September 24, 2012

SPORTS

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Men’s soccer continues early season dominance, defeats ACC foe Virginia Tech, 2-0, with two first-half goals p. 8

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The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 18 Our 103rd Year

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

TERRAPINS 21

31 MOUNTAINEERS

DOTS overenrolls grad lot

By Bradleigh Chance Staff writer

gov. martin o’malley signed same-sex marriage into law earlier this year, but the issue is now on the November ballot. file photo/the diamondback

Milan Puskar Stadium a heavy underdog. The Mountaineers had averaged more than 600 yards and 55 points through their first two games and were favored to win by nearly four touchdowns. As strong as the Terps’ defense was through its first three games, it wasn’t supposed to keep up with the explosive “Air Raid” offense.

It did, though, at least for a little while. West Virginia’s 363 yards and 31 points were its lowest totals of the

The struggle to find a parking space on the campus has made its way to Regents Drive Garage, right above the DOTS office, graduate students said.

After several students reported they were concerned there weren’t enough spaces in Lot 5, which is reserved for graduate students, the Department of Transportation Services offered permit-holders free parking for a year in return for switching to another lot.

While enough students took DOTS up on the offer, according to Assistant Director Beverly Malone, officials then transferred half of a ramp to Lot B in order to increase spaces for university staff members, bringing the parking crunch back to Regents Drive in full swing.

Earlier this year, DOTS also switched too many spaces in Mowatt Lane Garage from Lot 19 to Lot U2, primarily for faculty and staff, resulting in many South Campus residents having to park in overflow lots as far away as Comcast Center. The department responded to concerns by adding 20 spaces to Lot 19 about two weeks ago.

“Regents Drive Garage is the most central garage, so it goes through more changes based on campus needs,” Malone said. “The staff in Lot B have priority over the grad students. We do offer the parking to the grad students, but it’s not always possible to deliver.”

Malone noted Regents Drive Garage serves a number of buildings, including the Stamp Student Union and Plant

See mountaineers, Page 7

See DOTS, Page 3

Future of referendum bills up in air Minority issues haven’t fared well CORNERback jeremiah johnson walks away as West Virginia celebrates wide receiver Tavon Austin’s touchdown in the second quarter. Although the Terps lost to the Mountaineers, 31-21, in Morgantown, the game was much closer than many expected and was one of the team’s best games of the season. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

By Jim Bach Senior staff writer When it came to helping undocumented students receive in-state college tuition and giving same-sex couples the right to marry, state Democratic lawmakers strongly advocated for bills that would provide them those rights.

But the state’s Democratic voters may not be so supportive.

Republican lawmakers were successful in putting the DREAM Act and same-sex marriage on the November ballot, leaving the bills’ fates in the hands of state voters. Although the bills passed the state legislature, minority issues have a shaky history in the ballot box.

“When populations are asked to vote on the rights of minorities, however you define them, they have traditionally voted them down,” said Melinda Chateauvert, See REFERENDUM, Page 3

forward progress Even in loss to No. 8 West Virginia, Terps put on best performance of the season

By Josh Vitale Senior staff writer

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — There are no moral victories in football.

Randy Edsall was adamant about that fact Saturday. In a game where wins are the benchmark of success, it’s hard to feel positive when you leave the field with a loss.

“We don’t play the game and put in the time and effort we get into to walk away feeling good,” the second-year coach said. “We

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lost, and it just takes another chunk out of you.”

But if there was a time to claim a moral victory, Saturday might have been it. The Terrapins football team lost to No. 8 West Virginia, 31-21, but it was a much closer game than many expected.

Fresh off a 24-21 loss to a middle-ofthe-road Connecticut team the week before, the Terps were entering a hostile

Researchers show off cuttingedge robots at annual event

By Fatimah Waseem Staff writer A world where robots and humans exist side by side may not be too far in the future, according to university researchers. They have been designing robots for duties that range from simple household tasks to inspecting underwater machinery in the wake of disasters like the Gulf oil spill.

Researchers showcased these robots at the annual Maryland Robotics Day on Friday, marking a small step on the road to building technologies they say may be as influential as the computer revolution.

“Ten years ago, we couldn’t even imagine we’d have gadgets like the iPhone — robots represent that same kind of transition,” mechanical engineering professor Nikhil Chopra said.

Robots cover a wide array of industries and purposes, allowing researchers from across the spectrum to interact with each other and learn about domains they may not have considered,

Maryland Robotics Center External Relations Director Jeff MORE ONLINE Coriale said.

Chopra’s miniaCheck out video of the ture robot named researchers’ robots “Now” can teach elfrom Friday’s Maryland ementary-aged stuRobotics Day at dents about robots umdbk.com. and programming by allowing students to control it using a sensor camera. They can even watch the robot kick balls and score goals.

Some robots help out in the kitchen by slicing bread and pouring water, like the one computer studies scientist Cornelia Fermuller designed.

A smaller, more complex robot under the direction of physics professor Wolfgang Losert can effectively manipulate groups of cells, placing the tools of biomedical research in the hands of small robotic tweezers.

While researchers were able to show off and operate their robots with apparent See ROBOTS, Page 3

Ronnie is a 1-year-old labrador that senior Emily Zier is training to become a service dog. Zier is a volunteer for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

READY FOR PUPPY DUTY Student volunteer trains black labrador to be service guide dog for blind and visually impaired

By Sarah Polus For The Diamondback Between class, homework and staying active with the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, senior government

and politics major Emily Zier has one more responsibility on her hands — raising a 1-year-old black labrador named Rhonda.

And Rhonda — or Ronnie, as Zier likes to call her — is no ordinary canine; Zier

is training her to be a service guide dog to assist the blind and visually impaired.

As a volunteer for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc., Zier’s See PUPPY, Page 3

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THE DIAMONDBACK | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

DOTS From PAGE 1 Sciences building, adding that officials also needed to open up more parking last week for the more than 300 recruiters who came to the campus for the threeday fall career fair. Malone did not know how many remaining spaces are devoted to graduate students.

Astronomy graduate student Hannah Krug said she has been parking in Lot 5 for several years and the changes caught her and other graduate students off guard.

“For an undergraduate lot where parkers have varied schedules, this wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but DOTS does not seem to realize that graduate students are essentially required to be on campus all day, every day, and thus overbooking is a major issue,” Krug said. “This affects a large number of graduate students, which in turn could significantly affect those undergraduate students whom many of these graduate students teach.”

And with many commuters now forced to find parking elsewhere, such as Lot 4 or Lot 6 near Comcast Center, Krug said she has already seen several graduate students in her department come in late for meetings or classes.

