110608

JUNGLE FUN

COSTANZO IN CHARGE Men’s soccer co-captain has matured into leadership role

The Madagascar sequel gets by on kiddie charm

SPORTS | PAGE 11

DIVERSIONS | PAGE 9

THE DIAMONDBACK THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

99TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 48

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Obama’s win due Students endure problems at polls Elections board, TerpsVote to explore cause of names missing from voter rolls in part to youth ELECTION 2008

BY ALLISON STICE Staff writer

After a largely successful Election Day, questions still remain about registration problems in Prince George’s County, where twice as many

Voters under 30 give Obama edge in swing states

voters called in with questions for a nonprofit hotline than in any other county in the state.

University officials will meet with TerpsVote coordinator Devin Ellis today to discuss solutions for a number of

students who said their information was missing from electoral rolls despite meeting registration deadlines.

“It is TerpsVote’s priority to make certain that all provisional ballots are counted,” Ellis said. “But in the grand

scheme of things, it’s a minor problem, especially because no one was denied the right to vote provisionally.”

The TerpsVote coalition, which comprises all campus voter drives, delivered all 2,514 registrations to the

Prince George’s County Board of Elections, according to nine receipts stamped and signed by the board. After that, it is unclear whether the problems occurred because

Please See POLLS, Page 2

vs

BY DERBY COX Staff writer

The youth vote played a key role in President-elect Barack Obama’s win Tuesday as young voters helped carry swing states crucial to the candidate’s victory.

Support for Obama was high among younger age groups but decreased among older demographics. About two-thirds of voters younger than 30 supported Obama, compared to less than half of voters older than 65, exit polls showed. Support was especially strong among black and Hispanic young people, but more than half of young white voters supported Obama as well.

A LONGAWAITED REMATCH

Please See TURNOUT, Page 7

Debate to continue on slots

T

he Terrapin football team heads back to Blacksburg, Va., tonight with a bitter

taste resonating in the mouths of those players who remember the Hokies’ 55-6 win in 2004, the last

BY KEVIN ROBILLARD

time the Terps traveled there.

Senior staff writer

The Terps haven’t won in Blacks-

Although Marylanders voted to legalize slot machines in the state on Tuesday, debates surrounding the issue aren’t completely finished.

Slots opponents say they will try to prevent slot machines from appearing in the state by lobbying elected officials in the five locations where slots are to be placed — Baltimore City and Worcester, Allegany, Anne Arundel and Cecil counties.

Additionally, some Anne Arundel County Council members said they would consider altering zoning laws to make it illegal to put slot

burg since 1949, though they hope to shake things up against a cold Hokie squad that’s lost its last two games entering tonight’s affair.

TERPGAMEDAY | PAGE 14

ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

Please See SLOTS, Page 7

SGA narrowly approves carbon neutrality Students, Rosapepe

BY MICHAEL LEMAIRE Staff writer

Despite heavy debate from the opposition, the SGA passed the Clean Energy Act of 2008 in a close vote last night.

For the first time this year, the legislature of the Student Government Association was forced to use a precise body count rather than a voice vote to determine the official ruling.

The final vote was 12 in favor, nine against and four abstaining voters.

Steve Glickman, an outlying commuter legislator who voted against the act, was surprised by the final result.

TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

clash on ICC funding

“I thought it was a lot closer than I originally expected,” Glickman said. “I was expecting a lot more people to be in favor of it.”

The passing vote means $425 will be removed from the Legislative Reserves, which is made up of money from student fees, and will be used to purchase renewable energy credits that will offset the carbon consumption of the group.

The initial request was for $275, but Speaker of the Legislature Matt Lyons amended the amount, adding $150 to include the cost of heating.

Please See SGA, Page 3

Sunny/60s

BY BRADY HOLT Senior staff writer

Speaker of the Legislature Matt Lyons speaks in support of his bill to make the SGA carbon neutral. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

INDEX

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

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

A group of students argued unsuccessfully with a state senator about introducing legislation to strip funding from the planned ICC, a highway they said would be an environmental disaster and a drain on the state’s finances.

About 20 students met yesterday with Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D – Anne Arundel and Prince George’s), almost immediately drawing a contrast between the senator’s DIVERSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . .9 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

environmental agenda and his unwillingness to try to stop the Intercounty Connector.

Rosapepe implied but did not outright say he doesn’t support the ICC. Instead, he said he would not spend any of his time fighting a losing battle against a road already under construction.

“At this point, it’s already being built, and in terms of environmental priorities, I think our efforts should go into things we can actually

Please See ICC, Page 3

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THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

TODAY

WE WANT YOU Story ideas? News tips?

E-mail them to The Diamondback at newsdesk.dbk@gmail.com

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MONDAY | NEWSMAKERS

AFRICA WEEK: "TASTE OF AFRICA"

COLONY COMEDY CLUB FT. JOHNNY WALKER

Indulge in the culture of Africa. Feel free to bring a dish that you would like to share, 6:30 p.m., Tydings 2111

Sponsored by SEE, Johnny Walker combines traditional stand-up comedy with parody and original songs, 6:30 p.m., Stamp Student Union Colony Ballroom

WEDNESDAY | Q + A

THURSDAY | BEST of the BLOGS

FRIDAY | SCENE + HEARD

BEST of the BLOGS

Where in the world is … Dan Ennis?

More than 350 provisional ballots cast at Stamp,Ritchie

Eric Detweiler POLLS,from Page 1 You don’t have to look very far to find this former Terp kicker, who I caught up with to talk about current kicker Obi Egekeze.

Ennis, a walk-on who kicked during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, played for the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association last season.

He went 1-of-6 on field goal attempts for a team that went a combined 4-of-40 on field goal attempts for the season.

CORRECTIONS In yesterday’s story, “For black students, a historic journey,” one host of Tuesday night’s viewing party in Nyumburu Cultural Center was omitted. The Panhellenic Association also sponsored the event.

As a result of a reporting error, the column and info box on page two of yesterday’s basketball preview incorrectly referenced Terrence Jennings as Terrence Williams. Both are Louisville Cardinals basketball players, but Jennings is the freshman forward who had given the Terrapins a verbal commitment, and Williams is a senior swingman.

of errors on the registration forms — like misspellings and omissions — or because the forms were never processed by the board of elections, MaryPIRG campus organizer Greg Schwab said.

Voters filled out more than 350 paper provisional ballots at Stamp Student Union and Ritchie Coliseum combined, and the state’s election board will begin counting them on Monday.

“The problems were most likely a combination of a lot of variables, so I can’t say where the problem can be traced back to,” Schwab said. “We can only guarantee that when we receive a form, we’ll check over glaring errors and that each form will meet the deadline. We made good on that promise.”

TerpsVote maintains a database of the forms but does not have the legal right to fix errors like typos, contradictory addresses or

missing signatures. The responsibility lies with the board of elections, Schwab said. Donna Duncan, the Maryland Board of Elections’ director of election management, said the board operated a huge phone bank to call voters who made mistakes on their forms and filled in their phone numbers.

Ryan O’Donnell, the executive director of the watchdog group Common Cause Maryland that operated the voter hotline, said registration was the biggest hurdle voters faced in the state, especially in Prince George’s County.

“It’s especially terrible for a lot of people who are voting for the first time,” O’Donnell said. “If people have bad experiences the first time they come out, that’s magnified over time. And really, the board of elections should be transparent about it and get to the bottom of this.” sticedbk@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

Some say act not the right solution SGA, from Page 1 “We needed to include heating, but we decided not to include cooling, because it was impossible to get an accurate estimate,” Lyons said. “We didn’t think it was prudent to try and guess.”

Speakers of the legislature generally do not argue for or against bills. But Lyons, the primary sponsor of the bill, said the act was so important that he decided to temporarily step down from his position to debate the merits of the bill.

“It was a really important decision that I feel really strongly about,” Lyons said. “I originally came to Davey [Rogner] with the idea of making us carbon neutral. It was something I started, so I wanted to finish it.”

Jessica Abramovici, a business legislator, filled in for Lyons

as speaker during the debate.

Lyons and fellow supporters were met with sharp rebuke as some members felt the SGA was being hypocritical in its decision, and would have used more stringent requirements for similar requests from other groups.

“We voted in favor of stuff last year that we wouldn’t do for anyone else,” said engineering legislator Kate Bodner during the meeting. “If a group came to us with similar documentation, would that be enough?”

