092309

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

NOW FOR REAL

STILL FLYIN’ TAKES OFF

Women’s soccer is undefeated, but starts tough ACC slate Thursday

Sprawling indie collective to perform at DC9 tonight

SPORTS | PAGE 8

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

THE DIAMONDBACK Our 100TH Year, No. 17

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Students dominate town hall SGA members, activists push for transparency during budget discussion

BY CARRIE WELLS Staff writer

The Hoff Theater in the Stamp Student Union is shutting down in January. Officials said the single-screen movie theater couldn’t compete against multiplexes. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

Hoff Theater to shut doors in Jan.

Despite being outnumbered by faculty and staff, student leaders dominated the budget cut town hall meeting yesterday, demanding administrators put the university’s budget online and be more transparent in the way they trim it.

But administrators said no, contending it would be too costly and time-consuming to put the 900-page document online, adding they didn’t want sensitive information such as employee salaries published.

The budget is available in its paper form in the Maryland Room of Hornbake Library.

“I’m not going to take the

University President Dan Mote, Provost Nariman Farvardin and other administrators speak at a town hall meeting and answer questions from the audience. VINCE SALAMONE/THE DIAMONDBACK

time to post it online to the world,” Vice President for Administrative Affairs Ann Wylie said in an interview after

Unprofitable campus movie theater will continue some programming

BY AMANDA PINO Staff writer

The lights are going out in the Hoff Theater.

Stamp Student Union officials plan to shut down the Hoff as an independently operated theater, instead opting to rent the space to university-based groups and outside organizations for use as an auditorium.

The change is slated to occur this January.

Stamp director Gretchen Metzelaars said that the Hoff has struggled to make a profit for some time.

“We’re not sure about the viability of a one-screen theater in today’s multiplex world,” Metzelaars said. “The money the

the night

away

No solution to disgusting qualityof-life problem, officials say

BY NICK RHODES Staff writer

Every week city council members discuss a range of issues, but rarely do they touch on College Park’s “number one” problem.

Large off-campus parties and tailgates some-

see HOFF, page 2

Committee to reevaluate $165 in student fee hikes

M

BY DERBY COX AND EMILIE OPENCHOWSKI

Cloudy/70s

times have attendance rivaling some downtown bars. Many times, there is only one, or no, bathroom to accommodate the many guests with beer-filled bladders, leading partygoers to urinate wherever they can, which some say is a frequent problem.

“We have a pretty long backyard and there are always people pissing on our lawns through the fence,” said senior kinesiology major Mike Nugent who lives on Dartmouth Ave. “There’s

see URINATION, page 2

Wylie: Glickman left meeting early because of “misunderstanding”

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

see TOWN HALL, page 3

Pissing

Hoff makes has been decreasing over the last 10 years, and we think it is due to the pressure from the two multiplexes near campus, as well as Netflix.”

The Hoff Theater costs about $233,000 a year to operate and is currently given about $150,000 in student activity fees. Metzelaars said the Hoff is usually expected to make up the difference, but the theater has failed to do so for the past several years.

“Basically we’ve had to use student fees to cover the Hoff, which means it has to get taken away from somewhere else,” Metzelaars said.

In addition, Stamp officials face the pressure of huge losses

original committee reconsider the fees to ensure fairness, Wylie said.

Staff writers “Because there was that misThe committee charged with understanding, because the vote was so close, it reviewing student fees was in the best interwill reconvene after a est to do it again,” “misunderstanding” Wylie said. led SGA President Glickman said holdSteve Glickman to ing another meeting is leave a meeting early, a good solution. said Ann Wylie, vice “This is what was president of adminissupposed to happen in trative affairs. the first place,” he said.

Holding a new ANN WYLIE Wylie said she was meeting will give stu- VP FOR ADMINISTRAunsure of proper prodents a second chance TIVE AFFAIRS tocol because it was to defeat three new controversial fees totaling $165 her first time chairing the 13per student, all of which were member Committee for the approved after the departure of Review of Student Fees. In the Glickman, who thought the days before the meeting, GlickThursday meeting would have man told her he was leaving for continued Monday. University Rosh Hashanah, and Wylie said President Dan Mote’s cabinet she gave him the impression met yesterday morning to the meeting would “probably” approve or reject the fees but instead decided to have the see FEES, page 3

the meeting. “I don’t feel that it’s my responsibility to put it online, to put our people’s salaries all over the nation.

Why do I have to? I have no obligation to publish it.”

The Diamondback publishes the salaries of each university employee in the annual Salary Guide, obtained via a Maryland Public Information Act request.

Faculty and staff members also questioned administrators about their benefits, why campus closure days are split between spring and winter breaks, and how they would keep track of their salary reductions from furloughs.

The university chose to spread out pay cuts across the next 17 pay periods.

The town hall meeting was

Repairing a reptile McKeldin’s Testudo wrapped up as limestone pillar is fixed

BY AMY HEMMATI Staff writer

Blue plastic shielding and caution tape makes the Testudo statue outside of McKeldin Mall look more like a crime scene than a pinnacle of good luck.

“I thought that someone killed him or took him away,” senior sociology major Henry Ramirez said. “I thought Duke was in the house.”

But have no fear for the turtle: The statue, where stu-

INDEX

dents have long paid their respects, has not been damaged or stolen. Since yesterday, his limestone perch has been undergoing repair for a minor crack.

The restoration, which costs approximately $2,000, should be completed by the end of the week if the weather cooperates, Associate Director of Facilities Management Laura Wildesen said.