“If I don’t get here before 10 a.m., I’ll be circling the lot for 20 or 30 minutes

referendum From PAGE 1 an African-American studies professor at this university.

In all 28 states that have put samesex marriage to referendum, it has been voted down, and DREAM Act legislation has yet to be tested at the ballot box.

Statewide polls have tilted in favor of both measures with slim margins, but they don’t tell the whole story, said government and politics professor Robert Koulish.

“On each of these matters, ultimately, they’re personal considerations,” said Koulish. “In these kinds of questions, you have people that tend to tell pollsters one thing, but once they’re in the privacy of the ballot box, perhaps they will make a different decision at the last minute.”

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden voiced their support for same-sex marriage this year, indicating a possible change in the national mood. Additionally, Gov. Martin O’Malley threw his support behind the state measure this year — despite his Catholic upbringing — which many experts said ultimately sealed its fate in the legislature. This November, the state could be the first in the country to vote for same-sex unions if voters follow the same trend.

“I think that as the campaign is evolving, we see more factors beginning to align that could show Maryland actually making history,” Koulish said.

The political landscape could be shifting in favor of the DREAM Act as well. University President Wallace Loh supported the bill, which affords in-

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looking for a spot,” graduate entomology student Chris Taylor said. “The graduate students and the undergraduates should be treated differently when it comes to parking, and I thought DOTS understood that difference.”

Senior music education major Brendan Kelly, who has a permit for Lot 19, said it has been easier for him to find parking since DOTS opened up additional spaces. However, he said he was concerned that graduate students are now facing similar problems.

“It’s very interesting and not surprising at all that this is an issue in another lot,” Kelly said. “I hope they are able to resolve it and help out those grad students.”

DOTS Director David Allen said officials are continuing efforts to accommodate more student drivers who need to park on the campus.

“Right now, 50 students agreed to move to another lot,” Allen said. “But we will do as many as it takes to fix the problem.”

However, some graduate students said they felt as though DOTS has overlooked their needs.

“They completely exacerbated the problem,” Taylor said. “Why would they refund a ton of people and then turn around and devote some of the spots to Lot B? ... I don’t think I should be paying $250 for this kind of treatment.” chance@umdbk.com

state tuition rates to certain eligible undocumented students, in a Washington Post op-ed this month.

“These kinds of issues really change with the passage of time,” Loh said.

“I think the nation’s becoming much more progressive, much more tolerant, much more inclusive.”

While Democratic policymakers generally endorse both measures, a strong conservative voting bloc from the western and eastern parts of the state could be the deciding factor for a dominantly blue state, Koulish said.

“It will kind of depend upon how the more conservative parts of the state respond,” said Koulish, who described the large voting population around Washington and Baltimore as the measures’ biggest supporters.

Minority issues, however, aren’t confined to political ideology, Chateauvert said, and whether the state is “conservative” or “progressive” is irrelevant when it comes to people hesitant to vote in favor of minority issues. She said it is the government’s role to protect the minority, not the “majority will.”

“Issues around minority votes are not issues that should be put up to a public poll,” she said. “Each time that you’re trying to protect the interests of minorities or advance the rights of minorities, why would you put that or allow the majority to define whether or not they should have rights?”

Chateauvert said she is “skeptical” voters will pass both measures.

“You would eventually think that people would do it, but I don’t see evidence,” she said. bach@umdbk.com

Emily Zier and Ronnie, the black labrador she is training as a service dog, take a stroll down Route 1. Senior government and politics major Zier, who volunteers for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc., keeps 1-year-old Ronnie in her sorority house and brings her to classes and social events. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

PUPPy From PAGE 1 job is to socialize, house train and teach Ronnie commands for about a year until she’s ready to be paired with an owner. And because the dog cannot be left alone for more than one hour, the busy student has to take Ronnie with her everywhere she goes — to class, to work and even to social events.

“It’s like having a child. A lot of times I can’t do things my friends can do,” Zier said. “You really can’t leave the dog. If you want to go out of town or have a test and think it’s not going to behave, you need to get a babysitter.”

Zier got involved with the foundation during her freshman year at the University of Georgia after she saw a student walking a guide dog on the campus and approached her about it. Zier had grown up on a farm, surrounded by animals, and something was missing from college life — the idea of volunteering with the foundation immediately sparked her interest.

Training to become a service dog trainer turned out to be a long and rigorous process. After completing three classes, applicants then had to attend two information meetings, followed by a house interview where the organization staff reviewed the space where the dog would be living. If selected, volunteers would receive a dog about seven or eight weeks old and attend class with it every two weeks to learn basic skills.

The training is not only a timeconsuming commitment; it can

ROBOTS From PAGE 1

COLOR FOR THE KIDS Dozens of students ran through colorful powder while participating in a fundraiser race on McKeldin Mall Saturday afternoon. They came out for the Color for the Kids run, which was about 1.5 miles, for the kick-off event of student group Terp Thon’s year. The organization’s annual 12-hour dance marathon to raise money for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, scheduled for the end of the spring semester, represents nurses’ 12-hour shifts, according to the group’s website. christian jenkins/for the diamondback

ease, creating them is no simple task. It all starts on the drawing table as researchers strip the robot’s purpose down to its bare skeleton and program the system using algorithms, a process that takes three to four years on average.

“We program them. We design them. We teach them – it’s really like my child – it learns from the language of programming,” Chopra said.

But the robots must be taught how to respond in every possible environment, making it difficult for them to respond to dynamic, sudden and unexpected changes.

“Humans read and write without even thinking – it’s a fascinating process when you try and replicate it with a robot. They are only good at repetitive things,” Chopra said, adding that working with robots has made him more appreciative of human capabilities.

Even the slightest change to

also be financially draining. Because volunteers are unpaid and have to foot the bill for food and medical attention for their dogs, Zier said she often ends up losing money.

Still, Zier said having the opportunity to work with canines every hour of the day is its own reward.

“Being around the dogs is so uplifting,” Zier said. “A dog loves everyone. It doesn’t matter what color or religion, boy or girl. You learn a lot being around a dog all the time. You get to see things through their eyes.”

However, Zier was almost unable to bring Ronnie with her into the Kappa Alpha Theta house this year. After realizing state law prohibited her from keeping a service dog in the house, Zier contacted Sen. David Brinkley (R-District 4, Carroll and Frederick) about this issue.

Together, they drafted up a bill that would give volunteer service dog trainers more rights and essentially give them the same protection in public settings as people with disabilities and professional trainers.

“I went and testified before the Maryland Senate and House,” said Zier.

“I brought Ronnie and explained to them why the law should be changed.”

