100411

TAKETH AWAY

THE INFORMER

SPORTS | PAGE 8

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

Only a student, Amber Simmons already a PR maven

Terps lead ACC in turnover margin, but issues linger

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Our 102ND Year, No. 24

Ban on reading texts while driving now in effect Chief Although a stricter law limiting when motorists can text became enforceable Saturday, University Police said no special crackdown is planned for the campus

BY ERIN EGAN Staff writer

Although state law now prohibits Maryland motorists from reading text messages while driving, University Police officers said they are not planning any specific crackdowns on the campus.

The original texting law, which came into effect October 2009, only restricted sending text messages.

The new law, which became effective

Saturday, makes reading and sending text messages while driving — even if one is sitting at a red light — a primary offense.

If pulled over for texting while driving, motorists will be fined $70 and receive one point on their license; if texting while driving contributes to an accident, the motorist will be required to pay a $110 fine and receive three points. Additionally, there is a $110 fine for second offenses.

Despite such hefty repercussions, University Police officers said they don’t have plans for any serious crackdowns in the future.

“Our officers, now that it is a primary offense, will certainly be watching for it,” spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky said. “We understand that there are a lot of traffic offenses that cause injuries because of texting, but there are no plans right now to do any kind of check point or specific kind of enforcement.”

Police officers from 76 state police departments have issued 587 warnings and 379 traffic citations for driving while texting, according to a Maryland State Police Department press release issued last week.

According to the release, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported 67 percent of drivers admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving within the last 30 days;

see TEXTING, page 2

diversity officer named Shorter-Gooden will assume brand-new position in January

BY LEAH VILLANUEVA Senior staff writer

RUNNING DRY Despite Dining Services push, university golf course watering hole sees little business

BY SPENCER ISRAEL Staff writer

Business at Mulligan’s Grill and Pub, which overlooks the university’s golf green, has been stuck in a rough patch, but Dining Services officials are working to drive the restaurant’s popularity back on course.

Because the golf course and its accompanying restaurant and bar are still struggling two and a half years after they reopened, Dining Services began pushing Mulligan’s promotions this semester to entice more customers, officials said.

The new perks include guest bartenders — such as Terrapins field hockey coach Missy Meharg — an expanded din-

ner menu scheduled to change with the seasons and live jazz music two nights each month.

“The dinner business needs a big boost,” Dining Services spokesman Bart Hipple said. “Aggressive efforts to increase business are certainly called for.”

Because big-name bartenders attract guests to the course, they also receive a cut of the night’s profits — a strategy Mulligan’s Manager Carlos Bonilla said is worth the price.

“We’re trying to get the word out that, ‘Hey, this is an excellent bar,’ and we’re trying to get the people at the bar over to

When Kumea Shorter-Gooden takes the helm as the university’s first-ever chief diversity officer in January, her prerogative will be to unite the campus in cultivating a KUMEA better climate for SHORTERfostering equity GOODEN and diversity on CHIEF DIVERSITY all levels.

OFFICER Following a national search spanning five months and more than 100 applicants, Provost Ann Wylie announced the appointment of Shorter-Gooden as the university’s first associate vice president and chief diversity officer in an email yesterday. While many of the goals for the post have already been crafted in the university’s 10-year Diversity Strategic Plan, Shorter-Gooden said she will focus on bridging the minority gaps in the recruitment and retention of faculty and students and on integrating diversity issues more deeply into the curriculum.

Shorter-Gooden is a 1978 university alumna who has headed the international-multicultural initiatives at Alliant International University — which has six California and three international

see DIVERSITY, page 2

A need for speed McKeldin Library to be redesigned by end of year see MULLIGAN’S, page 2

JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

Univ. senior races cars professionally

With $50,000 donation, team of students will plan library’s upcoming redesign

BY CHAD SINCLAIR For The Diamondback

BY NICK FOLEY Staff writer

For many students, class assignments are typically confined to exams, papers and projects — however, those who frequent McKeldin Library will feel the effects of some architecture and anthropology students’ coursework.

In a collaborative effort between McKeldin and the anthropology and architecture departments, students in ANTH606: Qualitative Methods in Applied Anthropology and a spring architecture class will be given the liberty to redesign the building’s interior, thanks to a $50,000 donation to the library. Patricia Steele, libraries dean, said the overall goal of the program is to reformat McKeldin to cater to the needs of students.

“How can we make the library a successful place for their academic

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

work?” Steele said. “That’s the question to be answered.”

This semester, the anthropology students will use a variety of methods to find an answer to this question. They’ll perform observational anthropology that will be comprised of formally observing how students use the library at different times of the day and performing on-the-spot interviews designed to determine how often undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff use — or don’t use — the library.

Some students said they hope group study spaces, like the ones found on McKeldin’s second floor, would expand as a result of the redesign.

“I think they should add more floors like this, because this floor is always the most crowded,” said sophomore

see LIBRARY, page 3 Sunny/70s

HANOVER, Pa. — Getting smashed on Friday nights is something Jessie Morrison tries to avoid.

But as she takes her 650-horsepower race car through the dirt straightaway at 105 mph and into the first turn, crashing is the last thing on her mind. Instead, she has one thought: just pass.

“You want to be pushing it to the limit around every corner and into the straightaways,” Morrison said. “You are trying different things every lap. If you’re not passing a car on one spot, you’re moving. You might get passed by somebody, but you have got to go.

Things need to happen now.”

For the senior journalism major, pushing it to the limit is a way of life.

Every Friday night from April to October, the 22-year-old Silver Spring A team of university students in the anthropology and architecture majors will redesign McKeldin Library’s interior. GARY CHEN/THE DIAMONDBACK

INDEX

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

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

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

see MORRISON, page 3 www.diamondbackonline.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

TEXTING from page 1 21 percent of drivers indicated they had read or sent a text or email message. That figure rose to 40 percent for drivers under the age of 35.

Limansky said University Police are well aware of the prevalence of texting while driving, noting that officers may change how heavily they crack down on it.

“If we run into a situation where it becomes evident to us that there have been multiple crashes involving texting, we’ll do some more specific enforcement,” he said.

Many students said they found the law ambiguous and difficult to understand.

“If the law just says you can’t read a text, can you surf the web or play a game if you’re stopped at a red light?” said junior communication major Devon Harris. “I think in theory it’s a good law but it leaves a lot out, and it’ll be hard for police to really crack down.”

But State Highway Administration spokeswoman Lora Rakowski said the law strictly refers to reading and writing text messages. She noted that surfing the web and playing games are equally as distracting for drivers.

“We know from studies that texting distracts drivers, and

DIVERSITY from page 1 campuses — for the past four years. She was the first chief diversity officer at Alliant and will assume the role as this university’s first on Jan. 1.

The post was created last year to head the recently restructured university Office of the Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity.

When Shorter-Gooden begins her tenure she will sit on the university president’s cabinet and report directly to the provost — an upgrade in influence from the university’s previous top diversity position.

“Having somebody sit in the cabinet reporting to me and the provost gives a visibility and authority to that office that did not exist before — not at that level,” university President Wallace Loh said in an interview yesterday.