During the repair, Testudo

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

see TESTUDO, page 3

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

A tarp over Testudo doesn't stop graduate student Alex Campbell from paying his respects to the university’s bronzed mascot. MATTHEW CREGER/THE DIAMONDBACK

DIVERSIONS . . . . .6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . .8

www.diamondbackonline.com

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

HOFF

URINATION from page 1

from page 1

going into the fall of 2010 because of a new state law designed to make textbooks cheaper. The law caused textbook providers to offer less money to operate the University Book Center during the bidding process last May. Barnes & Noble eventually renewed its contract for next year for $1.4 million less than Stamp officials had hoped for.

But the news saddened and shocked Hoff’s student employees, who learned about the expected closure of the theater as early as mid-August. They said they have been organizing efforts to increase revenue and hopefully reverse the decision, including a video competition and a “Save the Hoff” night. They are also reevaluating the movies they show and how they advertise them.

The employees, quoted anonymously because they are not authorized to speak to the press, stressed that the Hoff is a campus landmark and a safe alternative to partying and drinking.

“This theater makes Maryland unique,” one student employee said. “They always mention it on the tours. And it’s a great thing to do on a Friday or Saturday instead of getting drunk.”

“Changes have to be made, I agree with that,” another said.

“But to close it down is just to-

pee everywhere.”

Director of Public Services Bob Ryan said he gets complaints about raucous parties and public urination on a fairly regular basis.

“That’s part of the overall nuisance problem,” Ryan said.

“It’s a quality of life issue. I’m sure you don’t like your house smelling like piss.”

Ryan noted the city has not discussed installing public restrooms.

Area police don’t keep track of how many tickets are issued specifically for public urination — it falls under the broader disorderly conduct charge — but University Police spokesman Paul Dillon estimated that his department issues about 25 to 50 citations annually.

“I’d say it’s a common problem and we do get complaints about it from citizens and people that live in College Park,” Dillon said. “And it’s disgusting.”

District 1 Commander Maj. Dan Dusseau also said the infraction goes hand-in-hand with a number of other problems with large house parties, including noise and litter.

“People who live there are very upset by it,” Dusseau said. “When we get complaints about these big par-

Starting January, the Hoff Theater will be used primarily as rental auditorium space. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

tally extreme.”

Other students on campus expressed surprise and disappointment upon learning of the closure, but admitted that they failed to take advantage of the Hoff’s services very often.

“People on my floor will be like, ‘Hey, let’s go out and see a movie!’ all the time,” said Lydia Johnson, a junior environmental science major. “But they never think of the Hoff, even though it’s half the price. Maybe [the Hoff] needs to improve their marketing or something.”

Metzelaars said that the Hoff would still offer one of its most popular events, free movie premiere nights, because production companies pay to play the films.

Student clubs could also still show movies with the help of the

Stamp’s audio visual staff.

But Hoff employees expressed doubts, countering that shutting down the Hoff would hurt its legitimacy.

“We’re in a weird place between Baltimore and D.C.,” an employee said. “We have to compete with theaters in those locations for the free premieres. It’s already so hard to get those movies here. It would be even harder if we weren’t a real theater.”

Although she accepts the move is acceptable given the dire financial circumstances, Metzelaars appeared regretful.

“It’s a difficult decision for us ... we are still struggling and want to hear students’ opinions on this,” Metzelaars said. apino@umdbk.com

ties we get: they’re loud, there’s a ton of kids, they’re all over the place and they’re urinating in public.”

But many students, like Nugent, chalk it up to standard party procedure.

“It’s better than people tracking dirt and shit inside our house,” he said. “If people are throwing a party, people understand that people are going to piss in their yard.”

Juliana, a senior communications major, said she often faces a long wait at parties where there are few bathrooms.

“I always wait because I find it very unattractive for a girl to be popping a squat,” said Juliana, who asked to withhold her last name for privacy reasons.

She added that it’s not limited to late-night backyard parties.

“The worst part is tailgates,” Juliana said. “It’s one thing when it’s at night, but it’s another when it’s in the daytime.”

But Brandon, a senior agricultural resources economics major, said he didn’t think it was too severe a problem.

“If you’re at a party and you know the guy’s house I’m sure he wont mind if you go outside as long as you’re not in plain view,” he said. “I feel like most guys have peed in a bush somewhere when it’s kind of crowded.”

Lisa Miller, a College Park

landlord and alum who also has family in the city, said while she recognizes it as a problem, there’s not much the city can do to fix it.

“The problem is the massive partying or the search of parties,” Miller said. “I don’t know how that can be curtailed.”

But some city residents, like Lisa Holt, think public restrooms could actually help as long as they’re in the right area.

“I don’t think a public bathroom in a residential neighborhood really makes sense,” Holt said. “I think a public bathroom in the business district is a great idea.”

Both Miller and Holt agreed that the problem doesn’t rank high on their agendas.

“Dogs pee on the lawn, that doesn’t kill anything,” Miller said. “Except for the unsightliness of the momentary action it doesn’t last as long as the litter or affect people as much as the noise.”

Some area restaurant owners actually embrace the limited number of College Park bathrooms as a way to increase traffic in their establishments.

“It’s very good for the business,” Jimmy John’s manager Joe Zammar said. “They come, they use the restroom and they end up buying something.” rhodes@umdbk.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

TOWN HALL from page 1 organized in late August to give the campus community an opportunity to ask questions about budget cuts and furloughs that weren’t answered on the university’s newly launched budget cut website, administrators said.