This past May, S.B. 804 passed unanimously and Ronnie now lives happily in the Theta house.

Zier said her fellow sorority members have been a great help to her through the ups and downs of caring for her dogs. When she was swamped by an 18-credit course load and an internship on Capitol Hill last semester, a member of her sorority and senior communication major Tory Dorfman helped watch Ronnie while she was working.

“I love being able to watch her dogs grow and learn, and I can always see their potential and new skills that

“A dog loves everyone. it doesn’t matter what color or religion, boy or girl. you learn a lot being around a dog all the time.”

“For many of us, this isn’t idealistic — they’ll be sharing our offices and they may sit in for our meetings when we are not there.”

increase as well.

“If one robot has the ability to rapidly search an area for earthquake survivors while another can lift rubble, it makes sense for them to cooperate,” Kim said.

These robots can be used in hospitals, mines, at home to deliver medication to the elderly, or on space walks where an astronaut can direct a robot to fulfill a particular task, Chopra said.

“For many of us, this isn’t idealistic – they’ll be sharing our offices and they may sit in for our meetings when we are not there,” he said.

But this vision isn’t like the Hollywood world of I, Robot.

“In a sense, the cruise control on a high-end car that keeps you from drifting in your lane makes that car a robot,” Kim said, challenging traditional perceptions of robots.

At the end of the day, the allure of these wired creatures is about one thing: research.

“Our purpose is to increase enthusiasm for research and engineering,” Chopra said.

NIKHIL CHOPRA

Mechanical engineering professor lighting and the number of people on a table can affect a robot’s capabilities, Fermuller said, requiring an investment of computing power that often is not available.

“Robots today are used in manufacturing and stocking warehouses because their surroundings are controlled and predictable, but place them outside and we have a different story,” said Eric Kim, an undergraduate researcher and senior electrical engineering major.

Overcoming this challenge of constrained environments may be possible in the next decade as researchers explore new algorithms and statistical methods.

And with better motors, sensors and materials, robot-to-robot and human-to-robot collaboration may

EMILY ZIER

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. volunteer Emily has taught them by the end of their year with her,” Dorfman said.

“Given all the pressures of college life, Emily has done an amazing job with raising all three of her dogs.”

And Zier said having her sorority is especially comforting during that inevitable moment when she gives up the dog who has been by her side for a year. Once a dog has learned to find things for its owner such as chairs and stairs, it is deemed ready to graduate from the program and matched with an owner to train with a professional trainer.

Zier has never met any of the people her dogs get matched with face-toface, but she remains in contact with them. Zier hears from the owner of the first dog she trained, Petey, once a month from their home in Seattle.

Her second dog, Lindy, went on to become an explosive detection dog for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“It’s extremely hard to give up the dog. They’re your best friend for an entire year,” Zier said, adding sorority members often brought her cards and chocolates to cheer her up in the past.

“It’s heart-wrenching, but you have to remember that you don’t need the dog and someone else does. The dog is going to contribute to society in its own way.” news@umdbk.com

waseem@umdbk.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Opinion

Needless provocation does little good

Words are powerful. Like fire, they can both warm and kill us.

Mix this power with the intercontinental delivery system called the Internet, and we have the bizarre events of the past week. A handful of people have inflamed tens of thousands of Muslims across the world with one of the lamest videos ever uploaded to YouTube.

Although this video is offensive, I believe the first reaction of many of us in the United States is that even offensive words are protected under the First Amendment’s freedom of speech clause.

Nonetheless, we are not allowed to say anything anywhere — there are limitations. You cannot utter words that would create a clear and present danger — as Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., said, “you cannot falsely yell fire in a crowded theater.” In many jurisdictions you cannot speak “fighting words” — words, “as ordinary men know, are likely to cause a fight.” In most states, you can be held liable for making defamatory statements (libel and slander) that are knowingly false and cause injury to a person or organization. Obscenity and child pornography are not protected under the First Amendment — and a judge can issue a gag order to court participants and the media in order to ensure a fair trial.

So over time, the Supreme Court has recognized that in order to have an orderly civilized society, words do need some regulation.

But has our government gone far enough? The video was more than offensive. Its sole purpose was to insult and inflame. Should we extend the restrictions of the “fighting words”

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‘Fighting words’ gone wrong RICHARD ZIPPER

YASMEEN ABUTALEB

EDITORIAL BOARD

doctrine to include inciting organizations and religions – here and abroad?

Many nations around the world have outlawed hate speech in recognition of words that diminished, dehumanized, incited hatred and advocated violence toward groups of people. It was these words that have given birth to movements like the Nazis, apartheid, the Rwandan genocide and the killing fields of Cambodia. Should we examine these laws and follow suit?

The concept of free speech and its restrictions have evolved from one generation to the next. As usual, the law is ten steps behind the issues raised by new technology. But at some point, we will need to adjust to this fact: when one person speaks on the Internet, the entire world can hear them.

Let me be clear: I believe the reaction of the Muslim extremists who killed in response to this video is heinous, a great disservice to a majority of Muslims and an action that empowered those who provoked them.

We should not cower in the face of mass demonstrations, fatwas or any other types of threats. At the same time, this incident should be a wake-up call to reexamine our regulation of words.

Although it is difficult to draw a clear line between provocative and insulting, artistic and obscene, the extremes — like this video and much of the rhetoric from hate groups — are clear enough.

They do not add to a search for the truth; they have no artistic merit. They only impede our advance toward a more civilized world. We should consider expanding the doctrine of “fighting words” and reconsider protecting hate speech — and ask the Muslim world and others to do the same.

STAFF EDITORIAL

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A clean bill of health

ociety harbors many misconceptions about mental health problems. As everything from depression and schizophrenia to anxiety and suicidal thoughts can fall under the umbrella of mental health, society has made a habit of thrusting the issues under the rug, and people are afraid to share any information about their mental health problems. In fact, the stigma surrounding mental illness could prevent many students from seeking help. But more people are affected by mental health issues than you would think — especially college students.

Attending an institution of higher education is undoubtedly stressful. With the increased workload, the pressures of being on your own and the introduction to a (most likely) highly different environment than anything you’ve ever experienced, it’s a wonder so many students are able to graduate. According to the spring 2000 National College Health Assessment, about 60 percent of college students report feelings of hopelessness at least once in a school year, and about 44 percent report feeling so depressed that they have difficulty functioning. But most of us pull through, working it out and getting used to this new adventure we have all decided to tackle together. And a good portion of us manage to traverse the depths of our environment with help — whether it’s through counseling, medication or (lots and lots of) alcohol. What’s horrible is that excessive drinking is probably the most accepted path through college of the three.