“When that person goes and talks to deans and vice presidents, they are speaking with the authority of the president and the provost and that should not be underestimated. It is sending a signal that we’ve always been committed to diversity; we’re investing a significant amount of money into diversity; and we’re hiring this person in this elevated status.”

One of the major initiatives on Shorter-Gooden’s plate will be overseeing the implementation of the university’s Diversity Strategic Plan, a 10-year roadmap for improving equity and diversity among students, faculty and staff on the campus. Shorter-Gooden said before she can hammer out how she plans on accomplishing this goal, she must take the time to meet with and listen to members of the university community.

But this is a lot easier said than done, according to associate provost of equity and diversity Lee Thornton.

“It’s a huge deal to implement a 10-year plan,” Thornton said.

“She’s literally got to say, ‘Here’s year two, and then here’s year three, and then this all leads toward something that happens in year five.’”

Additionally, Shorter-Gooden said she wants to see greater knowledge and discussion of equity and diversity issues fostered within the classroom.

“I want to see programs and curriculums infused with diversity material and imbued with peda-

the language of this law is specific to texting,” Rakowski said.

“But, for any type of activity that’s going to distract a driver, the best practice is to avoid those activities and focus on the task at hand, which is driving.”

The law does not apply to texting 911 or using a GPS, she added. Speaking on a nonhands-free cell phone is still a secondary offense in the state.

Some students, such as sophomore marketing major Brooks Gabel, said they don’t think the law will change drivers’ behavior behind the wheel.

“I honestly don’t think it’ll change the behaviors of many drivers,” Gabel said. “People have grown so dependent on technology that I really don’t think any law would truly cause people to completely refrain from using their phone while driving.”

But Limansky disagreed, saying this kind of public reaction is common after many new laws are passed.

“When they first passed the mandatory seatbelt law, people didn’t think they would change and start wearing their seatbelts all the time,” Limansky said. “But now it’s just second nature. I think the same sort of thing will happen with texting and reading texts while driving. The goal is really just to save lives.” egan@umdbk.com

gogical learning of diverse issues,” Shorter-Gooden said. “That’s already been happening and more of that needs to happen.”

Additionally, Thornton said Shorter-Gooden will need to address the ongoing disparity in the recruitment and retention of women faculty and faculty of color — issues that Thornton herself fought throughout her career at the university.

Shorter-Gooden said this is a problem that will be one of her priorities in her new position, noting she plans to focus especially on the disparities in the number of Latino faculty and students. One of her first goals will be get the entire university community on board to see what the university can do to further eliminate gender, racial and ethnic gaps, she said.

“One of the key issues for me is that we need to look holistically at the climate and culture of the university,” Shorter-Gooden said. “It’s not enough to say, ‘What is wrong with that group, and how can we help them to be better and do better.’ We need to say, ‘What is the climate of the university and how embracing and supportive and inclusive is the university as a whole?’”

In her position, Shorter-Gooden will also be charged with directly overseeing the vast number of diversity offices and organizations on the campus. This includes the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education, the Office of LGBT Equity, the Nyumburu Cultural Center, the Office of Diversity Education and Compliance, the Equity Council, the Conflict Resolution Network, the Maryland Incentive Awards Program, the Center for Leadership and Organization Change and the President’s Commissions.

“We have reorganized a number of offices and brought them together under her oversight,” Wylie wrote in an email. “She will need to forge a whole out of these parts.”

Several administrators said Shorter-Gooden’s appointment marks the start of a new era.

“We’re trailing a lot of places,” Thornton said. “A lot of places have had chief diversity officers for years. We are definitely entering a new phase of Maryland’s work in diversity and inclusion.”

Shorter-Gooden said she is ready to take on the challenge.

“Diversity is central to excellence,” she said.

Mulligan’s Grill and Pub, located on the university’s golf course, has expanded its dinner menu, added jazz nights two times a month and introduced guest bartenders this semester to attract more patrons. More than two years after the restaurant’s reopening, officials said it is still struggling for customers. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

MULLIGAN’S from page 1 the dining room,” he said.

When Mulligan’s opened 11 years ago, it was originally intended to have an informal dining vibe; however, business demands prompted the managers to transition to table service and a wait staff.

The restaurant was more profitable prior to golf course renovations more than two years ago, Bonilla said, but it has taken a financial blow ever since.

Bonilla attributed the business’ struggles to the restaurant’s location — it is far from any public transportation routes. Except during golf tournament weekends,

Bonilla said, the campus community largely neglects his restaurant.

“I think we have a wonderful product and a wonderful menu, but it’s not ver y convenient,” Bonilla said. “I’m not sure if it’s because people have to cross [Route 193], but there’s not a steady stream of customers.”

Some students said convenience is a main factor when choosing where to eat.

“I’ll usually only go [to the course] to play golf, so I don’t really go to Mulligan’s,” junior sociology major Marc Mancini said. “It seems like a really good place to go, but it’s not ver y convenient for students to get there.”

Other students, such as

sophomore architecture major Hannah Triebel, a waitress and hostess at Mulligan’s, said many of their peers are unaware that the golf green and restaurant even exist.

“A lot of my friends don’t even know we have a golf course here,” Triebel said.

“You can use Terrapin Express or Terp Bucks here, but a lot of people don’t know that, and it’s also a far walk.”

The restaurant’s dinnertime profits only account for about 20 percent of its revenue, Bonilla said, adding he hopes the revamped menu will draw in more hungry customers at night.

Mulligan’s lunch and bar ser vices, which each rake in about a third of the restau-

rant’s revenue, remain its strongest sources of income, Dining Ser vices officials said. But these sources alone cannot effectively support the whole facility.

While officials do not expect Mulligan’s to close anytime soon, they said the restaurant has never been as popular as they had originally hoped.

“It was never as popular as anticipated, and it was always a little more complicated to run,” Hipple said.

“There’s five aspects to this business — the bar, dining room, snack shop, food carts and tent ser vice — and we would like all of them to be doing well.” israel@umdbk.com

ON THE BLOG www.campusdrivedbk.wordpress.com EXPANDING THE DATING CIRCLE It’s every girl’s dream: A once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete on Country Music Television for the affections of a bartender.

Stefanie Williams, a 2008 graduate and former Diamondback opinion editor, will premiere on the second season of CMT’s Sweet Home Alabama on Oct. 20, according to a press release, and will be ostensibly trying to woo Tribble Reese, noted for losing the first season of the same show.

The release says that “while Stefanie loves sports, she has had a few rough experiences in dating athletes and is looking to branch out.”

Read more on Campus Drive, The Diamondback’s news blog.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

villanueva@umdbk.com

Looking for a different job?

Check the employment opportunities in The Diamondback classifieds, in print and online at www.diamondbackonline.com.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

Crime jumps as students return 340 incidents reported last month

BY ERIN EGAN Staff writer

As students settled back into the campus in September, University Police geared up to tend to more crime than they saw from the sleepy summer town.

University Police responded to more than 340 crimes and other incidents — including reports of counterfeit bills in dining halls and laptop thefts — throughout the month.

HARASSMENT/STALKING — A female student called police Sept. 1 after a male made comments that made her uncomfortable on a Shuttle-UM bus at about 1 p.m., police said.