Although Lyons said he appreciated Bodner’s opinion, he added that he didn’t think she was right.

“I disagree. We are not giving ourselves preferential treatment with this act,” Lyons said. “How are we supposed to convince administrators to make efforts to become carbon neutral if we aren’t carbon

neutral ourselves.”

Seth Clute, an outlying commuter and one of the dissenting voters, said he felt there were easier ways to solve this problem than by throwing money at it.

“We need to do more than spend a few hundred dollars to make ourselves feel better,” he said. “Just doing things like turning off computers and turning off lights will help.”

Before the legislature came to a vote, Lyons and Senior Vice President Joanna Calabrese made one final plea hoping the legislature would gain a level of accountability.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Lyons said. “We represent this student body. I understand we can’t be perfect, but this is really just a first step in a long-term goal.” lemairedbk@gmail.com

University recognized for value Ranking on Kiplinger’s list beneficial for students, officials say

BY CHRIS YU Staff writer

The university jumped to No. 9 on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine’s list of public colleges with the best value, the highest position it has ever occupied.

Last year, the university placed 28th on the list, and prior to this year’s ranking, the all-time highest ranking was two years ago, at No. 15. Administrators attribute the rise to improved retention and graduation rates, as well as a tuition freeze for in-state students the past three years.

Despite the improvement, Provost Nariman Farvardin said making the top 10 was not a priority for the university.

“I’m obviously pleased,” Farvardin said. “[But] we don’t design the university based on these rankings.”

Kiplinger took a pool of more than 500 public colleges and narrowed it to 120 schools based on SAT scores for incoming freshmen, admission rates, freshmen retention, student-faculty ratio and graduation rates. Then, the magazine made the final rank-

ings based on tuition costs, percentage of students who receive financial aid and average debt per student before graduation.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is No. 1 on the magazine’s list, followed by the University of Florida and the University of Virginia.

According to The Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment, the school’s three-year retention rate increased from 73.5 percent in 1992 to 85 percent in 2005. Meanwhile, the four-year graduation rate has climbed from 32 percent in 1992 to nearly 62 percent in 2004. Farvardin said the improvements likely contributed to the university’s ranking.

But perhaps one of the biggest reasons why the university placed so high on Kiplinger’s list is the school’s financial aid programs, Farvardin said.

Monique Boyd, associate director of the Office of Financial Aid, explained the university has a unique three-tiered program called Maryland Pathways that eliminate students’ need to borrow loans.

According to the Office of Financial Aid’s website, Maryland Pathways has three components.

First is the Work Grant Program, which allows low-income students to work part-time on the campus to help pay for tuition.

The remaining payments will be covered by grants.

Next, there is the Pell Grant Supplement Program, which allows students who have jobs to receive the same amount of grants as those who do not work.

Lastly, there’s the Senior Debt Cap Program, which allows grants to completely cover the 4th year of a student’s education, provided he or she has already borrowed $15,900 or more in loans.

Although the university is expanding its financial aid and gaining national recognition, Farvardin said it was for the good of the students, not the publicity.

“The university is making a conscious push to control the cost,” Farvardin said. “[But] we’re not doing this for the sake of Kiplinger.” chrisyudbk@gmail.com

State Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s) debates the Intercounty Connector with a group of students in the Stamp Student Union yesterday. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Students, senator butt heads over ICC ICC, from Page 1

with,” he said. “In a practical sense, I don’t think that money will be available to other projdo,” Rosapepe said.

The state has already spent ects.”

Yet students were about $80 million on undeterred.

Citing the ICC, an 18-mile toll state and federal highroad intended to conway studies, they said nect Laurel and the ICC would inGaithersburg and recrease driving in the lieve pressure from region by as much as local roads. The project 700 million miles per is slated to cost about year by 2030, noting $3.1 billion. this is at odds with Davey Rogner, a senRosapepe’s support ior environmental scifor carbon emissions ence major who helped reductions. organize the meeting “By funding the with Rosapepe, was ICC, you’re undercutone of many students ting the environmenwho said those billions tal priorities you yourshould be spent else- STATE SEN. self support,” said where.

JIM ROSAPEPE “With how much (D-ANNE ARUNDEL AND sophomore sociology major Ali Adler, a formoney is being poured PRINCE GEORGE’S) mer opinion columinto the ICC, there nist for The Diamondshould be a greater priority and emphasis put on trying back and campaign director for to defund the ICC in favor of Clean Energy for UMD. Rosapepe eventually offered other transit items,” Rogner to meet with the students again said.

But Rosapepe offered a pes- if they got broader legislative simistic viewpoint on the feasibil- support, but said he didn’t think they had a good chance. ity of the students’ suggestions.

“How are we going to win “I believe the decision’s over

“I’m frustrating you, obviously, because I know you want me to say, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’”

widespread support for this if everyone gives us the same answer?” countered Joanna Calabrese, senior vice president of the Student Government Association.

“You aren’t, but it’s the truth.

You aren’t going to like it, but it’s the truth,” responded an increasingly agitated Rosapepe.

“I’m frustrating you, obviously, because I know you want me to say, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ But you’re frustrating to me because so many smart people are putting so much time and energy into a fight you can’t win.”

Rosapepe suggested the students at the meeting focus on other environmental initiatives, but that didn’t make them any less interested in opposing the ICC. Next week, several of the meeting’s organizers will join state Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s) in a rally at a State Highway Administration meeting to call for funding to be deferred from the ICC to other projects. holtdbk@gmail.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Opinion

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Letters to the editor

Staff Editorial

And education for all T

his week, the citizens of the United States elected a remarkable candi- often speak of ensuring the accessibility of higher education in terms of justice, of date to serve as their 44th president. He was born and raised far outside education as a right linked to citizenship. But Obama’s story is irrefutable evithe traditional power centers of America. Yet Barack Obama was not dence that we must make education available not only because it’s fair; we must marginalized into obscurity as un-American: He has reminded us what it make it available because otherwise the greatest potential leaders might never have a chance to develop. Making education affordable isn’t truly means to be a citizen of the U.S. Yet as we reflect on simply good for individuals — it’s good for society.

Obama’s meteoric rise to the most rarefied height of power Yesterday, state Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Anne Arundel and and influence, it is instructive to reflect on what may be a more Prince George’s) visited the campus and discussed the serious traditional component of his path — his trail through some of Growing from modest possibility Maryland will not continue to fund a tuition freeze. the U.S.’s most prestigious universities.

There can be no question the time Obama spent at universi- means, Barack Obama’s rise Obama’s story should give us pause before we accept the rising to become president-elect cost of education. His story reminds us that a president can ties was formative. He graduated from Columbia before from anywhere, regardless of race, regardless of socioattending Harvard as a law student, and finally, he taught conunderscores the need for come economic status, regardless of whether they are Washington stitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. Obama accessible education. insiders following a traditional path to power. And yet if Obama is renowned for his lithe intellect, his ability to assimilate enorhad not had his educational opportunities, generations of Amermous amounts of information and the depth of his analysis. It is difficult to imagine him having so sharpened his mental faculties without having icans would in all likelihood have been deprived of the hope he has inspired, of the leadership we hope to see in the years to come. We’re enormously fortunate spent time in three internationally renowned centers of study.

But it’s important to remember Obama attended his elite Hawaiian high school Obama overcame the obstacle of education’s high cost. But if we allow education to on a scholarship, and took on student loans to pay for his subsequent education. We remain prohibitively expensive, America will lose potential great leaders.

Our View

Editorial Cartoon: Mike O’Brien

Election night’s riot: A job well done for the police

A

ll too often, the content within these pages and the media in general can seem extremely negative. We’re all far too used to reading about College Park’s crime rate or a natural disaster in some farflung location. There’s a reason for this: People don’t want to read about “happy” news, and this type of negative content sells. So instead, all we are left with is the occasional “Hero saves small child from burning building” story on CNN. But today, I bring you positive news: I want to commend the University Police.

After Barack Obama was officially declared the winner of the 2008 presidential contest late Tuesday night, I got a call from a friend who told me people were “going crazy” on Washington Quad and the police were showing up. I got my camera, sprinted out of the room and, in true journalistic fashion, hoped for the worst. Correction: I expected the worst.

Now I did have history on my side in believing there were raging bonfires and crazy students running all over the place, tipping over busses, knocking down signs, rioting.