What our generation of college students needs to realize is that for

Richard Zipper is a Golden ID student taking classes in biology. He can be reached at zipper@umdbk.com.

the time being, we are under more stress than students who graduated just five years ago. Our country is still struggling with a recession. Unemployment numbers are sky-high, and professors make a point of frequently reminding students of this. We are hyper-aware of the problems in this country because they have such an effect on us. “A 2012 study by the American College Counseling Association found 37.4 percent of college students seeking help for

OUR VIEW

The university needs to continue to expand mental health services, as college students need to have ample access. mental and emotional problems have severe psychological problems, up from 16 percent in 2000,” Bloomberg Businessweek reported. It also reported that depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health problems among students.

Put simply: College students can have mental problems. It’s allowed.

And universities across the nation seem to be working toward providing help and breaking down barriers surrounding the mental heath stigma.

Last year, this university’s mental health services department in the University Health Center saw a 20 percent increase in total patients, with a 50 percent increase in those seeking urgent care for psychological problems.

It currently provides short-term individual therapy, group therapy, medication evaluations, a suicide prevention program and services for mental health emergencies. The University Health Center is looking to allocate additional

funds to its department through a proposal to raise next year’s student fee, which would free up the psychiatrists’ time to respond to the most pressing issues. The increase would fund the salary for a nurse practitioner.

This editorial board applauds the heath center’s efforts to combat such a daunting, expanding problem. It’s imperative administrators continue to take students’ mental health seriously, and this is just another step toward improving services on the campus.

Obviously, there is always more to be done. The $15 fee to visit the health center can often be an obstacle to students in need of mental health services.

Opposition to the fee hike, proposed

by Health Center Director Sacared Bodison on Sept. 15, mostly seems to come from the fact that it is a hike in student fees. It’s understandable that students don’t want to increase the $1,653 they already pay — but it’s an extra $5. It’s not this cause that’s going to thrust a huge burden on students; the burden’s already there. The good an extra $5 per visit could do for a vast amount of students seems to outweigh the meager hike. We’re not generally in favor of asking students to give more money than we already do to this university, but since this is the only option that has been presented thus far, it’s better than nothing.

Thankfully, the Help Center and the university’s Counseling Center offer free services. So until the University Health Center is able to devise a plan to help students thoroughly, students have somewhere else to turn. Perhaps the next step for university officials and administrators is to figure out how to reallocate funds currently collected so mental health resources are prioritized.

With an ever-present issue like mental health, it’s important for the university to be able to adapt.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

GUEST COLUMN

Quit complaining and take action When confronted with a problem, students fail to focus on productive solutions

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all semester brings with it a new crop of freshmen, reunions with friends, new classes and new problems. This fall marks my fifth semester attending this university — I am halfway through my undergraduate years. If there’s one thing I have learned in my first two years, it’s that there’s a lot of work to be done to improve our campus.

Some complaints are the same every semester — harsh professors and dilapidated housing situations seem to affect all of us at one point or another.

Venting is key when dealing with all of these problems and unfortunate circumstances. Such practices can be observed in The Diamondback website’s aptly named section, “Bitch It Out.” T h e re ’s n o t h i n g w ro n g w i t h venting, but it becomes a problem when we become complacent with merely complaining.

Just a few weeks into the semester, we’ve already heard the repeated gripes from students on a variety of subjects. Some decry the food while others think this university isn’t being environmentally conscious. Books cost too much and professors continue to require expensive tomes when cheaper alternatives exist. All too often we hear these complaints from roommates and friends, but nothing more comes of it. Simply voicing a complaint isn’t enough to warrant the change we want.

We have to take action.

My experience at this university has allowed me the privilege of working with

students, staff and faculty who see the same problems I do and want to work to fix them. Yes, staff and faculty too — not all of them are as evil as we think.

With our collective work, I’ve seen real change made here on the campus.

Two years ago, I began working with a number of students who wanted to see the diners feature more sustainable food.

Since then, we’ve witnessed Dining Services hire a full-time sustainability and wellness coordinator, provide space for students to operate a rooftop garden and initiate a working group where students, faculty and staff work together.

This isn’t an isolated event. All over this university, groups large and small accomplish great things, and new and enthusiastic people are always needed to help with the next project or campaign.

For those with problems not currently addressed by any group on campus, starting a new student group or club isn’t as intimidating as it may seem. All it takes is that one extra step past simply complaining about a problem. With the diverse backgrounds and areas of study among the student body, every student’s input is vital for improving our school.

I hope the energy I’ve witnessed during the first few weeks of class can be sharply focused. We are all capable of amazing feats, once we begin trying to solve our problems.

Alex Krefetz is a junior environmental science and policy major. He can be reached at alexkrefetz@gmail.com.

EDITORIAL CARTOONIST WANTED The Diamondback is seeking paid editorial cartoonists for the 2012-13 school year.

Editorial cartoonists publish cartoons once or twice a week. Knowledge of campus affairs is preferred, but not required. If you are interested in applying for the position, please email opinion@umdbk.com to request an application.

EUN JEON/the diamondback

Education for its own sake JUSTIN DENT Since the inception of educational institutions, societies have grappled with developing a means to best educate our children. Despite thousands of years of work, and even the recent advent of public education, there remains a general bewilderment as to how education should manifest itself. This bewilderment is overwhelmingly clear at home in America, where, despite years of heralded progress, systemic problems remain within every level of education. And despite a vast majority of the conversation in America honing in on primary and secondary education — tertiary, or post-secondary, education suffers many of the same inconsistencies, if not more.

Over the past few months, facing the realities of the poor economy and poorer job prospects, many have posited the question as to whether or not a college degree is worth its cost. This discussion isn’t the typical example of opportunity cost encountered in economics textbooks, but it is made entirely more complex by the severity of college debt juxtaposed with the high like-

lihood of unemployment. Relying on differences in average income based on education level, most claim that the degree is still worth pursuing, with certain, impactful caveats.

Jordan Weissmann, writing for The Atlantic, claims the solution to the fact that 53 percent of recent college graduates are unemployed is increasing the skilled components of an undergraduate education. Top U.S. education officials — President Barack Obama included — have spoken similar words.

It would seem this is a conversation this university has taken to heart. On a broad level, the university has worked to increase employment prospects by boosting the presence of employers on campus, as well as attempting to make inroads in post-graduation unemployment. Similarly, in light of its research aspirations, the university has placed an overwhelming focus and amount of resources into STEM majors and programs where job opportunities are far more abundant. This, in tandem with a variety of departments that seem to limit studies to those within the program and discourage those within from branching out on any significant level, we’re on track to become a hallmark institution of specialization.