“If someone is behaving in such a way in which your instincts tell you something is wrong, get away from the person and notify the police immediately,” University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky said. “Your instincts are a natural gift. Trust them.”

INJURED OFFICER — On Sept. 2, a University Police officer saw a male on a bicycle in Lot Z violate several traffic laws and tried to stop him, but the cyclist fled on his bike, Limansky said. The officer tried to stop the individual again later that day, and eventually caught up with him. The person further resisted arrest and the officer sustained a minor elbow injury during a struggle with him. Police arrested the male at about 1:30 p.m.

“Had the individual simply stopped when the officer instructed him to, the person would likely have received a warning or citation for the violation rather than being arrested for fleeing from the officer,” Limansky said.

AUTOMOBILE THEFT — On Sept. 3, police responded to a report of items stolen from a car parked in the Union Lane Parking Garage, Limansky said. They found the vehicle’s window open, and determined a GPS unit, CD case and two phone chargers were stolen between 12:30 and 3 a.m. There are no suspects in the case.

STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR — A group of people got stuck in an elevator in Ellicott Hall on Sept. 3 at about 3 a.m., and police said they were unsure how long they were stuck before firemen pried the doors open.

VANDALISM — At least five cars were damaged during the month, police said, including a 1992 BMW outside the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house, a 2004 Nissan Maxima

“Your instincts are a natural gift.

Trust them.”

MARC LIMANSKY UNIVERSITY POLICE SPOKESMAN

in a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity parking spot and a car on Rossborough Lane.

FIRE — The College Park Fire Department extinguished a newspaper fire in a dumpster at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on Sept. 4 at about 11 p.m. The case is still active.

BURGLARY — An individual broke a University Courtyards apartment window on Sept. 5 and stole a computer at about 8:45 p.m.

On Sept. 13, a student left her Hagerstown Hall dorm open for two hours and later discovered her laptop was missing, police said.

Thirty minutes later, police responded to a Denton Hall burglary, in which expensive electronics were stolen from a student’s unlocked room.

“Theft of unattended property is a crime of opportunity,” Limansky said. “Let’s not give the criminals the opportunity.”

On Sept. 19, another student left his door unlocked while showering in Elkton Hall and noticed his MacBook was gone when he returned. The case is still open.

Another laptop was stolen from Ellicott Hall when a student left a dorm room unlocked Sept. 23.

STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE — Four motor scooters were stolen Sept. 14 between noon and 6:15 p.m., and all the cases are still active, police said. Two thefts occurred at Garrett Hall, one at the Leonardtown Community Center and one at the Memorial Chapel.

ASSAULT — On Sept. 14 at about 8 p.m., an assault victim saw a male and a female arguing in Van Munching Hall.

When he tried to help the female, the male punched him and fled, but the victim caught and identified him a short distance away, police said. Police filed charges and issued a criminal summons.

FRAUD — South Campus Dining Hall employees discovered two counterfeit bills, police said. They found a fake $5 bill Sept. 21 and a fake $10 bill Sept. 27. Both cases are still active. egan@umdbk.com

Due to a $50,000 donation, McKeldin Library is scheduled to receive yet another facelift, following evaluations by university architecture and anthropology students examining the structure and culture of the study space. GARY CHEN/THE DIAMONDBACK

LIBRARY from page 1 kinesiology major Olivia Woycheck. “That way you can still sit with your friends without having to be secluded in a cubicle.”

This student input will be factored into the librar y’s overhaul. Additionally, undergraduates, graduates, staff and faculty will be placed in front of a drawing board to illustrate their visions of a perfect librar y, and the anthropology students will interpret these images.

“The ethnographic work is figuring out how they conceptualize the librar y,” Steele

MORRISON from page 1 native races professionally at Trail-Way Speedway in Hanover, Pa., a 1/3-mile clay track nestled away from the road in a sparsely populated countryside — first-time visitors who miss the track’s unmarked driveway are left winding down an unlit gravel road without cell phone service.

As the race begins, wooden grandstands are populated by families and local race enthusiasts, many wearing Carhartt jackets, overalls or the faded apparel of their favorite NASCAR drivers. Many have Coke bottles, some filled with soda, others with tobacco spit.

Those stuck with front-row seats are pelted with dirt from the passing cars; everyone else just feels the rumble.

The drivers speeding around the track last Friday night were racing on the 358 circuit — a reference to the size of the engine in cubic inches. The car’s most distinct feature, though, is the staggered set of wings mounted on its roof. They make the cars look a bit like flying doorstops.

Morrison was 11 when she first wanted to jump into one of these. Her father remembers exactly how it started.

said. “If you could think of the most successful librar y space to get your work done, what would it look like?”

Students will digest this information and then hand it over to the architecture department, which will team up with contractor Ayers Saint Gross to craft a blueprint for a McKeldin makeover slated to be completed by the end of this school year. The students will gather data about the building — such as its square footage, layout and information about its heating and air conditioning systems — to complete their design, an overall effort that Steele called “groundbreaking.”

“If you could think of the most successful library space to get your work done, what would it look like?”

“She was playing fast-pitched softball and her coach’s husband raced in a 35-and-older gokart league,” William Morrison said. “We went to the race that night and by the end of it Jessie tugged on my shirt and said, ‘Dad, can I do that?’ From there, it just took off.”

So the younger Morrison strapped in and never looked back — she finished 10th in the points standings last season and received the Most

said. “If you’re in the front, people will go crazy, but some will say it’s just a fluke. Others will say ‘look how skilled she is.’

Even if the girl is in the back, the spotlight is still on her.”

Even with this added pressure, Morrison has managed to earn the respect of her fellow racers.

“Before the race, you can see the focus in her eyes,” driver Scott Jorda said. “If the [car] setup is right, she will be on fire that race. She takes it straight to the front.”

Jorda said he and his son have both competed against Morrison for the majority of the past 10 years. He said most drivers develop a reputation for their driving style, and that Morrison’s was clear.

“If you interviewed 20 drivers, you would get the same 20 answers. She is very consistent and tough,” Jorda said. “People don’t ever say anything bad about her driving. Does she do people dirty? I’ve never seen her do that.”

While many drivers were inspired by famous racers from national circuits, Morrison’s inspiration is a speed demon of a different breed — her older brother Breck, a pilot in the Air Force. Morrison said the most rewarding aspect of racing is not the thrill or the speed, but the relationship with her family that has developed as a result

“Before the race, you can see the focus in her eyes. If the [car] setup is right, she will be on fire that race.”

SCOTT JORDA RACE CAR DRIVER

Popular Driver award from the Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown. Going into the final race on Friday, she was ranked 11th out of 56 racers listed at Trail-Way, the highest ranked woman.

“When you are female in racing, you have to understand that there is going to be a spotlight on you at all times,” Morrison

PATRICIA STEELE LIBRARIES DEAN

Professor Michael Paolisso, who teaches the anthropology course, said the project will allow students to use their areas of study to contribute to the

greater university community.

“It’s all about getting the student perspective about what they want from a librar y, how they study and how a future librar y would meet those needs,” he said.

The library would act as a natural habitat, ripe for observation of students within, according to Paolisso.