Wylie, President Dan Mote and Provost Nariman Farvardin occupied three chairs on the stage of the Hoff Theater to answer questions,

“How can you ask everyone to pitch in when there’s not budget transparency and accountability?”

MALCOLM HARRIS STUDENT ACTIVIST

while Senate Chair woman Elise Miller-Hooks moderated the discussion.

Nearly 300 people showed up, mostly faculty and staff members. That was what organizers expected, the president’s Chief of Staff Sally Koblinsky said.

But they probably didn’t expect Student Government Association Senior Vice President Elliott Morris to give them what he called a “multiple choice test.”

“Can students go to Hornbake Library and put the budget online?” he asked.

“Answer A for yes, B for no.

Answer why for extra credit.”

Administrators laughed, then argued that salary information in the budget isn’t public and said they would discuss the issue with Morris in private.

Other attendees had logistical questions. One staff member asked if the university would consider switching to a four-days-per-week schedule.

Wylie said there wasn’t enough classroom space to get rid of Friday classes, and that people

3

SGA Vice President of Finance Andrew Steinberg asks university administrators a question yesterday at the budget cuts town hall meeting. VINCE SALAMONE/THE DIAMONDBACK

would expect offices to remain open. However, she said, some individual employees might be able to work four days a week instead of five.

Greg Johnson, the president of the campus chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, asked administrators if employees would ever get back the money taken from their paychecks.

“Since we’re being cooperative when times are bad, we’d like to think that when times are good you’ll share that with us,” he said.

Mote said they would raise salaries when the university’s financial situation improves.

When Johnson asked if they would consider switching to a three-year bachelor’s degree program, Farvardin said they couldn’t rule out “radical solutions” to the university’s budget problems.

SGA President Steve Glickman asked the administrators what they were doing to move towards a better long-term funding model, instead of having to make cuts “year after year.”

Mote said he wants to use a model designed last fall by the Bohanan Commission — a state

committee that developed a list of solutions earlier this year, aimed at making higher education more affordable — but said it would be difficult because the model carries a price tag of an additional $701 million over the next 10 years.

But what students were primarily concerned about was what they called a lack of openness in the budget reduction process.

“How can you ask everyone to pitch in when there’s not budget transparency and accountability?” asked Malcolm Harris, a Diamondback columnist and co-founder of the university’s chapter of Students for a Democratic Society.

Wylie replied that the university has “full transparency” in how it distributes student fee money, and that the general outline of the university’s budget is available on their new website.

“That’s just not true,” Harris replied. cwells@umdbk.com

FEES from page 1 stop at its scheduled 7:30 p.m. end time. Glickman left at about 7:25 p.m., but the meeting continued until about 9:15 p.m.

“It was very clear that all the other people that had been doing this for a while expected us to finish the job,” said Wylie.

After Glickman left, the committee approved three fees for projects traditionally paid for out of tuition dollars — $100 for university libraries, $30 for classroom improvements and $35 for the University Health Center. All students present voted to strike the classroom improvement fee, tying the vote at 5-5 with English professor Maynard Mack abstaining. Wylie broke the tie in favor of the fee.

Glickman said he would have voted against the fees, but he also said Mack likely would have voted for the fees, which would have tied the vote at six.

Mack didn’t return phone calls or e-mails yesterday, but Graduate Student Government President Anu Kothari said she wasn’t sure Glickman’s absence caused Mack to abstain.

“I think [Mack] abstained because he wasn't sure about what the money was going to,” Kothari said. “He abstained because he had his own opinion. It had nothing to do with anything else.”

Kothari said she was happy to get another chance to oppose the fees but was troubled by the precedent of reconvening a meeting because one person was absent.

“What if it's a grad student who misses the meeting?” she asked. “I don't think it would be reconvened for us.”

Yesterday morning, Student Government Association Senior Vice President Elliott Morris tried to attend the cabinet meeting to voice the student viewpoint on the fees, but cabinet meetings are closed to the public, and he was forced to leave. Morris said a new meeting is a “more fair way to handle” the situation.

It is not clear when the committee will meet again, but Kothari said a list of possible dates in the next two weeks has been sent to members.

“Is it troublesome for me?

Yeah, I'll miss my daughter's bed time again,” Kothari said.

“But that's part of it. I'll just do it because I don't want to miss the meeting.” cox@umdbk.com, openchowski@umdbk.com

TESTUDO from page 1 will be sporting tarp and tape to ensure he is not hurt while construction is under way.

In the mean time, students looking for some turtle tenderness and much-needed good luck on exams, papers and first dates have been rubbing up on other Testudos around the campus.

“Testudo used to be on my way to philosophy class, so I would rub his nose every day,” freshman computer science major Joey Sakla said. “Now, I have to get up earlier and walk to Stamp to rub his nose.”

The turtle everyone loves to touch will also be getting a chemical cleaning while the pedestal is under construction.

“I’m glad he’s under construction,” senior economics major Carlos Arismendi said.

“That turtle was dirty. He needs to get cleaned.”

For the next week, senior microbiology major Ellie Rahgozar will have Testudo in her thoughts and prayers until he has made a full recover y.