To many, this is a positive - a representation of what college should consist of — a ‘practical’ education that

can easily be translated into real-world opportunities. But this is a philosophy of education I am inherently opposed to. In fact, the notion of specialization is a keen example of the reactive policies that have dictated the course of education to little avail. It’s a notion that incorrectly blurs long-term solvency with short-term considerations.

While basic economics teaches that specialization leads to a superior utilitarian outcome, students are no longer taught how to think, but instead what to think. Students are then left with an education that is relatively limited in scope under the pretense that this training will make them more competitive in the present.

However, even the most specialized and qualified of individuals cannot predict what the economy will look like in a few months, let alone what the demand will be for workers years down the line. An education that reacts to today fails to provide sufficient preparation for tomorrow, leaving many unable to think critically and react to abrupt changes in the market — which is the kind of skill our education should be working to develop, not destroy.

Justin Dent is a sophomore government and politics and finance major and the director of student groups for the SGA. He can be reached at dent@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.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Miles away 5 Steeped in gloom 10 Bartok or Lugosi 14 Audition hope 15 Absurd 16 Thailand neighbor 17 Verdi heroine 18 Good storytellers 20 Jaded 22 Fly catcher 23 Very pale 24 Headquartered 26 Fond du - 27 Kind of glass 30 Urban sight 34 Geezer 35 Dull clang 36 Traipse about 37 Quite similar 38 Exasperates 40 Snail with no shell 41 “Science Guy” Bill - 42 Ocean mineral 43 Hamper 45 Extremely difficult problem 47 Curled one’s lip 48 Untold centuries 49 “King Rat” lead 50 Wrestling venue 53 Charge it 54 Alpaca kin 58 Ink ejector 61 -- -- even keel

62 “Cradle of Love” singer 63 Egyptian peninsula 64 Open 65 Gainsay 66 Ragouts 67 Adult, almost

33 Moved inch by inch 35 Diner order 39 Henri’s island 40 Explain in detail (2 wds.)

42 Riverboat danger

44 Brunch or lunch 46 Softly 47 Vacillate 49 Bacon on the hoof 50 Etching fluid

51 Not courteous 52 Bond’s alma mater 53 What -- --?

55 “Earthly Possessions” author -- Tyler

DOWN 1 Haik wearer 2 Thwart 3 “Hawkeye” Pierce 4 Transfer 5 Cosmonaut’s station 6 Not impressed 7 Ran a 10K 8 Drawer handle 9 Urge 10 Laundry-room item 11 -- de vie (brandies) 12 Folk wisdom 13 Org. 19 Guitar sound 21 Munich single 25 Lay of the land 26 Michigan capital 27 Just barely enough 28 Godzilla’s favorite city 29 Farewell 30 A Stooge 31 Peeping Tom 32 Summa cum --

© 2012 United Features Syndicate

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

Today’s crossword sponsored by:

56 Have it - 57 Soon 59 Winding curve 60 That fellow’s

B

HOROSCOPE STELLA WILDER

orn today, you are a positive, lighthearted and vivacious individual with potent powers of persuasion -- but you work your magic on others in ways that are uniquely your own. You like to work from the inside out, slowly changing another’s mind in an organic fashion rather than insisting that it be changed, come what will.

You understand that it is not enough to persuade another that you are right, or that your cause is just, but that the opposition must, of his or her own accord, come to that conclusion through a process of organic change.

You also, of course, have a tremendously active sense of humor, and you know how to use laughter as both a weapon and as a powerful teaching method. Indeed, you are able to laugh at almost anything -- including yourself -- if it means that harmony and accord will prevail and be maintained.

Also born on this date are: Nia Vardalos, actress and screenwriter; Phil Hartman, actor and comedian; Linda McCartney, singer and musician; Jim Henson, Muppeteer; F. Scott Fitzgerald, author.

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- The plan you have is sound, but you may want to listen to what another

COLLEGE INTUITION RICHIE BATES COMIC ARTIST WANTED

has to offer. You can understand layers very well; listen carefully.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Try to be as considerate as possible today, even when you are feeling like the pressure is being increased and the heat is turned up.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Those in charge are asking you to do things in a way that doesn’t come naturally -- but you can adjust and meet them halfway.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You are in search of something that may elude you for quite some time, leading you here and there in a seemingly random pattern.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- What means one thing to you is likely to mean something else to someone else. You must both be willing to see the other’s point of view.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -You are not in favor of an official decision that was made without any thought to what might work for you and a large group of people.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Someone will come to you with an idea that is unlikely to get off

the ground without your help. You need a little more information.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -You’ll be afforded the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a free and creative manner today. Yes, showing off can be fun!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -After starting something new in a strong and aggressive manner, you may find yourself falling into a past pattern of uncertain behavior.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You may find that things go much better if you are part of a team than if you try to do things entirely on your own.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You may feel as though you are grasping at straws, but bit by bit, you are gathering enough information to make a difference.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -You’re looking at alternatives and trying to come up with one that is a sure thing -- but that doesn’t exist right now.

COPYRIGHT 2012 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

Today’s HOROSCOPE sponsored by:

APPLY TODAY!

su | do | ku © Puzzles by Pappocom

Fill in the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.

PREVIOUS DAY’s puzzle solved:

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

APARTMENTS AUTOMOTIVE BEAUTY E DUCATION FLORIST HEALTH LEGAL RECREATION APARTMENTS RELIGION AUTOMOTIVE BEAUTY E DUCATION APARTMENTS FLORIST AUTOMOTIVE HEALTH BEAUTY LEGAL E DUCATION RECREATION FLORIST RELIGION HEALTH LEGAL RECREATION RELIGION

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:

EASY

Today’s SUDOKU PUZZLE sponsored by:

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Diversions

ON THE BLOG

IGOR AND HARRY

Beena Raghavendran previews the Chamber Singers’ Igor Stravinsky-focused collaboration with the Army Band, while Alicia McElhaney reassures Harry Potter fans about J.K. Rowling’s new book. For more, visit umdbk.com.

FEATURE | THE NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

TAKE A LOOK, IT’S IN A BOOK

Favorite authors such as Lois Lowry and Mary Pope Osborne shared words of wisdom at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., last weekend — I joined the crowd of 8-year-olds at Osborne’s tent.

Because of this desire to see my childhood heroes in person, the day The young boy was trapped. Exasperated and shaking, he eagerly became a nostalgia trip, as I floated clutched his copy of Jerry Spinelli’s between tents to catch presentations latest book, Third Grade Angels. from three of my favorite writers He was stuck in line with his mom growing up.