“They’re treating the librar y and how students study as a culture, as a community,” Paolisso said.

“They’re learning, and they’re also contributing to this redesign. ... The students are incredibly excited.” foley@umdbk.com

of racing.

“Many of the races aren’t close to home,” William Morrison said. “There has been a lot of time in that car that we’ve shared together, and most of that time has been spent talking.

That travel time spent together has been the best part of it.”

But when Morrison gets out of her diesel Ford pickup truck and into her sprint car, she knows she’s confronting the ever-present danger that accompanies scenes in which pedal meets metal: 27-year-old Billy Kimmel died after crashing his sprint car at another Pennsylvania racetrack in 2007, and Morrison’s car was flipped on its side in a collision earlier this year.

She said the risk is all part of the game.

“You have G-forces trying to push you out of the car,” she said. “I’ve had broken bones and not been able to feel them, because the adrenaline is so high when you’re out there.”

Even though Morrison finished a disappointing 20th in last Friday’s race, her dad saw more evidence of her competitive instinct.

“Anything that looks like competition, she doesn’t have a casual approach toward it,” William Morrison said. “If she thinks she can crush you, she will.” news@umdbk.com

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4

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

0pinion

THE DIAMONDBACK

LAUREN REDDING EDITOR IN CHIEF

YOUR INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK PHONE: (301) 314-8200 | FAX: (301) 314-8358

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CHRISTOPHER HAXEL

ALISSA GULIN

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Staff editorial

Guest column

Raising the bar

Reclaim the future

C

ollege Park’s social scene just isn’t what it used to be — depending on on certain nights, after a certain time or in a certain section. The point is to incorwho you ask, that can either be a positive or a negative. But one thing is porate new kinds of businesses that would attract different people, depending on clear: For the sake of the city and the entire student body — over 21 or what kind of night they’re looking for.

Big Play Sports Grill — a family-friendly sports-themed eatery that will take not — something’s got to give.

Gone are the bars that 18-year-olds flocked to, where bathroom flooding was over the Vito’s location this month — will feature Wi-Fi, DJ nights and multicommonplace and drinks were sold for less than a dollar. Instead, they’ve been ple TVs broadcasting non-local games. Likewise, Café Hookah, a new establishment slated to open in the coming weeks next to replaced by the likes of Looney’s Pub and The Barking Marathon Deli, will undoubtedly create a different vibe Dog, which ask a little more from patrons — both in than at existing bars. terms of prices and expected conduct — but provide a University President Wallace Loh has said he would higher quality experience in return.

College Park’s new drinking like to see this city become a top-20 college town. Such an For most upperclassmen, these new bars’ more strinestablishments are great for objective would have seemed out of reach about a year gent ID-checking poses no issue and actually translates to ago, when the top-performing bars were Thirsty Turtle a better night out — with an air of slight exclusivity, it’s upperclassmen, but the — now nostalgically dubbed “the vomit factory” — and always a more mature crowd. under-21 crowd needs Santa Fe Café, whose owner couldn’t get his act together But students under 21 are finding it a bit more difficult to enough to follow city fire code. have a good time. Bouncers at every bar are being tougher options too.

Now, Route 1 and the rest of the downtown area appear at the doors, which is partially due to a local police crackto be pretty respectable — or at least, they’re getting down. Even though they aren’t of age, younger students deserve stimulating and exciting nightlife options too — apart from the house par- there, but there’s potential for further improvement. New luxury student apartment complexes have welcomed residents and provided a slew of additional ties many underclassmen said they’ve been relying on for after-hours fun.

These raucous free-for-alls do nothing for the city’s economic vitality, how- businesses on their ground levels, while new bars have enjoyed a steady stream ever, and instead draw police’s human and monetary resources away from other, of enthusiastic customers so far. This expansion needs to continue.

And who knows — if community members demonstrate that nicer businesses more worthwhile causes.

So what are students, university officials and city business owners to do? This can really work in this city — maybe the proposed East Campus development editorial board encourages all three groups to think outside the box — or out- would seem like a better investment for federal legislators, who have to approve funding for the massive project. Officials have long envisioned East Campus as a side the bar, as the case may be.

Even though Vito’s Pizzeria ultimately closed its doors this semester, owner bustling hub of restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues that would catapult Vito Riccio had the right idea: provide a unique destination for students, complete College Park to another level if carried out, but there’s been some doubt about with tasty food and good music. Though students didn’t exactly appreciate paying whether it’s realistic for this community.

Continuing to raise the standards of College Park business — as these bars cover at a pizza joint, Vito’s filled a void that has long been present in College Park.

The city needs more establishments that follow a similar idea and help pro- have done — is necessary for continued progress in attracting and retaining vide a wider array of entertainment options for students. Alcohol could be higher quality establishments and moving toward Loh’s goal.

Until then, however, house parties it is. served, but not as the business’s primary draw — owners could sell drinks only

added some impressive and useful elements in its time, and there’s no denying it has taken social networking to another level. But the site’s operation itself has taken a real blow with this one. I’m unimpressed by Timeline itself and by Facebook’s apparent unwillingness to account for all the people who simply won’t be able to understand the new layout.

Who knows, maybe people will learn to love the “new” Facebook. Whether you’re like me and log on only a couple times per week, or are absorbed by it all day, we all can appreciate many of the same tools it offers: posting photos, wishing happy birthdays, reconnecting with old friends and stalking the shit out of whoever we please.

But now, Timeline has made it harder to do these things and has warped Facebook into a less-useful, esoteric mess.

Sorry Facebook, I give Timeline a big, blue thumbs-down.

Brittany Campbell is a junior philosophy and government and politics major. She can be reached at campbell@umdbk.com.

Andres Feijoo is a graduate student in public policy. He can be reached at andres.feijoo@gmail.com.

Editorial cartoon: Eun Jeon

Occupy Wall Street needs a hot babe

I

f you’re not familiar with the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York, you should take some time to read up on the group. The movement’s mantra is, “The one thing we all have in common is that we are the 99 percent that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1 percent.”

On Sunday, about 700 protesters were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge, where they managed to shut down traffic for several hours.

I don’t think the group will be successful (yet) because they sleep in tents, and it will be cold soon. Their numbers are too low, and most of them look like the typical hippie protesters who make middle-aged men scream, “Get a job!” But there’s something to these protests because, for once, many of those middleaged men don’t have jobs themselves.

There are a lot of angry people in this country. Washington is about to grapple with the federal debt, and the solution is inconsequential because more people will end up angry than satisfied, no matter the outcome. If Congress cuts Social Security and Medicare, everyone over the age of 50 will revolt. But if Congress

CHRISTOPHER

HAXEL raises taxes significantly, or cuts defense and veteran spending, or social aid, or education benefits, there will be an outcry from other groups.

Washington knows old people protest at the voting booth, so expect deep cuts to programs that affect young people. But that tactic is troublesome because young people are already struggling mightily; there are so few jobs that many have sought shelter in higher education, to the point that a graduate degree is becoming the new bachelor’s degree.

That student loan debt needs to be paid off eventually though, and already there are a lot of young, highly educated poor people. They’re the type who grew up mocking hippie protesters, who thought they’d go to college to get a good job, a nice car and a spouse of

above-average attractiveness.