Remember, we go to the school that set

JOEL

COHEN the bar for how to riot. In 2006, hundreds of students rioted after the women’s basketball championship. A 2005 riot left five people injured and one person getting shot in the face with a rubber bullet.

Perhaps a 2006 Illinois Orange Crush cheer sheet said it best: “Maryland fans proudly riot after any major event; winning a big game, learning how to write, flushing a toilet.”

In the wake of these incidents, the university cracked down on this type of behavior, instituting a new policy that called for suspension or expulsion for any student connected to an off-campus riot.

Back to Tuesday night: When I got to Washington Quad, it was an electric atmosphere, with people chanting and screaming and jumping all over the place.

After a few minutes and a few fireworks

explosions later, the mob walked all across the campus, gaining people along the way. It was almost as if we were saying, “Where do we go from here?” Eventually, after a quick pit stop at the fountain, the mob made it down to Route 1.

Given their past history, I expected the police to be out in full force, decked out in riot gear. But initially, they were nowhere to be found. For a few minutes, it was just a bunch of students screaming at the passing cars on Route 1. Then, we flooded the streets, mobbing any car that attempted to pass through.

At this point, I would have fully expected the police to swiftly move in and break up the festivities. This would have been the easy way to go: Just take care of the “problem” before it gets bigger, right?

But instead, they showed incredible restraint. Instead of sweeping the streets clean, they blocked off Route 1 to traffic and allowed us to celebrate. They allowed cars to pass through the mob at their own will, and at one point, they had a truck and a Shuttle-UM bus back up and turn around in order to avoid the harassment. The best part of the night was the drivers’ reactions. Some looked

deathly afraid for their lives, while others joined in the revelry.

Eventually, after only two ignored “Let’s tip the bus” chants, two sans-riot gear policemen joined the crowd and calmly told students it was time to go home. And amazingly, we listened.

The police treated us with respect, and in return, we, the students, treated them with respect. No raging bonfires. No tipped over busses. No knocking down signs. No rioting.

The police could have easily stormed in with full riot gear and broken up the celebration. If they had moved in, it most likely would have further escalated the situation. But by showing restraint, they allowed students to celebrate in a safe manner while at the same time preventing the gathering from reaching past levels of disorder.

Sure, you could argue this wasn’t as big of an on-campus event as the basketball championships, but it could have just as easily gotten out of hand.

Joel Cohen is a junior government and politics major. He can be reached at jcohendbk@gmail.com.

Local businesses: They need your support

W

hen I used to live on the campus, it seemed like College Park ended at the big red M. With such a huge, active university and CampusFood.com’s delivery service, it’s easy to feel insulated. And yet, whether we see it or not, a few independent businesses struggle to survive just beyond our borders.

My favorite independent business (as I’ve written about in the past) is Vertigo Books. Vertigo is that endangered species of a locally owned bookstore that focuses on quality instead of sales. Its shelves are full of the books the University Book Center doesn’t carry: books from lesser-known and foreign authors, sale books that will change your life and employees who are booksellers instead of cashiers. Vertigo also has author events — even hosting a young state Sen. Barack Obama in 1995.

Unsurprisingly, it’s hard to survive as a

bookstore without selling out to the lowest common denominator. The financial crisis has hurt Vertigo especially hard, and the owners recently sent out an SOS e-mail to their list of loyal customers. The idea that Vertigo could go out of business makes me want to grab my wallet and clear out space on my bookshelves. But if Vertigo and other independent local businesses are to survive without constant fear of insolvency, then it’s going to take more than just the few devoted customers who already exist.

To me, the virtue of local independent businesses is self-evident. Already, the vast majority of Route 1 shops are chains you can find in every moderate-sized city in the region. Vertigo now sits between Starbucks and Chipotle in a shopping center with a CVS, Boston Market and RadioShack. I don’t want to be reminiscing in 10 years about all the good times spent at Borders or Barnes & Noble.

Locally owned businesses also keep

MALCOLM

HARRIS

money within the community. According to a 2002 study by Civic Economics, an economic consultancy firm that focuses on sustainable development, 45 cents out of every dollar spent at a locally owned business stays in the community, compared to 13 cents at a chain store. A big zero cents are returned to the community from online retailers. The difference is stark; if we’re concerned about the economic well-being of our community, we have to vote with our wallets.

Professors can get involved too. This past week, one of my English professors sent out an e-mail about an author event

at Vertigo. Last year, one of my professors ordered our class books through Vertigo instead of the UBC. Of course, the provost discourages this practice, but what’s he going to do? If you’ve got tenure, you might as well use it to preserve and improve the local literary community. Plus, at Vertigo, students might run into a new translation of Tolstoy instead of a “book” Hot Chicks with Douchebags on display at the UBC. Preserving valuable local businesses such as Vertigo is going to take some work, but once these businesses are gone, we won’t be able to get them back.

We can decide now to work for local business, or we can watch our community turn permanently into an uninterrupted corporate wasteland. It’s our choice.

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

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

End the fighting To be quite frank, I’m furious with Democrats and Republicans alike.

I’m disappointed in the lack of respect coming from the supporters of both President-elect Barack Obama (D) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). I’ll be the first to tell you I voted for the McCain-Palin ticket and they had my 100 percent support, and I’ll also openly admit I am not happy about the way the country spoke. However, Republican or not, I am first and foremost a citizen of the greatest country on Earth. And I will support the United States of America with my whole heart for the rest of my life, so if Obama is my president, I will support him, regardless of my political affiliation.

I love McCain and Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and everything they believe in; I think they would have made a fantastic team in the White House.

But on Jan. 20, Obama will become our ASHLEY leader and he will have my OAKS JUNIOR support.

I beg everyone to get off their rants about winning or losing. The election is over and nothing can be done. I was sad to take my McCainPalin magnet off my car and take the sign out of my yard, but it’s time to move on. In addition, I feel completely disrespected for the mean-spirited way Obama’s victory is being celebrated.

It has been less than 24 hours since the decision was made, and I am already tired of being called an ignorant person. I’m not ignorant, and I don’t think it’s fair to call McCain voters ignorant. I have strong beliefs that don’t necessarily align with Obama’s policies. If this country didn’t have separate parties and we all didn’t have different opinions, there wouldn’t be an election to fight about. It’s time to come together. The campaigns are over and the fight is over; let’s go back to being one country.

“If Obama is my president, I will support him, regardless of my political affiliation.”

ASHLEY OAKS JUNIOR ENGLISH

Don’t blame student groups In response to Wednesday’s column “A voting story gone awry,” I have to say I agree with the idea of establishing an Election Day registration because it may encourage more people to vote than our current system. But I do not agree with the way the columnist Elissa Fitzmartin arrived at this conclusion.

As she clearly stated in her column, she had nearly four years to complete a voter registration form properly, giving her the opportunity to vote in the 2008 presidential election, as well as the other elections prior to this time.

By choosing to register on the last day of voter registration, she put her own civic responsibilities at risk. The TerpsVote organization was established to encourage and assist students to register, not to be held responsible for their own carelessness. Had the columnist chosen to register earlier, perhaps the error would have been corrected and she would have been able to participate in perhaps the most significant election of our time.

Maybe she should take responsibility for her own actions rather than pointing the finger at a responsible student organization.

DAVID BRICK SENIOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MARKETING

AIR YOUR VIEWS Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion.dbk@gmail.com. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and nighttime phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to 600 words.

Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

59 — spumante 60 Party cheese 62 Posh hotel lobbies 63 Pamplona shouts 64 Turner of “Private Dancer” 65 Sarcasm 66 Dry and withered 67 Toy on a string (hyph.)

68 Snug retreats

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orn today, you have what it takes to acquit yourself well in all manner of activities that require a combination of brains and brawn, for you combine remarkable intellectual ability with surprising physical strength and stamina. Indeed, you are never more content than when you are tackling some problem that requires you to think carefully about a solution, plan it out in detail, and put it into motion yourself while working up a sweat in the process. You are quite tenacious, and you’re not one to give up on something just because others have labeled it difficult or even impossible.

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You seek the greatest recognition and accolades from those around you. This could be a failing, but fortunately you have the skills to back up this aspect of your character — and, indeed, you are widely admired and imitated as well.

