

Hébert and Chinese director Yu Fanlin worked the stage, relaying messages — some-

crew member Amanda Ogorzalek, a senior theatre and communications major. “There’s so much going on, but everyone seems to know where they need to be.”

tasks: surfing on laptops, listening to music, flipping through books, chatting quietly.

The American and Chinese casts are getting to know one another, but the language “Please speak Chinese!” difference has made communication Du Shuaiqiang, the Chinese tricky, said Shane O’Loughlin, a senior actor from the National Academy playing Francis Flute. of Chinese Theatre Arts who plays But some bonding happens automatiPuck, exclaimed this line at the cally; Shuaiqiang pretended to fall off the fairy Cobweb, also known as senior stage while waiting for a scene, triggering theatre and Chinese major Olivia laughter among the casts.

Brann. She had just finished a mono“I didn’t push him!” called the fairy logue in Chinese but slightly stumnearest to him, to more laughter. bled over the unfamiliar syllables “I feel like we love each other a lot,” said of the three-word line. Shuaiqiang Natalie Piegari, a senior theatre major in laughed and broke character for a the Rude Mechanicals ensemble who also brief moment as director Mitchell acts as an understudy.

Hébert enunciated the line.

It was before the 1 p.m. lunch break when But he was right back in the Hébert pulled aside Li Xuexi, the Chinese scene after a split second, conactor playing Oberon, to discuss his enversing with the fairies as if trance — he’d come on applauding from nothing had happened. stage left just after the Chinese actress It was the first rehearsal onstage playing Titania had finished an elaborate for the cast and crew of A Midsumdance with rainbow sashes. An interpreter mer Night’s Dream, just a week after helped Hébert get his point across. half the actors made the trip across After the discussion, Xuexi-as-Oberon oceans to come to this university. aced the intro. Hébert called, “That was Smatterings of English and excellent,” flashing Oberon a thumbs-up.

Chinese rang through The Clarice shakespearean acrobatics Junior theatre major Julia Klavans and junior theatre major Emma Lou Hébert — ­ who play fairies Moth (as an understudy) and Peaseblossom, respectively — use silk sashes as they rehearse for an aerial scene in the production. photo by adam nixon/courtesy of cspac The actor beamed, bowing his head Smith Performing Art Center’s in appreciation.

Kay Theatre Saturday afternoon, When not onstage, the two casts sat toHe knew he’d done well; that didn’t need a intertwined with pointing and gestures. The times together, sometimes separately. They handful of interpreters tagged along with knew the success of the show depended on the gether — the Chinese actors took the first few translation. rows at stage right with the Americans just the creative team. Stage manager Ruth Anne smoothness of that communication.

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2EVEN WEDNESDAY, september 19, 2012 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

THE DIAMONDBACK THE DIAMONDBACK | XXXDAY, | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER AUGUST XX, 31, 20127

MONARCHS From PAGE 8 Tech, 2-0, on the road.

The Terps took over the top spot in the NSCA A top-25 poll yesterday afternoon for the first time since Oct. 25, 2011. Their wins against UMBC and N.C. State last week helped them leapfrog North Carolina and Creighton, who both stumbled last week. The Terps received 22 of 23 first-place votes, and No. 2 Connecticut received the final vote.

The Terps (5-0-1, 2-0-0 ACC) are one of 14 unbeaten teams ranked, and one of four ACC teams ranked. They’ve climbed steadily through the polls this season after starting the year at No. 9.

The Terps will resume ACC play Friday night at home against Virginia Tech in their third conference contest of the year. dgallen@umdbk.com

CORRECTION

Due to an editing error, Tuesday’s article, “Already at full speed,” incorrectly stated the Terrapins field hockey team’s ranking. They are ranked No. 4.

Defensive end A.J. Francis and his senior teammates are looking to get their first career upset victory over a top-10 opponent Saturday when the Terps take on rival West Virginia in Morgantown, W. Va. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

NOTEBOOK From PAGE 8 last week and should be ready to play this weekend, giving the team yet another option in the backfield.

“It’s great competition,” Brown said yesterday. “It keeps everyone on their toes.”

Brown said he isn’t worried about whether or not he des e r v e s t h e s t a r t i n g rol e , though. He’s come off the sideline to make contribut ion s i n b o t h g a m e s h e’s played in this season. And in a hostile environment like Mountaineer Field, Brown said he thinks he could benefit from a bench role.

WIDE RECEIVER STEFON DIGGS has been compared to star Mountaineers wide receiver Tavon Austin, a player who has a similar role in his team’s offense as a receiver and special teams return man. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

“I’d rather have a guy with experience in front of me,” Brow n sa id Satu rday. “So [I’d rather] learn more from [Pickett] than just going in blindsided and not knowing what’s going to happen.”

A TOMBSTONE OF THEIR OWN There’s a graveyard outside

the Terps’ practice fields behind the Varsity Team House.

It’s not for fallen teammates or coaches, though. It’s for fallen opponents.

Since the Ralph Friedgen era, the team has put in a tombstone every time it defeats a top-10 opponent, burying them in Terps lore. But it’s been five years since the last time they performed the ritual — they beat Matt Ryan’s No. 8 Boston College team, 42-35, in 2007.