But they don’t have any of that. They have a stack of bills from Sallie Mae, a room in their parents’ house and an hourly wage. They still have passion, though, the kind that gets swept up in the romance of a large political movement that demands change. Just ask the president.

Except this time, it won’t be about hope. It will be about the latent anger that keeps winning Emmys for Jon Stewart over Stephen Colbert, that made “H.A.M.” a catchphrase within about 48 hours of the release of Kanye West and Jay Z’s new album, the kind that’s going to simmer through the winter election cycle because all the realistic Republican candidates are a joke.

It may not happen this year, but Occupy Wall Street is laying the groundwork for a major social movement.

Media coverage has been middling because no network wants to show a bunch of hippies playing drums. Maybe a hot babe will be the tipping point.

Think about it: The tea party receives approximately 99 percent of its press because of Mama Grizzly.

Michael Moore and Roseanne Barr aren’t doing Occupy Wall Street any favors when it comes to media coverage, so the day a beautiful, intelligent woman becomes the face of the movement is the day it becomes front-page news across the country (my vote is for Natalie Portman).

It takes time for political movements to build traction. The first step in taking down the haves is admitting you’re a have-not. That’s a tough pill to swallow for many prideful Americans, but we’ve got humor to help us cope. Last fall, more than 200,000 people attended Stewart and Colbert’s Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, and I’m sure this winter will bring a lot of subversive humor about the presidential campaign.

Give Occupy Wall Street a few months to organize, and who knows what could happen. Maybe this year is the joke. Maybe next year is when people will realize the sad truth of the joke and start getting angry.

Christopher Haxel is a senior English major. He can be reached at haxel@umdbk.com.

Facebook: My Timeline whine

E

very time I log on to Facebook these days, it seems something is different, and I’ve been irritated by its everchanging layout for years. Well, the site has changed the rules again with last week’s introduction of its newest feature — Timeline. And once again, users were not consulted, even though everyone will be forced to activate it at some point over the coming weeks.

When I first went through the obnoxious process of activating Timeline, I had no idea where any of my stuff went.

After tinkering with the tableau of rubbish for a few hours, I realized I’m not the dumbass in this situation — whoever designed this feature is. I hate Timeline, and here’s why.

Timeline is a click-by-date format that compiles your user profile into a chronological mosh-pit of each and every one of your shared statuses, photos, friend requests and all other interactions — ever. Long-forgotten posts and uploaded content will now reemerge, and actions you no longer care about will resurface.

Creepy, right?

Facebook claims Timeline collects “all your best moments in a single place,” but how is it supposed to judge your interactions? It can’t, and it doesn’t even do a good job trying. If you go back a few years across your own Timeline, you’ll find a random, often irrelevant, assortment of pictures and posts from people you might not even talk to anymore.

With Twitter and Google + now on the scene, it’s no wonder Facebook is trying to keep up with the Joneses within the social networking realm. But its creators have gone all wrong. Obsessive users can now backtrack over the Timeline — essentially their entire user lives — to add and delete posts to make themselves look better. Finding fan pages is now too cumbersome to even bother trying to view them, and altering settings has become a chore.

Though visually aesthetic, Timeline is messy, unintuitive and, most of all, inconvenient. Facebook is overestimating the technological capability of the average human. I’m sure most of us at this university can figure out the new feature relatively quickly, considering we grew up

BRITTANY CAMPBELL with the site, but it hurts my brain to think of my parents trying to navigate through all this crap on their accounts.

Although Facebook claims it appeals to everyone, Timeline is far too complex for many individuals.

What kills me is I’m sure CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the rest of his team are sitting up there on their high (computer-generated) horses over this feature, as if it’s so revolutionary. Poor Facebook employees — it probably took you forever to write the JavaScript code for Timeline, when all it really does is group random personal information into separate years. This is no technological feat; random generators have been around since the dawn of website creation.

Don’t get me wrong; Facebook has

T

oday’s youth, known as the Millennial generation, have reason to be fearful beyond a potential double-dip recession: If things look bad now, you have no idea what’s coming.

A May 2011 Gallup poll found that 55 percent of Americans do not believe today’s youth will live a better life than their parents. Confidence that the American dream can provide a brighter future appears to be slipping away. What is endangering our nation’s future?

The mass retirement of the Baby Boomer generation and the entitlement state they perpetuate.

The recession exploded the deficit to more than $14 trillion.

But, as Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels put it, the true “red menace” is the long-term growth in the big three entitlement programs: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day for the next 20 years, the enormous undertaking of funding their retirement and health-care needs will fall on everyone else, including Millenials.

If left untouched, entitlements will corrode the fiscal integrity of the nation. Earlier this year, the Congressional Budget Office warned the situation is worse than previously thought. Medicare is expected to run out of money by 2024 with a long-term unfunded liability of $24.6 trillion.

Medicaid spending for the poor has increased nearly 480 percent the last 20 years. The Social Security trust fund is now projected to last until 2036, where it will cover only 75 percent of retirement benefits for seniors promised through 2085.

Left on autopilot, these programs will devour the entire federal budget, leaving no money for future investments in national defense, infrastructure and research. With no reform, the only two options are debilitating cuts to the vulnerable or crippling tax increases on all. This is not fear mongering. It’s mathematical reality.

This new emerging threat is a geriatric entitlement complex.

Baby Boomers, the elderly and vote-hungry politicians have successfully exploited the politics of gerontocracy to thwart even the most reasonable reforms, such as a higher retirement age and means-testing for the affluent. Forget about class warfare. We have generational warfare with the old stealing from the young.

This piece is not intended to make our parents and grandparents public enemies. The Baby Boomers generated massive new wealth and made progress on many social issues. But the “MeGeneration” spent more and saved less than any previous Americans.

They ran up deficits that have multiplied the debt. Now we either change course or accept a lower standard of living.

What can be done? Washington has no answers. President Barack Obama foolishly ignored the recommendations of his own deficit commission. When confronting entitlement reform, Congress thinks the same way Cubs fans do when they realize their lovable losers won’t go all the way: There’s always next year.

To all Millenials, it starts with us. Forget about fighting for the environment, social justice and world peace. What we really need is a youth movement to reclaim our fiscal future. Expected to represent one-third of voters by 2015, Millenials can no longer be ignored. We must pressure lawmakers to look at ever y political and social question from the standpoint of how it affects the nation’s fiscal future. This isn’t about death panels for grandma to save a few bucks. It’s about asking all generations to sacrifice. It’s about opening opportunities to the young rather than closing them off.

In addition to being diverse and community-oriented, Millenials are known to carry their own selfish streak. It sounds cruel to advocate selfishness, but we have every right to live in a country that is as prosperous and stable as it was for previous generations. Let’s not let this crisis go to waste.

Our View

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.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 61 Schedule 1 Political 62 Faint glow campaign 63 Loan figures 5 High points 65 Back-fence 10 Tepid yowlers 14 Now! 66 Dross 15 Rodeo mount 67 Bird abodes 16 I say!