“I can’t breathe,” Rahgozar said. “When Testudo is suffocating, we’re all suffocating.” hemmati@umdbk.com

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4

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

Opinion

KEVIN ROBILLARD

THE DIAMONDBACK

EDITOR IN CHIEF

YOUR INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK PHONE: (301) 314-8200 | FAX: (301) 314-8358 3150 SOUTH CAMPUS DINING HALL | COLLEGE PARK, MD., 20742 NEWS@UMDBK .COM

KYLE GOON

JOHN SILBERHOLZ

MANAGING EDITOR

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

ROB GINDES

JUSTIN SNOW

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Staff Editorial

Guest column

Transparent tuition

Needing a warmer reception

T

here is no doubt the university’s libraries need more funding: They lag open to the public.

The university recently took a positive step by creating the budget’s central webbehind those of our peer institutions in a variety of metrics. Last Thursday night, the university did something about it. They implemented a $100-per- site (www.president.umd.edu/budget). The site provides anyone with access to basic student library fee. Such a fee has never existed in the past, but will raise a information about the university’s budget, including how much is spent on things such as research, scholarships and instruction, as well as where the university’s needed $3.7 million for the libraries.

But this money — as well as funding for classroom improvements and the health budget comes from — tuition, state appropriations, private gifts and grants. But the center approved at the same time — shouldn’t be coming from student fees. It should site lacks additional details.

Looking for line-by-line costs is impossible without a trip to Hornbake Library, come from a tuition increase. All of these things are traditionally paid for using statewhere a copy of the complete budget is kept. Comparing budgsupported funds, and that shouldn’t change. ets from year-to-year should not be so difficult.

Due to a “misunderstanding” between Student Government Sadly, it looks unlikely these steps will be taken. After a town Association President Steve Glickman and Vice President for hall meeting yesterday in which several student activists, includAdministrative Affairs Ann Wylie, the committee is going to A tuition increase would ing Diamondback columnist Malcolm Harris, and Student Govreconvene, and consider these fees again. Here’s hoping that provide more transparency ernment Association Senior Vice President Elliott Morris, they will realize the proper place for these is a tuition increase.

It might not seem like a big distinction — after all, the money is than raising mandatory pressed on increasing budget transparency, Wylie said the following: “I’m not going to take the time to post [the budget] online still coming from your wallet. But the process by which the govfees for improvements. to the world. I don’t feel that it’s my responsibility to put it online, ernment is taking it is much different. to put our people’s salaries all over the nation. Why do I have to? I The process of raising tuition is a relatively open and democratic one, where members of the Board of Regents, the University System chancel- have no obligation to publish it.”

Wylie is right to fear other universities poaching our faculty members, but a fully lor and the governor discuss their options in the media and then ultimately vote on proposals in an announced, open meeting. At the end of the day, there is no doubt on transparent, democratic budget process is more important than any single professor.

Like any public institution, a public university has responsibilities to its students and who voted to increase tuition and how much they wanted it to increase by.

In comparison, the committee for the review of student fees is undemocratic. Its to state taxpayers. And both groups have a right to know how their money is being meetings are held in closed session and aren’t widely publicized. No minutes of the spent, and that means open meetings and open data.

Raising money for the libraries through fees instead of tuition is a backdoor move, meeting are available immediately afterward, so people are left to piece together the details from the (often unreliable) recollections of the participants. Although the even if, as Provost Nariman Farvardin points out, many other schools have started closed sessions are legal under state law, there is no compelling reason why they doing it. The reasoning is simple: The process for raising tuition is fair and transparshould be. A truly transparent administration would hold such important meetings ent, and the process for raising fees, like many other university budget issues, is not.

Our View

Editorial Cartoon: Justin Cousson

Voting: This time, it counts

H

ow do you settle differences with someone? Sher Muhammad Qasab, a Taliban commander killed this past Sunday, had a straightforward approach: He tended to behead those with whom he differed. That’s how you earn a nickname like the “butcher.”

Hopefully, though, you have some moral qualms about the whole decapitation approach, and are instead going for a nickname like “smiley Sam” or “goodsmelling Joe.” Good news — you live in America, and you don’t need a sword to take care of business. If a person in power is ruffling your feathers, just wait until they’re up for re-election. It’s a special feeling when you get to pick who represents you. “I love you!” shouted a girl at President Barack Obama’s rally last Thursday. “ I love you back,” Obama quipped. That conversation just has a different feel if one of the people is holding an ax.

The flip side of the whole no-beheading democratic deal is that when someone you don’t like gets elected, you just

MARDY

SHUALY have to wait until the next round of voting, and maybe compare the unfavored politician to Hitler in the meantime (I’m looking at you, crazy left- and rightwing). And for those of you not deranged enough to pull out the Nazi references, these elections are extra important to take advantage of. So good news: This November, College Park city council elections will be held, and every district in the city is contested.

Hopefully there’s some democracy fever left over from the Obama campaign. In the past, student involvement in the city elections has been pretty limp; according to Student Government Association figures, a grand total of two students voted in the 2005 election. It’s

a shame, because this is maybe the clearest instance where in which saying “students can make a difference” isn’t a feel-good hyperbole. In the last election, held in 2007, incumbent Councilman Jack Perry won by five votes. Five. If you and the four people on your flip-cup team had registered to vote, you could have swung the election.

In the 2007 election, the SGA had an admirable Get Out The Vote initiative, in which they registered students for a shuttle service they ran, driving students to the polls and back. This year’s director of governmental affairs for the SGA, Summer Raza, reports the traditional voter registration and Get Out The Vote efforts will be reprised. She also says that, as in the past, the SGA will refrain from endorsing any candidates. Raza says she wants to “[give] students the opportunity to understand the candidates themselves.”

Silly, I say. The SGA should know a great deal more about city council candidates than the average student. And on some issues, it’s easy to figure out

what students are concerned about.