So when they face the Mountaineers on Saturday, the Terps’ seniors will look to capitalize on what could be one of their fi nal chances to bury that elusive tombstone. “ I w a s a t t h a t [ B o s to n College] game. I was in the stands, but I didn’t play in that game,” senior defensive end A .J. F ra nci s sa id . “It would be huge to get a tombstone, beat a team we’ve never beat, a rival where they don’t really like us and we don’t really like them.”

T he Terps have lost si x straight matchups with their regional rival since 2004. The team and its seniors have a chance to end that streak Saturday.

“It’s like motivation. One thing I always wanted to do was beat West Virginia,” senior linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said. “It’s my last chance.”

DIGGS VS. AUSTIN Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen noted the similari-

                          

ties yesterday between his star wide receiver, senior Tavon Austin, and explosive Terps freshman receiver Stefon Diggs.

It seems an apt comparison.

“On tape, [Diggs] has some twitch,” Holgorsen said in his weekly press conference yesterday. “He’s a Baltimore kid that wears No. 1 that’s a receiver and return guy — I guess they’re clones. I don’t know the kid, but he’s a good player.”

Both in-state products, Diggs and Austin have similar roles in their teams’ offenses. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 5-foot-9, respectively, they each play dynamic roles on the field, playing as receivers, out of the backfield and on special teams.

“Wel l you see si m i la rities when you watch the fi lm.

They are both kick-off returners and punt returners; they both play the slot position on offense,” Edsall said. “They are both great athletes and great competitors with the ability to change the game quickly and make big plays.”

So far this season, the two have a combined 749 all-purpose yards — Diggs has 441 through three games and Austin has 308 through two games.

“We play somewhat of the same position, somewhat of the same playing style — quick, fast in the slot,” Diggs said. “He’s a very blessed individual, and it’s nice to be compared to him, because [he’s] an older guy.” vitale@umdbk.com

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QUOTE OF THE DAY Randy Edsall Terps football coach

“I can still remember going to old Mountaineer Field when it was right in the middle of campus when I was a quarterback at Syracuse. We’d go and they pelted us with oranges.”

Sports

THOMAS NAMED TO WATCH LIST

Terrapins women’s basketball forward Alyssa Thomas was named to the Wade Award watch list yesterday. For more, visit umdbk.com.

PAGE 8

ON THE BLOG

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

MEN’S SOCCER

FOOTBALL | NOTEBOOK

Terps game called due to weather Team led Monarchs, 1-0, in 27th minute; no plans for makeup

By Daniel Gallen Senior staff writer Nature fi nally got the best of the Terrapins men’s soccer team last night.

After fighting through wind and rain in victories over Louisville, California and Boston College, the No. 1 Terps weren’t given the opportunity to persevere last night at No. 11 Old Dominion. The contest was called after an hour-long weather delay and there are no plans for a makeup.

A large weather system that dominated the eastern seaboard overwhelmed the field at ODU Soccer Complex yesterday, forcing officials to suspend the matchup in the 27th minute with the Terps leading, 1-0.

Forward Patrick Mullins put the Terps on the scoreboard when he buried a rebound off forward Sunny Jane’s shot attempt in the 19th minute.

Through 27 minutes, Old Dominion held a 4-3 shots advantage. The Monarchs put two of those shots on goal, and goalkeeper Keith Cardona came up with saves on both of them.

The cancellation denied the Terps the opportunity to record their first win as the nation’s No. 1 team since Sept. 24, 2011, when they beat Virginia See MONARCHS, Page 7

four Terps running backs — (clockwise from top left) Albert Reid, Justus Pickett, Wes Brown and Brandon Ross — are together on top of the depth chart for Saturday’s game against West Virginia. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

Edsall lists four running backs as starters Team’s seniors looking for signature win; Diggs compares to WVU’s Austin

By Josh Vitale Senior staff writer The Terrapins football team has had some trouble settling on a starting running back this season. Albert Reid earned the start in Week 1, and Justus Pickett started in Weeks 2 and 3.

So in Week 4, coach Randy Edsall isn’t settling on just one starter. Instead, he grouped all four of his running backs at the top of the depth chart.

P i c k e t t, R e i d , B ra n d o n R o s s a n d We s Brown are listed together as the team’s starting running backs, giving the Terps a slew of options in the backfield when they travel to

play No. 8 West Virginia on Saturday.

“I wish we had this kind of depth at every position,” Edsall said yesterday. “I think all four of them will play in the game if things work the way we want them to.”

Despite having four backs fighting for carries, all signs point to Brown being the leading ballcarrier in Morgantown, W. Va., on Saturday. His 126 rushing yards this season rank second on the team, even though he’s only played in two games this year.

Brown bounced back from a two-fumble showing at Temple on Sept. 8, rushing 14 times for 74 yards in the Terps’ 24-21 loss to Connecticut

last week. Pickett — the team’s leading rusher with 128 yards — had just four carries for five yards.

“You saw a young man that was being productive out there,” Edsall said Saturday. “When [Brown] ran the ball today and he felt defenders coming, he put two hands around the ball. That’s what has me excited about him. He made some mistakes before, but he learned from them and got better this week.”

The return of Ross could complicate things, though. One of the stars of the Terps’ preseason, Ross missed the team’s fi rst three games with a hamstring injury. He was listed as “probable” See NOTEBOOK, Page 7