68 Radiate 17 Done, in Dijon 69 Fable 18 Hunt or 70 City near Canton Darnell 71 Say it’s false 19 Tea holders 20 Knot DOWN 22 No-charge 1 White-water (hyph.) craft 24 Double-headed 2 From Bali or Iraq drum 3 Large blossom 25 Old-time doll 4 Saying 26 Cruising 5 Up to it 28 Ship bottoms 6 Dernier — 32 Thunderous 7 Sidewalk sound con game 35 Large deer 8 Finance 37 Glitterati (2 wds.) 9 Sell hot tickets 38 Tasty tuber 10 Duck’s pair 39 Reeves of “Speed” (2 wds.)

41 Blvd.

11 Culture medium 42 Oxford’s river 12 Lose it 45 Loud laugh 13 Inventory wd.

46 Interview wear 21 Brown the 47 Common Market bandleader money 23 Be fond of 48 Good buy 25 Hardy green 50 Muddy 27 Cartoon yells 54 Very selective 29 Hairy twin eater 30 Name in blue 58 Produce in jeans abundance 31 Dele’s undoing (2 wds.)

32 Eight bits

© 2011 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

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TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

33 Diamond Head site 34 FitzGerald’s poet 36 Boastful knight 37 Feint 40 Renoir subject

43 44 46 49 51

Docking fee NFL broadcaster Rained ice Part of GPA Major artery

52 Subatomic particle 53 Unmitigated 55 Troll’s cousin 56 Mgmt.

57 Abominable

58 Do horoscopes 59 Luau number 60 Eurasian mountains 61 Part of PGA 64 Fair-hiring letters

orn today, you have an adventurous spirit, though you may never actually do the kinds of things you dream about, because you are also rather conservative in your behavior and not one to take risks.

This may seem a paradox — and so it is — but you should be able to satisfy your need for adventure by applying that part of your personality to your creative endeavors. Indeed, you may be able to forge a highly successful career for yourself in one or more of the arts.

B

You favor creative endeavors that are solitary, and though you are able to collaborate with others upon occasion, it does not come naturally, and may prove difficult for you. You can become quickly frustrated with those who don’t want to do things your way.

Also born on this date are: Alicia Silverstone, actress; Susan Sarandon, actress; Anne Rice, author; Jackie Collins, author; Charlton Heston, actor; Buster Keaton, actor and comic; Damon Runyon, writer; Rutherford B. Hayes, U.S. president.

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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.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You know that others will turn to you for advice and counsel very soon — so prepare yourself. Tone and delivery are everything.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You know that you’re on the right track, that your methods are sound and that your goals are clearly delineated. So what’s the problem?

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Take a look back at what you’ve done, and compare it to the accomplishments of others.

You’ll see that you compare quite favorably.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Go too fast and you’ll miss some important details; go too slow today and you’ll sacrifice some of your competitive edge.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You’re in the mood for a little quiet introspection — but later on you’re likely to be drawn into activities that are more robust.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may not be able to find time for everything you want to do — or, rather, you’ll have to limit your options to suit the schedule.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Take care that you are not tricked into doing something you swore you’d never do. Dangers like this are everywhere; use caution!

ARIES (March 21-April 10) — Whether you know it, you’ve been following in another’s footsteps for quite a while, and now is the time to go it alone.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — Certain duties that others cannot perform are likely to fall to

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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

VALUE MEAL OF THE WEEK

Diversions

CHICKEN & CHEESE ENCHILADAS — THURSDAY University dining hall patrons are in for a real treat this week. Thursday’s lunchtime value meal stars chicken and cheese enchiladas, with sides of Spanish rice and Mexican corn. This continent-spanning delight is sure to tantalize your taste buds. The Dining Services website describes the enchilada as “creamy cheesy chicken rolled in flour tortillas topped with spicy tomato sauce and cheddar cheese.” Creamy cheesy chicken? Yum!

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SPOTLIGHT | AMBER SIMMONS

A public relations pro

A simple lack of communication spurred student Amber Simmons to build a public relations empire

BY MARY CLARE FISCHER ✦ FOR THE DIAMONDBACK

W

hen senior Amber Simmons was a sophomore, she and a few friends arrived at the Nyumburu Cultural Center for a Black Student Union meeting. The problem was, they were the only ones there.

Clearly, the meeting had been canceled.

The question was: Why didn’t anyone know?

“I feel like that was kind of what triggered my whole PR thing, strangely enough, but at the time, I was trying to get into journalism,” Simmons said. “I was probably still registered as a computer science major; I was trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to do.”

By taking on the vice president of public relations role for the BSU, Simmons was able to find that passion. She ran the organization’s Facebook page, started its Twitter account, made fliers and even planned events such as the Hip-Hop Conference, an annual spring event that examines hip-hop as a culture rather than just a dance.

Simmons, who graduated in the spring with a degree in communication specializing in public relations, now runs her own PR company, Amber Jinae Public Relations, that works with nonprofits and entertainment moguls on publicity, branding and event planning. She’s also the president and co-founder of the Black Communication Society (BCS). She works in graphic design for Stamp Student Union’s marketing department and will graduate with another degree, this time in African American Studies, in December.

And if all that weren’t enough, Simmons also interns with One Common Unity, a nonprofit that promotes peace through art initiatives, and College is Cool, Inc., a nonprofit founded by area radio personality Angie Ange that encourages youth in the area to go to college.

“She has a go-getter personality,” said

Imani Edwards, who served on the Executive Board of BCS and occasionally works with Simmons on media projects. “She always has an idea of what she wants to do and who she wants to work with, and she’s a planner, for sure.”

“I have to take time out to go over everything and figure out what needs to be done when it needs to be done and plan ahead like, ‘When am I gonna do these things?’” Simmons added. “Otherwise, it’s going to get

crazy, especially since I’m only one person, but like seven different people.”

Many of Simmons’ PR clients are or were students at this university, including entrepreneur and musician Johnny Graham and rapper Ike Da Kid. BCS co-founder and senior sociology major Chase McMullen said her greatest strength is her tireless work ethic.

“One word to describe her is she’s very pas-

sionate,” he said. “You can have someone with a passion, but that doesn’t mean they have the work ethic to follow with it, and she has that, too, and turns into a robot. It’s like, ‘Amber, take a vacation, do something for yourself,’ but she doesn’t; even when’s she sick, she wants to take on that role and get stuff done.”

For Simmons, knowing what her strengths are is important to helping others promote their strengths.

“You have to know who you are first, what your strengths are, what your interests are, what you’re bringing to the table because otherwise you really can’t do it for anyone else,” Simmons said. “You can’t represent other people if you can’t even figure out how to express yourself and how to represent who you are.”

Yet Simmons brings more to the table than just PR. Her experience as a graphic designer means clients don’t have to hire one company for publicity and another for design, which sets her apart from others in public relations. Despite her self-proclaimed lack of artistic ability, Simmons said she has a good eye for aesthetic components such as color and presentation, a skill she believes should be required for publicists.

That resourcefulness has helped Simmons to continue expanding her company, which gives her the most pleasure of all the things she does.

“Working with her on a business level, she really is able to take my visions and ideas and run with them, and even push them beyond what I imagined or intended,” Johnny Graham wrote in an email.