Last April, District 3 Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich led a crusade to lengthen the time period during which the fines for noise violations could be doubled for repeat offenders. Stullich’s proposed bill was riddled with loopholes and problems, so when it failed, she began a campaign in February to crack down on noisy parties. I encourage you to take a wild guess at how the residents who routinely throw noisy celebrations of their youth on Knox Road might feel about their candidates.

Encourage them to vote accordingly. I promise you the sentence “vote for noisier parties” will be more convincing than “consider your civic duty.” Tell them they need to register if they want to pull off that pirate-themed Halloween party. After all, that’s probably the most fun mix of blades and democracy there could ever be.

Mardy Shualy is a senior government and politics and linguistics major. He can be reached at shualy@umdbk.com.

Racism: At the heart of the heckle

P

resident Barack Obama’s visit to the campus last Thursday attracted a crowd of many different people, including his biggest fans who rose before the sun did to stand in line (guilty), uninformed students who came seeking details of his health care reform plan and people who just love to hate him.

Outside the Comcast Center, people danced around with posters of aborted fetuses, claiming our president was a killer. Inside we were graced with the presence of “the heckler,” the man who apparently follows Obama around to yell at him during his speeches. Most had the passive “Biden headshake of disappointment,” but I shot him what I like to call “the Pelosi Death Glare.”

It was nice to see the douche get escorted out, but it left me wanting to ask him: Who are you to interrupt the

FENAN

SOLOMON president while he addresses the public? Furthermore, do you really think your behavior will positively contribute to opposition efforts? It seems ever since Obama has assumed his position as Head of State, everyone else suddenly has the audacity to disrespect him. No one ever yelled “You lie!” at George W. Bush.

This is a no-brainer: The man is black and it’s still hard for some people to swallow. I anticipated hesitation, anxiety and even a lifetime of protest from a portion of the American people.

Just because he is everyone’s president (as he highlighted in his electionnight speech) does not necessarily mean everyone wanted him to be. I get that. Hell, I had the same attitude toward the last guy. But not once did I ever feel like the First Amendment was a license to be rude and interrupt anyone’s speech, let alone the president’s.

Forget that Obama is the president of the United States and Joe Wilson (R - S.C.) is a representative, and just look at the nature of their relationship.

Obama is the president.

The only way someone would feel compelled to yell out an allegation at such an inappropriate time would be if they felt the other person was not their superior, and not even their peer.

Some may write it off as a strong conviction that he felt had to be heard, but no one would do that to someone whom they felt were their equal. He

might just be an ill-mannered and disrespectful person, but the reasoning behind his comment is rooted in racism. I would like to think we live in a world where race isn’t as large of factor anymore, which is why I normally never play the race card. However, writing it off as irrelevant now would be equivalent to playing dumb. Wilson, a former member of Sons of Confederate Veterans, lacks that natural inhibition keeping every person from telling off their boss, because his boss happens to be black.

The real shame in all of this is that after all, regardless of the insincere apology, his behavior promotes the message that outbursts of the like are going to be condoned.

Fenan Solomon is a senior journalism and pre-pharmacy major. She can be reached at solomon@umdbk.com.

ZANE SMITH

P

resident Barack Obama concluded his address on health care at the university with a thought on the importance of one individual’s voice in shaping the future. In reference to a story he shared about the origin of the “Fired Up, Ready to Go” campaign slogan, he explained, “It goes to show you, one voice can change a room.”

Unfortunately, these closing thoughts inadvertently harkened to how the environment of the Comcast Center changed for the worse during his speech.

The voices that changed the room last week were those of the two individuals who taunted the president with loud howling and incomprehensible yells that interrupted the man we had collectively come to hear.

Our democracy extends equal rights to all Americans and establishes that we each have the opportunity to share our thoughts in the political process. The principles of freedom and equality represent the greatest fundamental achievements of this countr y; when the two hecklers yelled and screamed indiscernible blabber, I recognized how precious our commitment to democracy is.

They have the rights to oppose proponents of new legislation but they are obliged to do it using appropriate civil discourse. Such a display was not simply rude and obnoxious, it also compromised the ver y values that allow us to have a free exchange of thoughts in our political sphere.

Yelling like schoolchildren in a pout is to the detriment of us all. It reduces the quality of our democracy and further polarizes our already flagrantly partisan politics.

The focus was no longer on the substance of what Obama had to say, but instead became just the ability to hear him deliver his speech amidst the reciprocal animosity in the audience.

We saw the ultimate consequence of trivializing democracy when the two hecklers were escorted out of the Comcast Center. We will only become more strong in our convictions if we do not hear the perspective of the other side. I think there are some legitimate arguments in opposition to the president’s health care agenda, but I am disinclined to hear them because the entire opposition movement appears repulsive and ignorant.

I implore Obama to frankly discuss the costs associated with his health care proposals so we can each evaluate the feasibility. Currently, the debate is staked between Obama’s ideal that everyone deserves sufficient health coverage in a bill that reconciles both parties, versus the opponents’ negative portrayal of his character, not the bill. I want to hear about the components of the bill, and from that I, and we, the constituency, can determine its viability.

Ultimately, this debate can be won with crude tactics that undermine the cause. But these tools will incur a greater cost. We are losing our opportunity to hear the facts presented to us, and it is becoming more difficult for us to exercise our right to come an informed decision.

Zane Smith is a senior economics major. He can be reached at zssmith@umd.edu.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 56 “It weighs — —!”