Also born on this date are: Sally Field, actress; Rebecca Romijn, model and actress; Maria Shriver, newscaster, California first lady; Lori Singer, actress; Ethan Hawke, actor; John Philip Sousa, composer; Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone.

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.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Use an imaginative approach in order to keep your interest intact, and by day’s end, you’ll be acquitting yourself well and attracting attention.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You can be highly intuitive, and still miss the point — unless

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You will surely be quite convincing, but there may still be some who are not convinced. Take the time to talk to them one-on-one.

you are willing to listen to someone else who knows a thing or two.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Pledge your loyalty to a cause, and you’ll be taken seriously.

Someone is likely to contact you with an important assignment.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You’re likely in a different phase, and though you may not have noticed the transition, you’re sure to win different reactions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — The usual is likely to take on unusual meaning, and you must be prepared to make some lastminute adjustments as a result.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Consult the experts before making any major decisions that will affect others as well as yourself.

You’re in the big leagues now.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — This is a good day for pursuing romantic possibilities, but you must be sure that honesty and sincerity are a part of the game.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — What you oversee or overhear may be of great importance to you in the time to come — but you mustn’t be premature in your planning.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You may be unusually restless, eager to get a new foothold and to stake your claim to something that is just being introduced to the fore.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You have trouble balancing your own needs with the needs of others — particularly if it’s up to you to fulfill them all.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You may be unusually volatile, overreacting to much that is really unimportant. Keep things in perspective.

Copyright 2008 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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H O L E

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6

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Classified RATES

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Large private yards, washer/dryer, lawn care provided. 8 month lease available- early signing bonus. Call now for January rental. CONTACT DR. KRUGER- 301-408-4801.

Writer/Editor wanted to help financial executive write a non-fiction book about the SEC and one of their misguided investigations. Payment will be based on future book royalties, but experience should be invaluable. Successful applicant will also be credited as a co-author. Candidates need transportation to Bethesda, Maryland for interactive session no less than twice per week in the evening. If interested, send resume and letter to gap3436@aol.com

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Paid training now — have a job waiting for you next semester.

10-20 hours per week (hours are available Mon.-Fri. 9:304:30); work around your class schedule! Must be able to work at least 2 hours every day.

Come to Room 3136 South Campus Dining Hall for an application, 10:00-4:00, Monday-Friday.

Bartending! $250/Day Potential. No Experience Necessary. Training Provided. 1-800-965-6520 x116

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The Jaklitsch Law Group Immediate opening for a motivated student intern. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: records retention and management, basic bookkeeping projects, data entry and general office support. Job requires strong computer and typing skills, proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel and excellent communication skills. Weekly hours negotiable; must have reliable transportation. No prior experience necessary. Send resume to: barb@jaklitschlawgroup.com

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FOR RENT

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CHILDCARE FOR ROOM RENTAL. Evening care of child in exchange for own bedroom and shared living space. Spring 2009 semester. 3.5 miles from campus, w/d, very safe neighborhood.

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MISCELLANEOUS Lady’s watch found near Physics building. Contact bnorwood@umd.edu with info making ownership plausible. Or claim and sign reclaim slip in room 3304/8 of the Physics building.

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Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No experience required.

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SERVICES EDITING/WORDPROCESSING — Dissertations, theses, term papers. Style manual experts. Call anytime. 301-474-6000

Sandy Spring Friends School is looking for individuals to work in our Lower School Aftercare program. We are interested in candidates with Early Childhood and/or Elementary Education backgrounds.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 | NEWS | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

Young voters: Obama reached out to us TURNOUT, from Page 1 “I think Barack Obama is really a candidate that speaks to young people,” said events coordinator for College Democrats Michael Besser. “Politically, the campaign must have realized early on that young people are a completely undertapped resource. They’re an electorate that people think, ‘Why talk to them?’... When you speak to anybody that has been ignored, they’re that more receptive to you and your message.”

Voter registration drives saw record numbers of young people, and Rock the Vote, a group that aims to engage young people in politics, registered more than 2.3 million voters by Oct. 26, about 900,000 more than four years ago.

The large youth numbers contributed to Obama’s success in swing states. In Virginia, a traditionally Republican state that Obama carried, election officials saw a surge in registration among 18- to 25-year-olds. Ten percent more young voters were registered in July compared to the same time a year ago.

Campus groups even helped to spread the democratic message in Virginia.

College Democrats can-

“Among young voters, I know the excitement will carry on ...

They see that now their voice does matter, and they can make a difference, and they can shape the future.”

BRIAN LENTZ NEW VOTERS PROJECT COORDINATOR

vassed the state almost every weekend this semester, College Democrats secretary Angela Gentile said. “[Obama’s campaign manager] did an excellent job at really gearing the campaign toward the Internet,”said sophomore theatre and government and politics major David Olson, who canvassed Richmond with Students for Obama. “I think a lot of young people found that they were being included in ways that they’ve never been included before, because the candidates were trying to communicate with them in a

way that they were very comfortable.”

The surge in young voters can be attributed to youth wanting to help change the country, said Brian Lentz, coordinator of the New Voters Project of Maryland Public Interest Research Group, a public advocacy group. Lentz said his organization had registered more than 2,500 students on the campus.

“One of the main reasons people were excited about this election was because of the way the last eight years turned out under George W. Bush,” he said. “Not many people were happy about that.”

Obama’s status as an “icon” was key in motivating young voters, Lentz, a sophomore sociology major, said.

“Among young voters, I know the excitement will carry on,” Lentz said. “It’s not just a one-time thing.

They see that now their voice does matter, and they can make a difference, and they can shape the future.

Everybody is encouraged to get out and keep the movement going. ... It didn’t end last night.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. coxdbk@gmail.com

Local and university officials optimistic after slots referendum SLOTS, from Page 1 machines near the Laurel Park horse track, one of the five planned locations for slots.

Now that the referendum passed, the state General Assembly will need to pass a law before slot machines can be set up — the referendum only changed the state constitution to allow for the possibility of having slots. Prior to the referendum, state Senate President Mike Miller (D) supported slots, and House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch (D) opposed them.

“If this passes, it’s not over, it’s just starting,” Aaron Meisner, the chairman of Stop Slots Maryland, said in an interview before the referendum passed. “It’s going to be very, very ugly in Annapolis this spring.”

Adding to the complexity of passing slots legislation is a recent push to raise the percentage of revenue the slots license-holders would earn. The state’s plan right now is to give 33 percent of slots revenue to the parlor owners, whereas nearby states offer about 45 percent.

Alex Hughes, a spokeswoman for Busch, said if the number of bids for licenses to run the parlors is low, then “there is the possibility of looking at the 33-percent split for the licensees.”

But Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), a slots supporter, said he didn’t see a need to alter how the slots revenue is

“Once slots are up and running and we’re out of this recession ... theoretically, we should be close to closing the structural budget deficit.”

ROSS STERN UNIVERSITY LOBBYIST

distributed.

“No change,” O’Malley said. “I don’t see it.”

But the gambling industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn, and MGM — one of the largest casino companies — has said it wouldn’t bid for a license in the state.

Any increase in the amount given to slots parlor owners could mean a decrease in the amount given to education, depending on how the new splits are drawn up. Education is going to receive about $660 million a year, according to state analysts, about half of the total revenues from slots.

“I hope it doesn’t happen. I hope we keep as much money for education as possible,” said Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s), whose district includes College Park.

The state has estimated it will receive about $90 million from selling the slots licenses, but the vast majority of slots revenue won’t start flowing in for another three years, meaning tax increases or spending cuts are necessary to solve the state’s projected $1 billion deficit in the next fiscal year.

“Once slots are up and running and we’re out of this recession ... theoretically, we should be close to closing the structural budget deficit,” said Ross Stern, the university’s lobbyist. “It’s not a panacea for 2010 and 2011.”

The current five-member State Lottery Commission will be nearly doubled with four new appointments. The commission will own and lease the slot machines to the operators.

The governor also will appoint three members to a separate commission granting the licenses, while Busch and Miller will appoint two members each.

The commission will consider sealed competitive bids based on various factors. Those include which bids will provide the highest revenue to the state, the extent a proposed location will encourage Maryland gamblers to play in state and the number of jobs a site would create.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. robillarddbk@gmail.com

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Council supports StarView expansion Students wait for hours for Despite late stage, one story and 112 beds will be added to project newspaper’s special election edition

BY BRADY HOLT

Crowd spends hours at CVS waiting for The Washington Post reprints

Senior staff writer

The College Park City Council expressed support last night for expanding a planned student housing project to include more than 100 additional beds and an extra floor.