“That’s what sets her apart; if she’s committed to working with you or your project, she’s all in and contributes all of her energy and creativity into presenting you and your project in the best way possible.” diversions@umdbk.com

The Black Communication Society holds a meeting. Amber Simmons is the president and co-founder of the group. PHOTO BY MAYA MUNOZ/FOR THE DIAMONDBACK

CENTER PHOTO COURTESY OF AMBER SIMMONS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

TURNOVERS from page 8 the Terps’ final touchdown Saturday, but the team’s reliance on turnovers might be cause for concern. Its turnover margin is first in the ACC and tied for seventh best nationally, but the big play often seems to be the only tool that can save a defense ravaged by injury and inconsistency.

In the Terps’ season opener, defensive touchdowns by Vellano and cornerback Cameron Chism helped ensure a narrow victory against Miami. In the first half Saturday, when the Terps did not force a turnover, Towson held onto the ball for 21:30 despite 77 yards in penalties. And while the Tigers scored just three firsthalf points, their point total could have been — and probably should have been — much higher given their time of possession and total yards.

That was, after all, the case the week before. In a 38-7 pummeling by Temple on Sept. 24, the Owls maintained possession for 21:30 in the first half and entered the locker room with a 31-point lead. In the Terps’ two losses, the turnover margin has been even.

“The coaches put a big emphasis on running to the football, and it seems like every time we fly to the football the ball comes out or an interception happens or something,” Goree said. “It’s also a sigh of relief because we’re out there so long sometimes.”

With a stretch of three straight games against nationally ranked opponents beginning Saturday at No. 13 Georgia Tech, the Terps will continue to look for the big play.

What they must do, however, is limit their dependence on it. The Terps rank last in the ACC in total defense, and with potent offenses approaching in the Yellow Jackets, No. 8 Clemson and No. 23 Florida State, they’ll need to do more than look for turnovers to remain relevant in the ACC. “When you lose basically five guys off your defense who are starters, you’re going to have some inexperience,” coach Randy Edsall said after Saturday’s game.

“The biggest thing for us is we just have to get our guys lined up and fit things right.

When we fit things right, we’re pretty good and we make stops.

“But when we don’t fit things up and then we don’t tackle well, it’s not pretty. … I think that after looking at things today and the other three games, I think we have a much better feel as to what they can do now going forward.”

Defensive tackle Joe Vellano heads for the end zone after recovering a fumble during the Terps’ season-opening win against Miami on Sept. 5.

Cornerback Cameron Chism also scored a defensive touchdown on an interception return in the 32-24 win. FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

BACKLINE from page 8 other ACC team, the Terps have allowed the fewest goals (seven) in the conference.

They’ve been so effective, in fact, that goalkeeper Will Swaim has often been forced to stand patiently and wait for a chance to get involved. The redshirt senior has needed to record only 20 saves en route to recording five shutouts this season.

Of course, he’s not complaining.

“They make all the difference in the world,” said Swaim, who didn’t see a single shot attempt through the first 48 minutes Friday. “Knowing you’re going to get consistent play from your backline ever y single night, it makes my job a whole hell of a lot easier.”

What separates the Terps’ backline from other top-tier defensive units isn’t how little they make their goalkeeper work, however. It’s their maturity.

Between their four members, the Terps’ backline has appeared in 186 career games.

Playing with each other over the past three years, they’ve developed strong personal relationships off the field that

have translated into improved work together on it.

“Communication is a critical component on the defensive side of the ball,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “And trust is a ver y big part of that.

They’re a group of guys that really knows each other, and I think that’s a huge part of their success.”

The Terps’ backline will be tested once again when they face Rutgers (4-4-1) tonight at Ludwig Field. Led by sophomore forward Kene Eze’s five goals, the Scarlet Knights rank third in the Big East in scoring.

They’ve already proven they can compete with top-25 competition, narrowly losing to No. 6 Indiana and No. 23 Furman in recent weeks.

“Rutgers is going to be a huge test for us,” Swaim said.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re on our game.”

But for Woodberr y, it’s not about who’s standing down the sideline. It’s not even about how exhausted he may feel. It’s about staying strong mentally.

“When we learn how to stay focused for the full 90 minutes ever y game,” Woodberr y said, “I think we’re going to be able to go deep this year.” letourneau@umdbk.com

MESSAGE from page 8 and her Terps teammates had no trouble putting it behind them. She scored two goals as the Terps’ defense held her sister to just one in a 6-3 victory.

“It’s a really interesting thing when you’ve got really high-profile, high-level players on very competitive and rival type of teams,” Meharg said after Friday’s game. “My feeling is you got to avoid it, you got to stay from the storybooks of it. I felt [Friday] there was a little bit of giddiness that went on that probably wouldn’t have been there without that relationship, and I think we worked out of it.”

The Terps’ presence will be tested again this week as they prepare for a road contest with No. 9 Duke on Saturday. The eight days separating the Terps’ win over Virginia and their matchup with the Blue Devils will be the team’s longest stretch between games at any point this season, and Meharg said the Terps’ ability to focus during their long week of preparation will be paramount.

“After two days off, you can not be in the mood knowing you have five days of training coming up,” Meharg said.

“But they’re great. They seemed very, very energetic [at practice yesterday], they seemed like they were appreciative of the break, and I know the staff is, so it feels pretty good.”

A game against No. 1 Old Dominion, which dealt the

NOTEBOOK from page 8 they’re tired right now. And when you’re tired, you have the tendency to cut corners a little bit, so I think it starts with our possession.”

HOLDING STEADY

Defender London Woodberry, above, played every minute against No. 2 Creighton on Friday night. The No. 3 Terps won the match, 1-0. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

cwalsh@umdbk.com

The start of ACC play coincided with a free fall through the national polls for the Terps. Ranked as high as No. 3 on Labor Day, the Terps were No. 18 on Sept. 27 after their scoreless tie with N.C. State.

With their win at Clemson, the Terps’ fall should be halted when the new polls are released today. And with No. 5 Wake Forest coming to Ludwig Field on Saturday, the Terps will have an opportunity to boost their national profile.

In a testament to the

Coach Missy Meharg, far right, said her Terps team has been “great” at maintaining a high level of energy and enthusiasm at practice this week. GARY CHEN/THE DIAMONDBACK

Terps their lone loss of the season, follows the Duke showdown, making the Terps’ mantra especially important in the coming weeks.

“We’ve stuck to it because,

even though we’re scoring a lot of goals, we need to remember that the other team is just as capable to fight back and get another goal,” defender Ali McEvoy said. “So

we need to make sure we stay present in the moment, in the game so that we don’t allow that to happen.” vitale@umdbk.com

ACC’s competitiveness, the conference has seven teams ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll. The Terps are tied for fifth with Virginia in the ACC standings with their 22-1 conference record.

Duke, Wake Forest and Boston College are undefeated in conference play.

HISTORY MADE It took three tries, but Pensky finally won his 63rd career game as coach of the Terps on Thursday, moving him into first place on the alltime list Thursday. He passed his predecessor, Shannon Higgins-Cirovski.