57 Et, for Hans 1 Sugarbush trees 58 Familiar threat 7 Blonde shade (2 wds.)

10 Cheek 62 Loud noise 14 Horses pull it 63 Undershirt 15 “Norma —” 64 Broad ties 16 Ottoman title 65 Morays and 17 Home annex congers 18 Mongrel 66 Finish 19 Object on radar 67 Starbucks orders 20 Shell seekers 23 Tot DOWN 26 Psst!

1 Flavor enhancer 27 Bride’s walk 2 Cotton Belt st.

28 Add brandy 3 — diem 29 Skosh 4 Responsible 30 Jollity 5 Spurred on 31 Latin trio 32 Pitcher — Maglie 6 Mets’ former ballpark 33 Out of stock 7 Leaned backward (2 wds.)

8 Pert 37 Atlas abbr.

9 Hoagie 38 Ernesto Guevera 10 Poking at 39 So-so mark 40 Hogan or Affleck 11 Eyes amorously 12 Spin 41 Sasquatch 13 Memory glitch 43 Mr. Danson 21 Ski lodge 44 Breakfast grain 22 Injured by a bear 45 Weep over 23 Scale a peak 46 Benchley and 24 Hispaniola part Parker’s forte 25 Cake topper 47 — noire 29 Nevada lake 48 One way up 30 Swift-footed 51 Zodiac sign 32 Looks high 52 Glare protector and low 53 Botany and 33 Director’s shout zoology (2 wds.)

© 2009 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

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KEP I OM I T N I CE AGRAM E R I OT S I NPUT ECEDE ROE ECARD SU ERGED F I RE EBON WE S T

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You are quick to answer when opportunity comes knocking, and though you’re not the kind to willingly put yourself or those you love in danger, you will accept a certain amount of risk if it means you are putting yourself in line for a certain kind of reward. You’re willing to pay the right price for success.

Also born on this date are Mary Kay Place, actress; Bruce Springsteen, rock star; Julio Iglesias, singer; Ray Charles, singer and musician; John Coltrane, jazz musician; Jason Alexander, actor.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You’ve been overlooking a physical or emotional malady long enough — it’s time to see a professional and begin working toward a cure.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You may find yourself doing more than you had agreed upon — but not unwillingly. You’ll want to help out where you can.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Progress may be slow but steady. Measure what you do in increments that are easily tallied and understood.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Your domestic situation may be tainted by stress that is not entirely of your making. Get to the bottom of it — now.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Others may be asking questions to which you have the answers, but you must offer them only when the time is right.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Don’t approach a delicate problem like the proverbial bull in the china shop. This one requires style and finesse.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You’ve been measuring things in a way that minimizes your own rewards lately. It’s time to stop selling yourself short.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Someone close to you may be taking advantage of your willingness to let others come first.

It may be time to put your foot down.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — The end of a long and drawnout process is now in sight, but you still have to get over two or three major hurdles before the day is out.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — A rift between friends or family members can be closed for good, provided you are willing to make certain key concessions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You may be asking yourself why is it always up to me? It’s not, but surely you’ll find yourself in a position to make a difference.

Copyright 2009 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

Diversions

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Check out the latest band fronted by veteran area musician Ian Svenonius. Chain and the Gang released its debut album, Down with Liberty... Up with Chains! this past spring. The group will perform at Black Cat tonight at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.

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Finding an autumn style

STILL FLYIN’ For singer-songwriter Sean Rawls and his sprawling collective Still Flyin’, the more members, the merrier.

The band’s lineup, which consists of both “core members” and sporadic contributors known as “spiritual members” on Still Flyin’s Facebook page, is constantly changing, shrinking and growing.

At times, the group has featured such notable names as crooner Jens Lekman, members of Architecture in Helsinki and Josephine Olausson, the lead vocalist of Love is All. “Every tour we go on there’s a different amount of people,” Rawls said. “At this point there’s probably 30 or 40 different people that have played in the band at some point.”

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Simple ways to diversify typical cool-weather clothes SUSAN

LOCKWOOD

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After struggling with oversized suitcases and driving in jam-packed cars, incoming college students eventually settle into their new dorms, apartments and houses. Although we may not know exactly what our classmates have packed for school, one thing is for sure: Come October, when the air has that bitter chill, the campus will be full of North Face jackets, Patagonias, Sperrys and the inevitable UGGs. It is hard to look past these university staples, but Jimmy Choo will debut a less pricey line at H&M students should challenge themselves to dress and in November. COURTESY FASHIONISTA101.COM think differently. I’m not saying we should all be walking around with Chanel clutches instead of cute, without feeling as if you are overwhelming the eyes practical totes, or that we should be adorning our- of passersby.

I learned my dad’s oversized sweater can be selves in Marc Jacobs accessories as opposed to conturned into a J.Crew look-a-like with the right complevenient, inexpensive Forever 21 bangles.

I’m just having trouble understanding why college mentary top and jeans. Looking through my mom’s students don’t strive to stand out. I do, however, un- closet, I found a black-and-red-plaid fleece — somederstand the need to fit in and be part of a crowd. Call thing so “out” that it’s back “in” right now. You’d be me a hypocrite, but come winter I’ll most likely be surprised what you can do with a little recycling. whipping out my own black North Face Denali and Plus, even if parents’ clothes are back in style now, it’s my worn, torn UGGs. I think what most people are highly unlikely anyone else will have the exact same afraid of is standing out too much; that is my reason thing. Just tell them to consider it vintage.