The StarView Plaza had originally been proposed as a five-story, 550-bed student housing project on Route 1 near the College Park Car Wash.

But developers last night asked the city council for its blessing in a plan to add more one story and 112 beds to the project, which city officials did not object to but said was an unusual step for so late in the development process.

Josh Peters, a member of the Star Hotels development team, said a redesign of the structure of the planned apartment building allowed it to support the extra weight of an added floor.

The university had asked the developers to maximize the number of student housing beds, Peters said, which prompted them to add the floor. Yet the building’s general appearance and footprint will remain unchanged, he added.

Developers will break ground for StarView within a month, and the building should be open for tenants by fall 2010.

The council indicated it would vote next week to send a letter to other agencies supporting the modification to StarView’s plans.

At the same council meeting, city officials “agreed to disagree” with developers of another student housing

BY KYLE GOON Staff writer

College Park Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich, above, and other members of the city council discussed housing developments at the council meeting last night. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

project about two environmental issues.

City staff noted the Varsity at College Park, a mid-rise 914-bed project to be built next to the University View, is planned to be partially built inside the Paint Branch stream buffer and did not conform to LEED green building standards.

Matt Tedesco, an attorney for developer Mark Vogel, said he expects the county and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to accept the project as is.

The building only encroaches above the 50-foot stream buffer, with only one pillar actually touching the ground in the area, developers said. They will also spend up to $750,000 to improve the stream in the area.

On the green building issue, developers used a different standard to measure

JOB OPENING

the environmental impact of their facility than the city is accustomed to.

Developers said they earned an “extremely high score” of 49 by the Green Communities standard, but neither they nor city planners could translate that into the LEED ranking of bronze through platinum.

The city had requested “LEED Silver or similar,” with silver being the second lowest of the four LEED standards.

The city council does not have the authority to block a development, but city officials customarily testify in favor of or against it at other bodies’ hearings. The council tentatively deferred the two environmental issues to park and planning, and will hear back from the developers in two weeks. holtdbk@gmail.com

JOB OPENING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR THE

2010 TERRAPIN YEARBOOK The Editor-In-Chief is responsible for an approximately 320 page yearbook.The term of office runs from February 1st, 2009January 31st, 2010. Salary: $5000.

Applications may be picked up in room 3136 South Campus Dining Hall (Diamondback Business Office), 9:30-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH

STUDENT MEMBER

WANTED FOR STUDENT PUBLICATIONS' BOARD Maryland Media, Inc., publishing board for the Diamondback, Eclipse, Terrapin, and Mitzpeh, has an opening on its board of directors for one full-time student.

The Board of Directors sets general policy, approves budgets and selects the Editors-in-Chief for the student publications. You will be filling out a term until May, 2009 and will be eligible to apply for a full-year appointment at that time, if desired. The Board meets about once a month during the school year.

For an application, stop by room 3136 South Campus Dining Hall and ask for Maggie Levy.

Applications are due by Friday, November 14th at noon.

Senior criminal justice major Irene Tsampos has an exam today, but instead of cramming yesterday afternoon, she spent almost eight hours at CVS waiting in line for, of all things, a newspaper.

“I definitely should be studying right now,” she said. “I’m here because I love [President-elect Barack] Obama.”

Tsampos and a few dozen others put their lives on hold for several hours to crowd the front section of the CVS on Route 1 to have the chance to buy the special election edition of The Washington Post and take home a testament to history. Copies of the morning edition of the newspaper sold out earlier in the day at many stores in the area.

“It’s history in the making — I can cherish this moment with something tangible to hold onto,” said junior economics major Kevin Corbin, who was buying copies for himself and his mother. “I want to be able to pass this onto my kids to show I was a part of history.”

Students and other College Park residents lined up along the front of the aisles, often sitting down to rest their backs against the racks. Junior environmental engineering major Jake Bauer and senior education and history major Heather Brady played rummy to pass the time.

“I’ve been here since 4 [p.m.], and I’ve read some magazines, did some of my homework, too,” Bauer said. “It’s an important

Both students and College Park residents waited at CVS for hours for the special election newspapers, playing games and snacking on Domino’s pizza to pass the time. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

thing. Obama’s the first black president. I think it’s worth it to get the paper.”

The special issue was scheduled to be delivered between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., and customers who showed up in those hours decided to wait a little longer. As time went on, 5 became 6, 6 became 7:30 and the night continued. Aside from occasional updates from CVS regional management, customers were in the dark as to whether the newspapers were coming at all.

“I just didn’t think The Washington Post would jerk people around like this. Honestly, I’m beyond upset,” senior physiology and neurobiology major Cassie Erdeky said. “I wasted my whole day doing this.”

However, they found CVS to be more than accommodating. Shift manager Toya Joefield set up a

sign to direct people where to wait and also gave customers free water, candy and Domino’s pizza.

“It’s common courtesy. Everybody’s already in the store, so they might as well be comfortable,” she said. “Everybody just wants to take part in history.”

As of 11 p.m., a core group of dedicated customers were still waiting in CVS for the newspaper.

Corbin kept himself going by reminding himself what he learned in the election.

“It represented progress and change,” he said. “Just thinking about the whole process, from our ancestors who were slaves to now having a black president, reminds us patience is a virtue.”

The Washington Post’s distribution services could not be reached for comment. goondbk@gmail.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 | THE DIAMONDBACK

9

Diversions

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

REEL NEWS: Visionary director David Lynch (Inland Empire) will be developing a webisode series for ON Networks, future home of Amy Poehler’s online show Smart Girls at the Party.

Lynch’s program will be based on his 2006 autobiographical book, Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity. So, still no retribution and answers for all those Twin Peaks fans out there. We can still dream.

Director David Lynch

REVIEW | MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA

RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa has its fun without rivaling Pixar’s superior flicks

BY DAN BENAMOR Senior staff writer

Pixar has redefined the meaning of animated film, while Madagascar and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa are not even in the same league. But both of the Madagascar films (more so the sequel) are so goofy and enjoyable they are perfectly viable pieces of entertainment in their own right.

From the jump, it is clear Madagascar 2 is going for a slightly more serious emotional arc (with the key word here being “slightly”). We see Alex the lion (Ben Stiller, Tropic Thunder) as a cub, tenderly cared for by his father, Zuba (the late Bernie Mac, Transformers). The rival lion, Makunga (Alec Baldwin, whose animated character actually looks a little like him, My Best Friend’s Girl), distracts Zuba long enough for Alex to be captured by hunters. Through a ludicrous series of complications, Alex is taken to the fictitious New York Central Zoo. The opening scene has a level of emotional seriousness not seen anywhere in the prior film.

After the opening, it is more or less silly time. Madagascar 2 has instances of emotion here and there, and some do

online exclusives: SOUL MEN “The film is basically a showcase for Mac and Jackson to talk trash, yell at each other and look silly singing and dancing in blue, Soul Trainstyle suits.”

— Alex Rush RATING: 3 out of 5 stars

ROLE MODELS “Role Models is drawn not from some Hollywood assembly-line comedy director but from the very oddball comedic mind of David Wain (The Ten) ... It’s depressing seeing Wain hold back to make something mainstream, but the film is funny enough that most viewers should be pleased.” — Dan Benamor RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For full reviews of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and the movies listed above, check out the Diversions tab online at:

WWW.DIAMONDBACKONLINE.COM

connect, such as a heartfelt speech from Melman the hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer, Nothing But the Truth) to his love, Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith, The Women).

But the real appeal of Madagascar 2 lies in its oddball characters and equally screwy dialogue. Kids will enjoy the movie plenty (though parents may be surprised at the level of cartoon violence), but for adults, the draw is the occasional, out-of-nowhere adult joke.

At one point, as a penguin tries to repair a crashed plane, he fumbles with a screwdriver (no opposable thumbs) and curses, “Damn you, Darwin!” Monkeys are brought on to help finish the job but soon go on strike for maternity leave (despite being all male). The penguins protest to Alex when he asks them to hurry the repairs, one of them exclaiming, “Can’t you see these Communists are breaking me?” And when King Julien the lemur (Sacha Baron Cohen, Sweeney Todd) discusses things he wishes to do before he dies, he includes, “I want to invade a country and force my ideology upon them, even if they do not want it.”