The Terps’ first try at No. 63 ended in a stunning overtime loss to Boston College on Sept. 22, and the tie with N.C. State denied the seventh-year coach the record again. dgallen@umdbk.com

Midfielder Domenica Hodak and the Terps are tied with Virginia for fifth in the ACC. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

Sports MEN’S SOCCER

Edsall and The Program What connection does Terps football coach Randy Edsall and the 1993 football movie The Program have? Visit TerrapinTrail.com for more.

FOOTBALL

Backline keeping up so far Terps allowed one goal in trying week

BY CONNOR LETOURNEAU Staff writer

As London Woodberry ambled off Ludwig Field on Friday night, each step was more laborious than the last.

The Terrapins men’s soccer defender had just logged a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over No. 2 Creighton, the Terps’ second against a top-15 opponent that week. Mercifully, a reprieve from running was finally coming.

“Honestly, practices this week were about getting our legs back from the Tuesday game,” Woodberry said after the game, referring to the No. 3 Terps’ 3-1 win over No. 12 Charlotte. “It took a lot out of our legs, but it wasn’t too much this week.”

Fresh legs or not, nothing’s been too much for the Terps’ backline to handle this season.

Although their vaunted threeheaded attack of forwards Casey Townsend and Patrick Mullins and midfielder John Stertzer command most of the headlines, the Terps’ backline has played a crucial role in the team’s best start in more than 40 years.

“I mean, I don’t really think about it much,” Woodberry said.

“I actually love watching our offense play. The more they have the ball, the better.”

Converted midfielders Widner Saint Cyr and Woodberry have joined third-year starters Alex Lee and Taylor Kemp to form one of the country’s most formidable back fours.

And despite having played at least one more game than every

see BACKLINE, page 7

TENURED WORKERS The experience of the Terps’ starting backline has played no small part in the unit’s strong play so far. Each player had started at least three games entering this season. Their career totals are below: Left back Taylor Kemp (junior): 55 starts Center back Alex Lee (senior): 44 Center back London Woodberry (junior): 21 Right back Widner Saint Cyr (sophomore): 14

Defensive tackles A.J. Francis, left, and Joe Vellano celebrate Francis’ third-quarter fumble recovery during the Terps’ 28-3 win against Towson on Saturday. Through four games this season, the Terps lead the ACC with a plus-six turnover margin. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Toss and turn Terps thriving in turnover battle, but big plays haven’t been a cure-all second half.

On the Tigers’ first possession of the third quarter, linebacker Kenny Tate came up with an interception that led to the Terps’ second touchdown of the day.

A fumble recovery by defensive tackle A.J. Francis and an interception by linebacker Lorne Goree also ended the Tigers’ next two drives. The Terps’ offense couldn’t do much better, failing to translate those turnovers into points, but the change of possession at least kept the defense resting on the sideline.

“We had three turnovers in a row second half. That was huge,” defensive tackle Joe Vellano said. “It’s field position, too. It just really helps all around.

When you’ve got an offense that’s rolling and [your opponents] only come out for two plays, then they’re right back on the field. They can build, they can start getting their tempo going and stuff, which is huge.”

A fourth turnover by Towson led to

BY CONOR WALSH Senior staff writer

A season after the Terrapins football team finished with 15 more takeaways than turnovers, this year’s squad has wasted no time picking up up where it left off.

Four games into the season, the Terps’ turnover margin is an impressive plus-six. But with a defense that has struggled to get off the field and an offense that has thrived when it maintains a high-tempo rhythm, they may depend on turnovers now more than ever.

“As a defense, you thrive upon those turnovers because it gives a lot of momentum to the offense,” linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said after Saturday’s win. “The more we get the offense the ball, the more chances they can score.”

That rang true against Towson.

After entering the locker room with a slim four-point halftime lead, the Terps’ defense led the way to a 21-point

Linebacker Lorne Goree’s third-quarter interception was one of four secondhalf turnovers the Terps forced Saturday. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

WOMEN’S SOCCER | NOTEBOOK

see TURNOVERS, page 7

FIELD HOCKEY

Terps looking to play possessed Message from Meharg keeps the Terps ready Ball control proving important for Terps; Pensky wins No. 63

BY DANIEL GALLEN Staff writer

Over the Terrapins women’s soccer team’s recent stretch of play, which has taken the squad through a handful of ups and downs, coach Brian Pensky always found one facet worth harping on.

The team’s ability to keep possession, he said, would tell how the game was going to go.

After the team’s 4-1 loss at Virginia on Sept. 15, Pensky said his players “had a little bit of [a] deer in the headlights” attitude when they had the ball in the high-pressure environment.

But when the Terps do keep possession, they have the ability to be a dangerous team. At Clemson on Thursday, the Terps had a 2-0 lead just more than 20 minutes into the game and were able to play keep away in the second half to preserve a 2-1 victory.

Forward Cory Ryan, left, and the Terps face Wake Forest next in ACC play. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

“It was just putting an emphasis on doing a better job of keeping the ball,” Pensky said. “We weren’t incredibly dangerous going forward, but at least we were keeping the ball away from them a bit.”

While possession obviously plays a big role in any team’s success, the Terps’ high-powered offense, maybe more so than others, needs the ball regularly. During the team’s recent struggles, for which Pensky cited lack of possession as a major issue, the Terps struggled to generate goals in the run of play, instead relying on set pieces for scores.

“We’re trying to play pressure and catch defenses off-guard and attack from there,” forward Hayley Brock said after the Terps’ 0-0 draw with N.C. State on Sept. 25. “We’re doing pretty well with it. Obviously, the goals haven’t come yet, but they’ll come in time.”

The N.C. State matchup, which came near the end of a rigorous ACC slate, marked a low point for the favored Terps, who were unable to generate any offense against the Wolfpack.

“I think we turn the ball over to our opponent a little too easily,” Pensky said. “Our urgency to maybe get in the right spots needs to improve.

Our team works so hard and they’re so committed to being good; I think

see NOTEBOOK, page 7

Coach preaching ‘stay present’ this season

BY JOSH VITALE Staff writer

The Terrapins field hockey team is in a position for which championshiplevel success is the expectation. The Terps won last year’s national title and four of the last six and, with many of their core players returning, entered this season as a favorite to repeat last year’s feat.

But even with their immense talent, national reputation and championship aspirations, coach Missy Meharg has preached one simple idea to her Terps that has underscored their success all season long: stay present.

The concept, which Meharg describes as the idea of training, practicing and playing in the moment, isn’t necessarily a novel one in sports. But it is an idea Meharg and players agree has helped the Terps to win after win so far this season.

“If you look at things you can control, like performance and work rate, those two things and anything we do, whether it be me as a coach or players as players, in order to do those two things well, you need to be able to do them in the moment,” Meharg said.

“Staying present is putting yourself in a position to be able to do those two thing very well.”

Her mantra was never more manifest than in the No. 3 Terps’ (10-1, 3-0 ACC) matchup Friday with Virginia (5-7, 0-2). The presence of Elly Buckley, the younger sister of Terps midfielder Jemma Buckley and one of the Cavaliers’ most dominant players, added a bit of personal distraction to a game that historically has been a fierce rivalry.

But even with the familial ties lending added drama to the contest, Buckley

see MESSAGE, page 7