Lois Lowry, author of The Giver, and sister to meet Kathleen Ernst, started the day with a c re a to r o f t h e talk about her lifelong popular Ameri- “I Don’t believe in desire to be a writer. “I can Girl series, writer’s block.” never wanted to be anyb u t h e wa n te d MARY POPE OSBORNE thing else,” she told an none of that.

Author 8-year-old girl, one of “Moooommmmm,” he said, straddling the line many brave young souls who lined up between cute and whiny. Pointing to behind a microphone to ask the writer his book, he asked, “When am I gonna a question. While Lowry explained she initially sacrificed her desire to become get to go in MY LINE?” His mother reassured him they an author by dropping out of college at would get in line for Jerry Spinelli right 19 — and then having children at ages when this one was done. The giddy 21, 22, 24 and 25 — she eventually was able to finish her English degree and boy’s face lit up.

He was just one of many children pursue writing as a career.

“Ideas come from all kinds of places, who spent a day or two on the National Mall with their families to celebrate and the best place, of course, is your reading at this weekend’s National own imagination,” Lowry said.

Later in the day, Osborne said, “I Book Festival. And Spinelli, whose unique stories about oddballs like don’t believe in writer’s block.” Those Maniac Magee and Loser were required words shouldn’t be shocking from an middle school reading for many in our author who has cranked out 48 Magic generation, was one of the many big- Tree House books since she started name writers who spoke and signed writing them 20 years ago — or, before this year’s freshmen were born. She books at the event.

For those who think the youth of was incredibly open about her writing today are all lazy, video game-obsessed process: using time travel as a vehicle, kids who are always in front of a com- she writes about whatever topic she puter screen, spending Saturday on finds interesting (most recently, the Mall was a nice wake-up call that pandas). She writes the series in fourlove for good old-fashioned reading book arcs, with mysteries lingering and resolved at the end of each. has not gone away.

And, most interestingly, she is The festival was far from a familyalways crowdonly affair, as sourcing kids adult authors “ideas come from all kinds of for new ideas. s u c h as Pa places, and the best place, of Osborne tricia Cornwell, Stephen course, is your own imagination.” p o l l e d t h e L. Carter LOIS LOWRY a u d i e n c e to and Junot Author d e cid e what her next book Díaz were all present to speak and interact with fans. would be about — Catherine the But as a 20-year-old college student Great, World Cup soccer, or hippos? only 10 years or so removed from my The audience gave her a reality middle school days, it was impossible check, as she realized her Catherine not to let the inner child in me lead the the Great idea wasn’t so popular, but way and decide which authors to see. World Cup soccer definitely was. A Would I rather see Pulitzer Prize- story about hippos, she decided, may winning Cold War historian John Lewis turn up in a later book. She had come Gaddis, or Magic Tree House creator up with a title, but nothing else: Mary Pope Osborne? A real historian, Hippos on Holiday.

“I don’t know what that means or the woman who taught millions of children history through twists, turns or where to go with it,” she said, in a and time travel? There was no question revealing moment — could it be that

By Adam Offitzer Staff writer

YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR Lois Lowry (top), the creator of works such as the Newberry Award-winning novel The Giver, was one of several authors to speak at last weekend’s National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington. Both adult and youth-oriented writers were featured at the event, including Jerry Spinelli (of Maniac Magee), historian John Lewis Gaddis and novelist Junot Díaz. photos courtesy of riema.edublogs.org, rorhbachlibrary.com, penguin.com and old.harbourfrontcentre.com she comes up with her alliterative titles (such as Dinosaurs MORE ONLINE Before Dark and Night of the Ninjas) before Head to the website the actual stories? The for video coverage kids certainly didn’t of the National Book seem to care.

Festival, including Jerry Spinelli more interviews. d o e s n ’t s u ga rcoa t anything. His books feature complex, unique and often troubled characters.

When he spoke, he talked primarily about failure.“The extent to which we fail leads to our successes,” he said. He detailed his experiences with rejection, from a pretty girl in first grade rejecting his proposal to “marry him” in class to an array of publishing companies rejecting his first four books.

Spinelli’s stories were sad and told volunteers were cheery, and the tent with a dark streak of humor, but they speaker times stuck to the schedules led to an inspithat were handed rational message “the extent to which we fail out. A free, beauabout the power leads to our successes.” tifully designed o f fa i l u re to event poster was JERRY SPINELLI given to anyone create success.

Author “You should who wanted it. not be afraid to fail,” he said. “Failure “This is the best-organized, most will provide the stepping stones by joyous festival an author could ever which you will cross the creek.” attend,” Osborne said.

When one girl asked why so many There were too many authors to of the characters Spinelli created were count – while I saw Lowry, Spinelli, oddballs, he had an interesting answer. and Osborne, I missed out on Walter “You got 100 people – 99 of them are Dean Myers and R.L. Stine. Nonetherunning this way,” he said, pointing less, Saturday at the National Book to his left, “One of them is running Festival was certainly a day that lived that way,” pointing to the right. “Who up to Osborne’s lofty declaration. would you rather read about?”

The weather was glorious, the offitzer@umdbk.com

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2EVEN MONDAY, september 24, 2012 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

LETOURNEAU From PAGE 8 “It was just probably miscommunication, maybe,” linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said. “It just can’t happen.”

No, it can’t. Edsall won’t allow it. That’s why he kept his praise to a minimum Saturday. That’s why he

MOUNTAINEERS From PAGE 1 season by a good margin. Quarterback Geno Smith’s 13 incompletions were more than he threw in his fi rst two games combined, and he was sacked twice — the fi rst times this season the defense had gotten to him in the backfield. And after averaging nearly 230 rushing yards per game entering the contest, the Mountaineers totaled just 25 yards on the ground against the Terps.

T he only thing their defense couldn’t do was limit big plays. The Terps (2-2) allowed West Virginia (3-0) wide receiver Tavon Austin (13 catches, 179 yards) to haul in catches of 44, 24 and 34 yards to score the Mountaineers’ only three offensive touchdowns of the game.

“It’s bittersweet, because we were in the game,” linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said. “If you take a couple plays out, we’re up.”

WAKE From PAGE 8 generated eight shots in the first 26 minutes — including three penalty corners — but couldn’t convert on any of those chances. The Demon Deacons were even worse, though, taking just three shots before halftime.

“We didn’t start out as good in the first half as we would’ve liked,” Witmer said. “It got better as it went on, though, and different players stepped up and played really awesome.”

Things evened out in the second

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

downplayed the fact that the Terps — who were four-touchdown underdogs — nearly captured their first win over a top-10 team since 2007. And that’s why he told a room full of reporters there are “no moral victories.”