Another thing I learned as an unpaid intern in the for my typical college wardrobe.

But luckily, there are some unexpected and con- big city was to look for bargains. There are always venient ways to add pizzazz to an otherwise tame generic clothes similar to brand-name items at diswardrobe. After having spent an entire summer in count stores, thrift shops and flea markets. I stumNew York City interning for a fashion magazine, I am bled across designer purses and cute Lilly Pulitzer able to further appreciate subtle ways to stand out outfits at a flea market in Manhattan and walked

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So here’s to students, entering a new school year with a fresh start. We’re all in college for similar reasons, and we all want to fit in without blending in. No doubt, it’s difficult to do, but I think we can guide one another.

Maybe we’ll have to take it one accessory at a time, but there’s no reason to shy away from variation.

We’re “finding ourselves” here, after all, and I for one refuse to be content searching with my predictable North Face and way-too-neutral boots. susanl@umd.edu

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

FOOTBALL from page 8 attempted just seven running plays. The offense scored one touchdown on a 64-yard pass to Smith, but was forced to punt once and attempt field goals twice on those drives.

Following the 32-31 loss, Franklin and coach Ralph Friedgen defended Scott’s benching, with Friedgen declaring, “There’s no excuse for fumbling.”

Tuesday, after the emotions of the game had settled, Franklin explained his decision and said he expects Scott to resume his role as the team’s featured back Saturday against Rutgers.

“I believe in Da’Rel Scott 100 percent,” Franklin said. “I haven’t lost any faith. In that game, I had to make a decision and move on. One fumble, fine.

Two fumbles, if I don’t make a change, other players are going to wonder what I’m doing. He understands that. He’s got to change that, he’s got to fix that.

But we’re a better team when Da’Rel Scott’s on the field. That was clearly obvious Saturday.”

Meggett said the coaches never walked up and told him he was to be the running back for the rest of the game Saturday. He and Scott generally switch on drives, with Scott featured in roughly two-thirds of the Terps possessions in the first two games.

Saturday, he was clearly the hotter back when he wasn’t fumbling, averaging nine yards per carry to Meggett’s 2.8. And the sophomore reserve was surprised to hear his name called on each of the final four drives, despite Scott’s two fumbles.

“He was having an excellent game,” Meggett said. “Honestly, I don’t know why I played the last half, anyway.”

Scott admits the fumbles will be in the back of his mind against Rutgers. The junior has fumbled eight times in his Terp career, with seven of those coming in three games.

But entering the season, Terp coaches lauded Scott for his maturity, a quality Meggett said was obvious immediately after each fumble Saturday.

“He bounced back as soon as he fumbled,” Meggett said.

7

“In past situations, something bad happened, he’d be down and go in the tank. But this one, he bounced back and was ready to go.”

Still, Scott didn’t reenter. He didn’t beg Friedgen on the sidelines or call up to Franklin’s booth, either. Instead, he watched from the sideline as the team struggled to produce offense and kill clock in the final offensive drive.

“To be a featured back, you always want to get brought back to try to redeem yourself,” Scott said. “That’s definitely what I wanted to try to do, was just do whatever I could to help my team.

There was some plays in there where I probably would have been able to make a certain play to help the team get the win.”

Franklin said the issues with the fumbles weren’t specific technical problems as much as solid defensive plays. Friedgen said he believes Scott has learned from the experience.

As for Scott — he’s been waiting since that second fumble for atonement. ajoseph@umdbk.com

ACC Winning Percentage Since Conference Expansion in 2005 .938 .750

.663

.275 37-2-1

27-7-6

24-11-5

8-26-6

UNC

FSU

UVA

TERPS

The No. 18 Terps start their ACC slate Thursday at FSU before travelling to Miami Sunday.

ACC from page 8 teams are currently ranked in the top 11 of this week’s NSCAA/adidas top 25 poll.

“We have a monopoly on the best players in the country,” coach Brian Pensky said. “Most of them want to play in the ACC. You always want to be up against the best. Players want to play against the best and the coaches want to coach against the best.”

The next four games should prove the legitimacy of the Terps’ fast start.

Thursday, the team heads down to Florida to take on No. 5 Florida State before going to Miami on Sunday. Then, the Terps will travel to Durham,

SOCCER from page 8 would come much earlier.

The Terps weren’t short on opportunities in the second half. They were, however, lacking in execution.

In one 20-minute span, the Terps missed five golden opportunities to put the game out of reach. In the 65th minute, Odauran, replacing injured starter Casey Townsend, ran onto a ball that put him one-on-one with Suarez. Countless head fakes got him nowhere, and neither did a juke around him.

N.C., to play Duke Oct. 4 before taking on No. 11 Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., Oct. 8.

“Our first eight games were tough, but this should be a whole new level,” forward Caitlin Mooney said. “I’m excited to go against the North Carolinas and Dukes because growing up that’s all you hear about.”

In order to prepare for the rigors the next month will bring, the Terps are becoming meticulous in practice. However, the team isn’t afraid.

“We treat every opponent the same in terms of showing video, putting together scouting reports and we are not approaching this any differently,” Pensky said. “We have a collection of guys that train with us from time to time and

Minutes later, midfielder Billy Cortes sent a wide-open blast from 10 yards out into the netting behind the goal. Herrick then had a semi-breakaway spoiled by Suarez. Then he headed an open ball down onto the field and over the goal. The team’s frustration climaxed after defender London Woodberry struck the post several minutes later.

“Probably for the first time this year, [we] just weren’t sharp,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “I think it’s a combination of a lot of factors and we filed it [away], and we’re moving forward to Friday.”