Speaking of Julien, Cohen’s vaguely Indian-crossed-with-Caribbean accent makes nearly everything he says a little

funny to begin with, and he steals the show every time he appears onscreen.

Though Cohen is a remarkably reliable comic presence, his feature film appearances have been despairingly few since Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. But even in the more recent Sweeney Todd, he was hilarious in a minor role. Simply put, Cohen is the standout among a group of amusing secondary characters.

And it really is the secondary characters propping up the film. There’s the crew of military-organized penguins who fake death on the roads to steal Jeeps from tourists. Two cultured monkeys are often seen playing chess or wearing top hats. Also, Andy Richter (Semi-Pro) as Mort, the adorable and persistent lemur, absurdly survives a fall from a plane and a chase with a shark that extends deep inland.

But the general lack of internal logic (the shark example being one of many), or really any logic at all, prevents Madagascar 2 from being taken seriously. Its nonsensical tone should prevent most adults from ever believing

the characters are in any sort of danger.

When a plane clearly is about to crash and magically pulls up, when a shark can follow someone through a volcano, when a Jeep can ram an elderly woman at full speed and she survives — well, we clearly are in Wile E. Coyote territory. So, any time the characters are in danger, the audience feels no need to worry. As the movie has no logical rules, we can be assured a magical solution will present itself.

As for the leads, Chris Rock (Bee Movie) sounds slightly less bored than in the first film as the zebra, Marty.

Schwimmer is still the most endearing as Melman, and Pinkett Smith is still largely relegated to the “No-you-didn’tgirl!” stock character as the spunky hippo. Stiller gets a few laughs but is more a tool to further the story than a comic mouthpiece.

Because Madagascar 2 has about as much emotion and depth as 10 minutes of Ratatouille, it remains a trifle.

But it’s about as good of a trifle as you can get. dan.benamor@gmail.com

MOVIE:Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | VERDICT:

1/2

REVIEW | SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK

Mind and metaphor, death and the city In Synecdoche, New York, Charlie Kaufman takes a surreal look at an artist’s life

BY THOMAS FLOYD Senior staff writer

It’s no longer up for debate: Charlie Kaufman is the most fascinating mind Hollywood has to offer.

The Oscar-winning scribe, whose renowned body of work includes such celebrated films as Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, is known for creating fantastical ideas as mystifying as they are distinctive, establishing an idiosyncratic blend of style and theme one can only describe as Kaufman-esque.

Which is why calling his directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, the most ambitious of the bunch is really saying something. The 49-year-old once again toes the blurred lines between realism and idealism, personally tackling the vast scope of his vision with unflinching poise and bravado. Dream, hallucination or reality — what to make of Kaufman’s eccentric narrative is never explicitly explained.

Sure, Synecdoche will probably drive some moviegoers mad thanks to its simple lack of clarity. But the truly remarkable movies are the ones you find yourself still pondering long after

you’ve left the cinema, and that is certainly the case here. Throughout its 124 minutes of mind-numbing enthrallment, Synecdoche amounts to both a brilliantly crafted film and a deeply thought-provoking experience.

The movie centers around the life of Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote), a middle-aged theater director in the small New York town of Schenectady (hence the title’s play on words). When an unrelenting series of mysterious illnesses take over his body, Caden realizes he is slowly but undeniably hurtling toward death.

Neurologist, ophthalmologist, urologist — with a touch of dry humor, each bewildered doctor simply recommends he move on to another physician. His wife, Adele (Catherine Keener, an Oscar nominee for Malkovich and Capote), dreams about his death before leaving him and pursuing a career in art. His body and mind are deteriorating, and the breakdown is painful to watch.

“I’m afraid I’m going to die. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, and I want to do something important while I’m still here,” Caden explains to his therapist (Hope Davis, Six Degrees). So when the MacArthur Foundation awards him with a genius grant, Caden

decides to rent out a massive hangar in New York City and create a work of “brutal honesty.”

Recreating the buildings of Manhattan and hiring a huge ensemble of doppelgangers to play his real-life acquaintances, Caden’s production becomes the increasingly complicated tale of his life as it happens. Life imitates art, and art imitates life, and it is not long before the two indecipherably splice together into something both unsettling and intriguing.

Synecdoche becomes more and more dreamlike as it goes along, with Kaufman habitually weaving some bizarre situations — such as a house that is perpetually on fire — into his world as if they were everyday circumstances. The passage of time becomes arbitrary, which makes for a startling moment when one actor reminds Caden they have been rehearsing for 17 years without an audience.

Along the way, it is the women in Caden’s life who largely define who he is. Michelle Williams (Deception), Emily Watson (The Water Horse) and the phenomenal Samantha Morton (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) all play the

love interest at different points.

Caden’s relationship with his estranged daughter, Olive (Robin Weigert, Things We Lost in the Fire), also weighs heavily on his conscience.

Kaufman and Hoffman were seemingly born to make movies together, so it comes as no surprise Hoffman delivers a stunning, tour-de-force performance. The Oscar-winner embodies Caden over the course of several decades, taking advantage of Kaufman’s beautifully written dialogue, while going through both the character’s gradual aging process and wide range of emotional beats.

Although the movie is difficult to fully comprehend after just one viewing, it clearly is still a special film from a writer who transcends the traditional standards. If you find yourself bewildered, thinking Kaufman’s ideas without another director’s guidance are too obscure to grasp, just listen to the words of Williams’ character, Claire: “Knowing that you don’t know is the most essential step to knowing.

You know?” tfloyd1@umd.edu

MOVIE:Synecdoche, New York | VERDICT:

1/2

10

THE DIAMONDBACK | SPORTS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Top-ranked field hockey using ACC tourney as warm-up High quality of ACC play better prepares Terps for NCAA tournament action at the end of season

BY MICHAEL KATZ Staff writer

2008

Looking at the Terrapin FIELD HOCKEY field hockey team, a program that measures success in national champi- between the two tournaonships, the ACC tourna- ments. With all six ACC ment might appear a teams ranked in the top mere speed bump in the 15 nationally, the conferfast lane to the NCAA ence gauntlet is daunting.

In college field hockey, tournament. there’s the But the team ACC, and then sees the conferthere’s everyence showdown one else. as perfect prepaThe challenge ration for the big has made it dance. easy for the The No. 1 Terps to avoid Terps (16-2) looking ahead to earned the top the bigger tourseed and a firstnament looming round bye on the horizon. thanks to a 4-1 “We’re not record in league just treating play. They will these as warmmeet the winner up games,” of No. 4-seed back Susie Virginia and No. Rowe said.

5-seed Duke on “The competiFriday in tion is so strong Durham, N.C. in the ACC. It’s “I don’t think SUSIE ROWE really, really any schools in SENIOR BACK good to teach the nation have the younger the same opportunity to prepare as the players how tournament ACC schools do,” coach play goes.”

After giving the team Missy Meharg said. “You hope you can go two the weekend off, Meharg [games] deep into the said she’s been pleased tournament to utilize the with the energy in pracopportunity as much as tice. During the season, possible. In terms of there is less time in preparation for the NCAA between games to work [tournament], it’s a per- on the specifics. The layoff has fect emulation of the extended afforded the Terps an quality of play.”

In fact, size seems to be opportunity to work in the main difference depth on an array of skills

“We’re not just treating these as warm-up games. The competition is so strong in the ACC. ... We want so badly to do well.”

Senior back Ellen Ott will help lead younger players in the upcoming ACC tournament.

JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

and sets.

Players said they are worn down from the grind of the year, but the excitement of the postseason has been a powerful remedy.

“Yeah, my body is pretty tired, but it’s because we’ve been working hard. We want so badly to do well,” Rowe said. “No, we’re going to be ready to go once we get down there.”

The Terps know the conference tournament can have a lasting impact on a team as the last competition before the NCAA tournament.

Last season, a loss to Wake Forest in the team’s opening ACC tournament game was part of the Terps’ late-season collapse. Two games later, the Terps bowed out to Penn State in the national quarterfinals.

A strong showing against foes from the nation’s top conference would send the Terps to the NCAA tournament with the wind in their sails. It’s easy to see why the Terps are staying in the present.