Edsall understands his team is young and untested. He realizes it has plenty of shortcomings.

But he’s not willing to accept re-

peated mistakes. If the Terps are going to compete in a crowded ACC this year, they’ll need to heed the message. They’ll need to learn from their errors, make the necessary adjustments and continue to improve.

After all, being competitive is one thing. Winning is another entirely.

A nd even though the offense couldn’t quite match their opponents on the scoreboard, they did turn in arguably their strongest performance of the season. Running back Brandon Ross rushed for 58 yards in his career debut, wide receiver Marcus Leak and tight end Matt Furstenburg caught a combined nine passes for 134 yards and freshman receiver Stefon Diggs totaled 113 yards and two touchdowns on just three receptions.

“I’m just trying to make a play, just trying to do my job,” Diggs said. “It was a good game. Big players make big plays in big games.”

Quarterback Perry Hills had the best day of his young career, too.

After failing to top 16 completions or 190 yards passing in each of his first three starts, the freshman went 20-of-29 for a career-high 305 yards and three touchdowns.

“Things are definitely starting to slow down for me,” Hills said. “I feel that we should’ve won today; there

were just things we left out on the field.”

But as impressive as the Terps’ young players were, their turnovers were ultimately the team’s undoing.

West Virginia linebacker Doug Rigg returned a Hills fumble 51 yards for a touchdown to open the game’s scoring, and a Leak fumble early in the fourth quarter ended a drive that could have put the Terps within one score.

“The guys fought hard,” Edsall said, “but you know the bottom line is we came up a little bit short.”

They did come up short on the scoreboard, but they weren’t so far off on the stat sheet. And even though Edsall maintains there are no moral victories, finishing within 10 points of one of the best teams in the country has to be worth something for a rebuilding Terps program.

“It was just a great game,” Diggs said. “It just tells you we’re not far off on our goals and what we’re trying to do here.”

half, with the Demon Deacons (3-5, 0-2) getting the advantage in penalty corner opportunities (4-2) and shots (6-4). It was the first time since their 3-2 win over No. 11 Stanford on Aug. 26 that the Terps put fewer shots up than their opponent in a half of play.

But nevertheless, the Terps came out on top. Defender Steffi Schneid scored her first goal of the season on a secondhalf penalty corner chance and Witmer put one in herself 15 minutes later.

It was a crucial victory for the Terps, especially considering who they were missing. Forward Katie Gerzabek, midfielder Maxine Flu-

harty and defender Ali McEvoy were all playing with the Under-21 U.S. National Team at the Junior PanAmerican Games in Mexico.

But that trio should be back for Friday’s game, an addition that should make an already elite team even better.

“It’s a matter of just working for each other and being at the right place at the right time on the field,” Meharg said. “And it’s also about just having fun playing hockey at the highest level.

Hopefully we can continue to gel.”

letourneau@umdbk.com

vitale@umdbk.com

munson@umdbk.com

HOKIES From PAGE 8 on goal.

“We’ve been giving up goals lately, so it was a goal of ours tonight to get a shutout,” defender London Woodberry said. “That was just the main thing on our minds, get the shutout and get the win. We were focused the whole time and got the job done.”

The Terps started the year with three shutouts in their first four games, but had allowed three goals in their past two wins against UMBC and No. 17 N.C. State. Friday’s shutout also came with defender and team captain Taylor Kemp sidelined with a leg injury. Defender Mikey Ambrose started in Kemp’s left back slot and Jordan Cyrus took Ambrose’s spot at right back.

Ambrose, who took the majority of the Terps’ corner kicks in Kemp’s absence, netted his first collegiate goal in the 43rd

DEACONS From PAGE 8 defense a nd scored off her ow n rebound from eight yards away.

In the 69th minute, the Terps struck again when midfielder Becky Kaplan tallied her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

“We got an early goal, which is always great because it lifts a burden off of your shoulders,” midfielder Olivia Wagner said. “Everyone played really hard and it was overall a really positive win.”

But it wasn’t that easy for the Terps.

The Demon Deacons nearly came back in the game’s final minutes — defender Kim Marshall notched her team’s only goal in the 85th minute — but it wasn’t without some controversy. Marshall’s shot went into the net after a whistle was blown, and Morgan said his team wasn’t sure if the ball was still in play or not.

“They didn’t know if they were supposed to play or not play and then the ball went in the net,” Morgan said.

“But our kids did such a great job managing the game that I still felt pretty confident even after it was counted.”

That wasn’t the game’s only con-

minute to put the Terps up, 2-0.

“It felt really good,” the freshman said. “I was really happy I helped the team out to get a cushion goal. That’s the biggest part of it, and then it was just exciting to get my first collegiate goal.”

Partly thanks to Ambrose’s defensive play, that was all the Terps would need to down the Hokies and continue their strong start in the ACC. The Terps sit atop the conference through three games, two points ahead of No. 8 North Carolina. They will again put their undefeated record on the line when Georgia State visits Ludwig Field tonight.

“You want to get these [wins] early on, but we also have some great games coming up that we need to stay focused on,” Mullins said. “Each test is another test. We need to focus on each individual one. That’s our mentality going throughout.” dgallen@umdbk.com

troversy. T hough the stat sheet showed his team didn’t take a single corner kick all game, had 13 fouls and took a season-low five shots, Morgan said the official statistics the Demon Deacons submitted weren’t an accurate refl ection of what happened on the pitch.

“Wake Forest stats are full of it,” Morgan said. “They were inflating the stats and, frankly, it’s annoying. Some schools are all about numbers and it’s not consistent at all, so those numbers don’t indicate what we did [yesterday].

We took at least five or six shots more that weren’t even considered.”

Despite inconsistencies and confusion, the Terps still find themselves on top of the league. They’ll have a chance to add to that lead this week when they finish their six-game run against ACC competition with a home meeting with Virginia and a road contest at Virginia Tech.

“It’s still a long season and we have a lot of games ahead of us, but it’s really exciting being in fi rst,” defender Domenica Hodak said. “We’ve played really good teams so far, so I feel like we’re in a good position. Hopefully we can remain at the top.” egan@umdbk.com

STATLINE

20 29 305 3

Terps quarterback Perry Hills’ numbers in Saturday’s 31-21 loss at No. 8 West Virginia Completions

Attempts

Yards

Touchdowns

Sports

VOLLEYBALL SPLITS WEEKEND

ON THE WEB

The Terrapins volleyball team went 1-1 this weekend, defeating Clemson before falling to Georgia Tech. For more, visit umdbk.com.