Missed chance after missed

this week they are going to serve more of a purpose to mimic some of the attacking personalities of Florida State.”

If the Terps can somehow find success, the potential rewards are intriguing. Since ACC expansion in 2005, the conference has allowed the top eight teams to participate in its postseason tournament. Of those teams, 87 percent have received a bid to participate in the NCAA tournament, including all eight in 2008.

“We surpassed our goal of winning seven nonconference games,” Mooney said. “So we’re going to keep this going as long as possible. Our goal is to win six in conference, but I’m confident more is possible.” eckard@umdbk.com

chance nearly cost the Terps dearly. In the 81st minute, goalkeeper Will Swaim, starting in place of Zac MacMath (rest), came off his line to slide for a rolling ball in traffic. As he pulled it in, the ball squibbed away from his grasp to the feet of the Peacocks’ Rumen Kerekov. Kerekov’s blast somehow met the forehead of Kemp, who had taken Swaim’s place in goal.

“Any game that you think is going to be a pushover you soon find out that it’s not,” Swaim said. “You just can’t look past any games.” shaffer@umdbk.com

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

Sports

Presser coverage, volleyball recap Watch video from yesterday’s Terp football press conference at Terrapintrail.com, and read a recap of the women’s volleyball team’s conference-opening win at Boston College on Diamondbackonline.com.

Terps get past final test before Friday showdown with UNC

Fourth-quarter benching has Scott looking forward Terps might go back to regular rotation Saturday

No. 4 men’s soccer barely edges Saint Peter’s, 1-0

BY ADI JOSEPH Senior staff writer

BY JONAS SHAFFER Staff writer

What a difference a week makes.

Last Tuesday, a helpless mid–major from the mid-Atlantic arrived at Ludwig Field expecting the worst from the Terrapin men’s soccer team.

And to the tune of a 7-0 shellacking, Duquesne got it.

Yesterday night, another apparent regional pushover, Saint Peter’s (2-4), made the trip to College Park hoping to avoid the same type of embarrassment they’d endured in their last two games against ranked opponents — two losses by a combined nine goals.

Instead, it was the No. 4 Terps (4-1-1) who were very nearly humiliated in a game ostensibly nothing more than a warm-up to Friday’s showdown against No. 2 North Carolina. The team avoided disaster by the slimmest of margins in an 1-0 win over the Peacocks.

“It wasn’t good enough,” defender Taylor Kemp said. “That’s not what we practiced for.

That’s not what we were looking for.”

The game had all the early warning signs of the type of blowout featured in the Duquesne match.

Five minutes in, midfielder Kaoru Forbess’ well-struck line drive from 30 yards out went in and then out of the expectant hands of Saint Peter’s goalkeeper Carlos Suarez. The ball dribbled harmlessly out of bounds, but Suarez’s miss seemed ominous enough.

One minute later, nothing but several yards of grass separated midfielder Drew Yates and Suarez inside the box. Instead of putting a ball on goal, Yates laid a ball behind him to an oncoming — and closely guarded — Matt Oduaran. The pass was knocked out, and Yates’s unselfishness went unrewarded.

The game’s lone goal finally came with 12 seconds left in the half. Forward Kevin Dansky found a deflection and then forward Jason Herrick, who half-volleyed the ball into the net for a goal many of the game’s 751 spectators thought

see SOCCER, page 7

Running back Da’Rel Scott had two fumbles in Saturday’s 3231 loss to Middle Tennessee and remained on the sideline for the pivotal fourth quarter. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

With his Terrapin football team holding a tentative one-point lead Saturday late in the third quarter against Middle Tennessee, Da’Rel Scott took his 13th handoff of the game.

After a 2-yard gain, the junior running back hit a group of Blue Raider defenders.

Middle linebacker Danny Carmichael knocked the ball loose, and safety Derrick Crumpton fell on it for the fumble recovery.

It was Scott’s second fumble of the game — Carmichael had knocked one out at the beginning of the second quarter as well. And with 17:55 remaining in a close game, offensive coordinator James Franklin benched the Terps’ top running back. Despite his 117 rushing yards on just 13 carries, Scott was replaced for the Terps’ remaining four drives by sophomore Davin Meggett, who finished with 51 yards on 18 carries.

On those four drives, the Terps (1-2)

see FOOTBALL, page 7

Road to respect is through the ACC

BY CHRIS ECKARD Staff writer

Boston College held opponents scoreless through the first 579 minutes of the season. North Carolina, who returned eight starters from a national championship run last year, outscored two top-3 teams 132. And Florida State scored 33 goals in their first eight games.

Partly because of those facts, the ACC is considered by many to be synonymous to supremacy in the realm of college women’s soccer.

That belief has been backed up with a .725 winning percentage against non-conference opponents this season.

The style of play, the skill of players and the prestige of the coaches

Terp forward Jasmyne Spencer leads the No. 18 Terps (8-0) in goals with five heading into the team’s crucial match at No. 5 Florida State Thursday. ALLISON AKERS/THE DIAMONDBACK

make the conference the best in the country by far. But for more than a decade, the Terps have seemingly been on the outside looking in.

The last time the team finished

with a winning ACC record was 1999, one of only three seasons in team history in which the Terps have finished more than .500 in conference.

This year could prove different, as the No. 18 Terps (8-0) enter a

rigorous conference schedule with the swagger that accompanies an unbeaten record.

But it won’t be easy, as five ACC

see ACC, page 7