“It [would be] a boost of confidence,” forward Katie O’Donnell said. “If we come out with a win we know, playing these top teams already and coming out on top, going to the NCAA it’s pretty much the same competition.” mkatzdbk@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

11

The Pittsburgh guy’s new look

BY AARON KRAUT Senior staff writer

Terrapin men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski described Rich Costanzo as a typical “Pittsburgh guy.”

For the most part, the senior defender fits the tough, gritty stereotype associated with his hometown. Costanzo is far from the flashiest or most talkative player on the No. 5 Terps soccer team.

The senior plays a defensive position — right back— where at times it’s necessary to dig out balls and sacrifice one’s body to stop an opponent’s attacking run.

Even among some of Costanzo’s fellow defenders, such as towering 6-foot-5 center back Omar Gonzalez or lightning-quick left back Rodney Wallace, it’s easy to forget how important the 5-foot-9 co-captain is to his team.

But throughout this season, Costanzo has not only provided the fierce competitiveness other players and Cirovski have come to expect from him, but he’s done it while displaying his developed offensive skills. He’s also checked his aggressive play, which last season earned him a red card and a team-leading five yellow cards.

Costanzo’s progression has made him one of the team’s main leaders.

“In the locker room he’s a leader and on the field he’s a leader,” defender A.J. Delagarza said. “Even though he’s not as vocal as we would like him to be, I

Costanzo’s powerful leg and ability on throw-ins allow him to help the Terps with key clears.

JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

think he’s a good role model for the younger players. He’s loud about his play, like getting stuck in tackles … just getting on guys.”

Costanzo carefully measures what he says while answering questions from the media, and is always sure to credit teammates whenever he can. But that attitude comes from his humble, businessman-like personality.

“I try to be vocal,” Costanzo said. “I try to also just lead in any way on the field.”

That effort includes better managing his forceful style, an aspect of his game that hurt the Terps at times last year. With five seconds remaining in double overtime of a 1-1 tie against Cal State Northridge last October, a fight broke out between Costanzo and an opposing player. Costanzo was given a red card and ejected from the game, resulting in an automatic suspension in the next game. Cirovski was obviously disturbed by the incident and added an additional game to the mandatory suspension.

This season, Costanzo hasn’t earned any major penalties, and he said it’s because of a conscious effort to serve as a better example for his teammates now that he has earned the co-captain’s role.

“I’ve matured a lot in my defending, and I’ve just been more cautious about diving in and fouling,” Costanzo said.

“I’m trying to keep my fouls to a minimum and not draw cards. I feel it’s my responsibility to show that you don’t need to be hacking guys, fouling them.

We’re all good enough to be able to stay with our opponents and stay away from fouling them.”

Whether it’s winning a difficult ball in the Terps’ end of the field or hustling into the opponents’ zone to keep a ball from being cleared away from the Terps’ attack, Costanzo has kept to his word.

He’s also added some firepower to the Terps’ attack by picking and choosing spots to push up well past midfield.

Costanzo was a forward and midfielder during his freshman year at Penn State, where he scored four goals and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004. After sitting out 2005 because of an injury, he transferred to this university, knowing he could eventually end up playing defense.

This season, Costanzo has

Though a defender for the Terps, Costanzo has strong ball skills as a result of his time as a midfielder for Penn State. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

played exclusively at right back but also has been able to draw on his past experience as an offensive threat.

Costanzo has pitched in with five assists this year, including an impressive cross from deep in the right corner that midfielder Jeremy Hall headed in for a goal on Oct. 17 against Evansville, bringing up memories of his days as a striker and outside midfielder.

He also helped set up the Terps’ only goal in their conference-opening 1-0 win against then-No. 9 Boston College, by making an accurate pass down the right sideline to midfielder Doug Rodkey, who found midfielder Graham Zusi in the box for the game-winner.

But to Costanzo, who along with Delagarza, midfielders Michael Marchiano and Graham Zusi and goalkeeper Aaron Chinn will be honored before Friday’s Senior Night matchup against No. 20 North Carolina, getting the nod as co-captain this year has been his biggest achievement.

“It definitely means a lot to me,” Costanzo said. “It’s probably the best honor I’ve ever had playing because it’s such a great program. I have just tried to be the

best leader I can and tried to help this team.”

In his three seasons with the Terp program — and over the last year, especially — he has evolved into that leadership role, according to Cirovski.

“Richie’s been a great addition because he doesn’t take anything for granted in this program, the culture, the values [or] the opportunity that he’s had here because of where he came from,” Cirovski said. “He brings a sense of appreciation both on and off the field.

He brings a sense of confidence because of his competitiveness.

He’s one of the most competitive guys that we have on this team.”

Costanzo’s consistency, leadership and desire to win, even if largely unnoticed on the field because of his no-nonsense approach, have been his calling cards. For that, teammates such as midfielder Drew Yates are appreciative.

“He just has this maturity about him,” Yates said. “He has this presence about him. I’m just happy to have him on my team, because I wouldn’t want to play against him.” akrautdbk@gmail.com

Costanzo’s intensity, hustle and athleticism have made him a stalwart of the Terp defense. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

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THE DIAMONDBACK | SPORTS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

SCHIMMEL

Nothing scary left on the schedule SCHIMMEL, from Page 14 That’s what you have in the ACC.” That’s true, and it definitely works in the Terps’ favor.

The Terps are playing some of the “best” teams in the conference in their four remaining games, yet every single game is very winnable. They could even lose tonight and still control their own destiny.

But if they prove they can win a game like this, the Atlantic Division is pretty much theirs for the taking.

If the Terps were a rational, predictable football team, I would tell you if they beat Virginia Tech tonight — the toughest remaining game on the schedule, no matter how the Hokies’ season is going so far or who their starting quarterback is — you could start booking flights to Tampa for the ACC Championship game.

But since the Terps’ season, and the conference in general, have been anything but rational and predictable, I’m going to be

a little more guarded.

Still, it’s all in their hands.

“I get that we have a very good chance, and everyone knows that,” quarterback Chris Turner said. “But at this point, we’re taking it one game at a time. We don’t want to overlook any team, especially when it’s an enormous game [tonight].”

But tonight is not quite as tough of a game as it appeared to be at the beginning of the season, or even a couple of weeks ago, and the Terps really do have a chance to put some distance between them and the other teams in their division.

This is not the same Hokie team that obliterated the Terps (who were, granted, also a much different team then) 55-6 in 2004, or the Hokie team that won 28-9 in 2005.

It’s not even really the same Hokie team that beat Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Nebraska earlier this season.

The Hokies looked pretty average in losses at Boston College and Florida State in their previous two games, and with

quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon still banged up, a once-seemingly unlikely Thursday night win in Blacksburg is certainly doable.

As winnable as tonight is, it is still the Terps’ toughest remaining game. The Hokies haven’t lost at Lane Stadium all season, and they haven’t lost three games in a row since 2003.

“We’ve got to show the country that we’re here for real now,” linebacker Moise Fokou said. “We have to win. That’s the bottom line.”

A win tonight would guarantee that the Terps would still be in first place in their division heading into the last three games against No. 19 North Carolina, No. 24 Florida State and Boston College, and that’s when things would start to get fun.

All three of the upcoming opponents picked up at least one loss in their previous two games, and none of those teams is infallible.

With two of those three games at home, it would be the Terps’ Atlantic Division to lose.

“I get that we have a very good chance, and everyone knows that. But at this point, we’re taking it one game at a time.”

CHRIS TURNER JUNIOR QUARTERBACK

And maybe, for a change, the Terps will actually come through each time when they’re supposed to.

Tampa is in the Terps’ sights.

There aren’t any juggernauts standing in their way. Virginia Tech is good, but not that good.

North Carolina, Florida State and Boston College are OK, but nothing to worry about.

Then again, the Terps are good, but not that good.

Still, that just might be good enough. schimmeldbk@gmail.com

Freshman running back Davin Meggett and the Terps control their own ACC destiny now. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

13

Receiver Danny Oquendo and the Terp offense may have their hands full against a traditionally tough Virginia Tech defense. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

VT may not have top 2 QBs TECH, from Page 14

Center Edwin Williams is a key factor in the Terps’ much improved offensive line efforts that have drawn praise. JAMES B. HALE/THE DIAMONDBACK

comes into tonight’s game struggling to find an answer at quarterback. The Hokies’ top two signal-callers, Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor, will be game-time decisions because of leg injuries. Third-stringer Cory Holt, who was forced into action in an Oct. 25 loss at Florida State, may get the start.