PAGE 8

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

FOOTBALL

THROWING IT ALL AWAY

Turnovers continue to hurt a young team still learning how to win CONNOR LETOURNEAU

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Randy Edsall has had a tendency to focus on the positive this season.

The second-year Terrapins football coach has spent postgame press conferences praising players’ resiliency, doting on standout freshmen and expressing satisfaction with his young team’s week-to-week adjustments.

But when Edsall addressed the media moments after the Terps’ 31-21 loss at No. 8 West Virginia on Saturday, disappointment replaced positivity. Gone were the smiles. Gone were buzzwords like “heart” and “unity.”

Gone were consolations.

“I’m just disappointed that we made some of the errors that we made that didn’t allow us to have an opportunity to win toward the end of the game,” Edsall said. “We’ve got to do a better job of securing the ball offensively and make sure we cut down on the penalties and sacks.”

Like a disapproving father who just heard his son is continuously acting up in class, Edsall was strident.

Forget an inexperienced Terps squad nearly upset the Mountaineers before a hostile crowd of 58,504 at Milan Puskar Stadium. Forget freshman quarterback Perry Hills easily had the best start of his young career. And forget the Terps’ defense was largely effective limiting Heisman hopeful quarterback Geno Smith.

Edsall was simply tired of seeing the same costly miscues prevent his team from winning. And honestly, who can blame him?

Sure, the Terps have their share of flaws. They lack experience, acclaim and healthy bodies.

Quarterback Perry Hills throws the ball away to avoid a fourth-quarter sack. Hills was responsible for two of the Terps’ three turnovers in their 31-21 loss to the No. 8 Mountaineers on Saturday. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

FIELD HOCKEY

Parker, Witmer foil Wake

But those things are out of the Terps’ control. Mistakes are not.

Edsall’s squad was its own worst enemy for the second straight week on Saturday. Its offensive line allowed five sacks, its wide receivers dropped multiple wide-open passes and its kicker missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

And then there were the fumbles.

West Virginia linebacker Doug Rigg returned a Hills fumble 51 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. Early in the fourth, wide receiver Marcus Leak fumbled a 25-yard reception on the Mountaineers’ 36-yard line.

Both plays killed Terps drives in West Virginia territory and resulted in points for the Mountaineers.

“Things we left out on the field, killing ourselves,” said Hills, who finished with a career-high 305 yards and three touchdowns. “That’s something we definitely need to quit doing — turning over the ball, fumble, just anything.”

They also struggled to communicate defensively, allowing a potent Mountaineers offense to rip off far

MEN’S SOCCER

Terps atop ACC after four games Team defeats Wake Forest, 2-1, yesterday

By Erin Egan Senior staff writer

By Nicholas Munson Staff writer

See WAKE, Page 7

See LETOURNEAU, Page 7

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Duo combines for three goals in 4-2 victory Sat.

Locked in a scoreless tie midway through the first half, Jill Witmer sprinted down the sideline and spotted a wideopen Alyssa Parker to the left of Wake Forest goalkeeper Kaitlyn Ruhf.

Witmer pushed the ball ahead to her teammate and the freshman forward deposited it in the back of the net.

Less than a minute later, it happened again. Witmer drove, and Parker was wide open. Forty-eight seconds after her first goal, Parker had no difficulty putting in another.

If the Demon Deacons had done their homework, she likely wouldn’t have been open at all. She notched a hat trick against No. 22 Boston College last week and proved it was no fluke against No. 14 Wake Forest on Saturday, scoring two of the Terrapins field hockey team’s four goals in a 4-2 victory at Kentner Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. “She’s certainly quite an impact player as a freshman,” coach Missy Meharg said.

“Once she got her fi rst couple of goals, I knew she would be on a string. She’s right there, and she’s playing great.”

Parker’s two scores turned the tide for the No. 4 Terps (7-1, 2-0 ACC) in what had been a defensive battle. The Terps

too many big plays.

One particularly glaring lapse came on West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin’s second touchdown.

No Terp was near Austin as the Baltimore native dashed 24 yards for the second-quarter score.

“[Virginia Tech] became a little more direct and a little more aggressive,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We’ve come on strong a lot of times in the second half. Today, we came on strong in the first half.

We didn’t come out with the same energy in the second half, and that’s something this team has to learn.”

The Terps may have struggled offensively in the second half, but their defense delivered its fourth shutout of the season. Virginia Tech managed five shots (four in the second half), but the Hokies were unable to place any of them

Two teams walked onto the pitch at Spry Stadium in Winston Salem, N.C., yesterday, but only one would leave at the top of the ACC standings.

The Terrapins women’s soccer team led the conference with seven points before the game, but No. 13 Wake Forest was right behind with six. Whichever team left the Sunday afternoon battle on top would hold the label of the winningest team in the league.

That team was the Terps.

Even though the Demon Deacons took 13 more shots, 12 more corners and one more shot on goal than the Terps, coach Jonathan Morgan’s team headed back to College Park with a 2-1 victory — just their third road win over Wake Forest in program history — and the title of the ACC’s top team through four games of conference play.

“This win was really important for our team on so many levels,” the fi rstyear coach said. “It’s incredible for our confidence and our position in the league.

This was so valuable.”

The Terps (7-2-2, 3-0-1 ACC) jumped to an early lead with an 11th minute goal from forward Hayley Brock, her sixth score this season. She took advantage of a sloppy Wake Forest (8-3-1, 2-2-0)

See HOKIES, Page 7

See DEACONS, Page 7

Defender Mikey Ambrose played in place of injured defender Taylor Kemp and scored his first career goal in the Terps’ win Friday. file photo/the diamondback

First-half surge all Terps need to defeat Hokies, 2-0

By Daniel Gallen Senior staff writer The Terrapins men’s soccer team has played a waiting game of sorts for much of this season.

With a deeper bench than most of their opponents, the Terps run offensive weapon after offensive weapon onto the field, creating a variety of matchup problems with fresh legs and assorted skill sets.

The opposing defense eventually relents, allowing the Terps to rack up a 14-2 goal advantage in the second half of their games.

But Friday night was different.

In their 2-0 victory over Virginia

Tech, the No. 1 Terps scored in the 13th and 43rd minutes before going scoreless over the final 48 minutes in front of 4,043 at Ludwig Field.

“We were ready to play because of the game on Tuesday that got rained out,” said forward Patrick Mullins, who scored the Terps’ first goal. “We really wanted to go out, get a goal in the fi rst 10-15 minutes and set the tone for the rest of the night. We were pretty happy that we did that.”

While the Terps (6-0-1, 3-0-0 ACC) did defeat the Hokies (3-3-1, 0-2-1) for a fifth straight time, they were unable to notch a second-half goal for the first time this season.