Friedgen said he’s counting on both Glennon and Taylor to be available and that he’s been impressed with Holt.

But no matter who has been under center for the Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2 ACC) this season, it has been a struggle. The Hokies have lost two straight ACC road games and currently rank last in the conference in total offense.

The team that has the most wins in the ACC since 2004 needs a win tonight to

stay in the hunt in the wild ACC Coastal Division.

It makes for a much different scenario than the 2004 game, which the Terps watched a highlight film of as a team last week.

The 2004 loss clinched a losing record and squashed the Terps’ hopes of bowl eligibility. But a win tonight will keep them as the only one-loss team in the ACC and in solid position to make their first ACC Championship game heading into the season’s last three games.

That’s why offensive coordinator James Franklin, who was the Terp receivers coach in 2004, said it’s important to separate the personal feelings of the humiliating loss, so they don’t enter the game “too geeked up.”

“The history doesn’t matter,” Franklin said. “The guys that played

there in ’04, they’re not there now. We’ve just got to go play and get ready for the guys that are there.”

The Hokies are 14-3 all-time in ESPN Thursday night football games.

The Terps haven’t won in Blacksburg since 1949. But combine the Hokies’ quarterback troubles with a suddenly hot Terp team that’s won five of its last six, and the Terps have reason to believe they can come out of Lane Stadium with a win.

“I think this is definitely a different team now,” said linebacker Trey Covington, who watched the 2004 game from the sidelines as a true freshman in his redshirt season. “If we go down there and play our game, we can definitely beat them pretty good.” edetweilerdbk@gmail.com

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14

THE DIAMONDBACK | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Sports

Road Trip!

Follow the Terps down to Blacksburg, Va., without leaving your computer by tracking TerrapinTrail.com, The Diamondback’s sports blog.

TERPGAMEDAY

THE MATCHUP

Maryland Terrapins

Virginia Tech Hokies

6-2 (3-1 ACC)

5-3 (2-2 ACC)

WHEN: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va. T.V.: ESPN LINE: Virginia Tech -3 DATA: Virginia Tech is on a three-game losing skid, the Terps are atop the Atlantic Division.

TERPTRACKER 2008 TEAM STATS TERPS Passing (ypg) Rushing (ypg) Total (ypg) Points per game Opponents ppg Avg. Time of Possession

199.9 166.8 366.6 23.4 19.2 27:03

VT 120.0 160.0 280.0 23.9 21.1 31:13

MEANINGLESS GAME? This time of year provides a confusing litany of scenarios for fans.

Nothing ever seems to make sense when it comes to who is going where and to what bowl.

The Terps essentially control their own destiny in the ACC so long as they a.) beat Florida State and b.) don’t lose two of their other three games.

Because the Seminoles lost last week, the Terps are now alone atop the Atlantic Division. With the Florida State game set for Nov. 22, the Terps can provide a two-game cushion ahead of the Seminoles if they win that.

So this Virginia Tech trip means very little on the surface. But it does provide an important buffer to hold the Terps ahead of Florida State and Boston College in the long run.

SILENT SNAPS To combat the crowd noise at 66,233-seat Lane Stadium, the Terps have been working on a silent snap count this week in practice. The Terps have had the maneuver in the playbook but chose not to use it in front of big crowds at Clemson and Virginia.

“I just lift my leg,” Turner said.

"It’s not that hard.”

Friedgen has even resorted to playing the crowd noise during punt protection drills this week to get his players used to an environment most of his players are unfamiliar with.

“It’s very loud,” Friedgen said. “They have great team spirit. It’s the only show in town.”

SERIES RECORDS ALL-TIME SERIES LAST MEETING

Terps lead 15-13 2005

Jeremy Navarre, right, and the Terp defense get to face off against a Virginia Tech offense with serious quarterback questions tonight. ADAM FRIED/THE DIAMONDBACK

BACK IN BLACKSBURG A few Terps still remember bitter 2004 loss last time they visited

BY ERIC DETWEILER Senior staff writer

At the mere mention of his last trip to Blacksburg, Va., Jack Griffin still gets emotional.

The Terrapin guard remembers what it was like to get embarrassed in a hostile environment before a national Thursday night audience.

On Nov. 18, 2004, the Terps played at Virginia Tech. The Hokies, then in their first season of ACC play, ran up 55 points in the first three quarters en route to a 55-6 win.

“Some of the fans just told us, ‘Say we’re not good enough for the ACC now,’” said the senior guard, who is one of two current Terps who saw action in the game. “They just got on us. It was infuriating, and we couldn’t do anything about it.”

Virginia Tech beat the Terps the next season as well, this time at Byrd Stadium. Thanks to the ACC schedule makers, the teams haven’t met since.

“[The Virginia Tech fans] just got on us.

It was infuriating, and we couldn’t do anything about it.”

JACK GRIFFIN SENIOR GUARD

Tonight, the Terps (6-2, 3-1 ACC) return to Lane Stadium to take on a team that, so far this season, has displayed much less firepower than the one that won an ACC title in 2004.

“I don’t know how we’ll do in that environment,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “Hopefully, we’ll be ready to play and have fun. That’s the biggest thing. You can’t go in there and play tight.”

Virginia Tech, which was led by all-time career passing leader Bryan Randall in 2004,

Please See TECH, Page 13

The Terps have lost three straight to Virginia Tech, a trend wide receiver Darrius HeywardBey and his teammates hope stops tonight. JACLYN BOROWSKI/THE DIAMONDBACK

RECENT MEETINGS 2005-(H)2004-(A)1993- (A)-

L, VT 28, Terps 9 L, Terps 6, VT 55 L, Terps 28, VT 55

KEY MATCHUP TERP LINEBACKER ALEX WUJCIAK VS. VT RUNNING BACK DARREN EVANS The Terps’ leading tackler will have to step up his run defense with secondleading tackler Dave Philistin questionable with a shoulder injury.

But Wujciak has been a force at times for the Terps, highlighted by a monstrous 16-tackle performance at Clemson.

The main concern for Wujciak, who anchors the ACC’s ninth-best run defense, is freshman Darren Evans. Evans, who has scored eight touchdowns this season, will need to find early success to take some heat off the Hokie quarterback no matter which of the three options Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer starts under center.

THE SCHIMMEL SHOWCASE

HEAD OK might be OFFENSE good enough GREG

SCHIMMEL

A

CC football teams have played 28 games against each other so far this season, yet virtually nothing has been settled.

As more headscratching results lead to tighter standings and foggier bowl predictions, there’s only one thing that has become clear in the Atlantic Coastal Conference.

Nobody is really all that good.

The Terrapin football team sat idly by Saturday during its pseudo-bye week and, when Florida State and Virginia lost, somehow found itself with the best record in the conference.

The No. 23 Terps are solid, but not spectacular.

Yet it’s looking like slightly above average could be good enough to get them into the ACC title game. “[The conference] is being criticized right now, but I think we probably have the most parity of any league in the country, bar none,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “Everybody can win on any given day.

Please See SCHIMMEL, Page 12

2

HEAD

DEFENSE

Virginia Tech is last in the ACC in total offense, and third-string quarterback Cory Holt may be pressed into starting duty for the Hokies.

Terp quarterback Chris Turner has continued his consistent play this season in an offense ripe with big-play potential.

Virginia Tech, typically revered on defense, has yielded at least 28 points in three of its last four games.

The Terp defense has specialized in bending but not breaking. It ranks 11th in the league in total defense but 6th in points allowed.

SPECIAL TEAMS

COACHING

Terp kicker Obi Egekeze is coming off a game in which he hit a career-long field goal and his first career game-winner.

But Virginia Tech always has one of the country’s top special teams units, and this year it's helped by dynamic returnman Macho Harris.

Hokie coach Frank Beamer and Terp coach Friedgen are long-time friends, but as a head coach Friedgen has never beaten the man who he once took lamaze classes with.

Beamer has the most wins of any coach in the ACC since he joined it and has made the Hokies the ACC’s team to beat most years.

INTANGIBLES

PREDICTION

The Terps need this game to stay alone atop the ACC’s Atlantic Division and ahead of Florida State.

The Hokies, who have one of the biggest home-field advantages in the conference, need this game to just stay in the conference title picture.

28-24