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Terrapins men’s basketball team to play No. 3 Kentucky at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. p. 8
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Genderneutral housing plans in works
SGA to evaluate options for MaryPIRG By Sarah Tincher Staff writer A new SGA committee will explore alternative means of funding for MaryPIRG, after the student-run advocacy group lost its funding last spring. After a short debate Wednesday night, the Student Government Association voted 22 to 2 in favor of creating an ad hoc committee to examine MaryPIRG’s options. The chapter has no available resources for the spring semester, jeopardizing the group’s functionality. In the past, the SGA granted MaryPIRG about $43,000, funneled from undergraduate students’ mandatory student activities fee, which the group used to support two salaried positions. However, students voted down funding those salaries on last spring’s SGA elections ballot, and the group received only about $1,000. The Committee for the Exploration of MaryPIRG Funding Options will explore both long- and short-term possibilities for the organization, a student-directed, grassroots advocacy group. “There have obviously been problems in the past, and this is a way to look at the entire situation and see if there’s a way to fix it and make it better for everybody,” said Samantha Zwerling, SGA president. “Make it better for the SGA, make it better for the student groups and hopefully rework the system so this isn’t a problem in the future.” Last fall, MaryPIRG earned a $9,000 grant to reduce plastic water bottle consumption on the campus, according to MaryPIRG chapter chairwoman Lianne Berne, and last spring, it co-hosted a 400-person rally in See MARYPIRG, Page 3
By Teddy Amenabar Staff writer
up, it’s time to buckle down and get down to business. The Crew, the men’s soccer team’s fan base, has one mission: intimidate the opposing team’s goalkeeper. Force the opponents to lose concentration. “They’re unbelievable,” said Terps defender Taylor Kemp before a game against UCLA earlier this season. “They’re the best fans in the country, and they
The Department of Resident Life will embark on a one-year pilot program to provide more gender-inclusive and mixed-gender housing options next fall, after a unanimous vote by the Residence Hall Association senate Tuesday night. The pilot calls for around 50 to 75 beds to serve as gender-inclusive rooms — in which students can share the same living space regardless of sex, gender or gender identity. In addition, the university will increase its mixed-gender housing — in which halls alternate rooms for men and women — to 350 to 375 beds, accounting for about 4 percent of spaces on the campus. Cambridge Community dorms, Oakland Hall and some semi-suites, suites and apartments will feature gender-inclusive rooms with private bathrooms, which could include private toilet stalls and showers with more changing room for privacy. Cambridge Community will also offer some mixedgender floors, and Resident Life officials are still in the process of negotiating whether to expand that format to other locations on North Hill. “We’re creating another option for students; we’re not really taking any options away,” said Amy Martin, Resident Life’s associate director. “This is a pretty narrow start and our longer-term
See CREW, Page 2
See housing, Page 2
the crew, the fan base for the men’s soccer team, has grown rapidly over the years and has inspired other schools’ fans to show similar support for their teams. At every home game, the group’s members jeer the other team’s goalkeepers to make them lose their focus before and during the game. charlie deboyace/the diamondback
through thick and thin Student fan group The Crew supports men’s soccer, cheers at all home games of the net, past the goalie’s outstretched hands. “Heh, heh, heh.” Virginia Tech volunteer assistant coach Chris Rich looked up and grinned at the fans who were counting the number of goals the goalies let in during warm-ups. “Clever,” he said. “I like it.” It’s a friendly atmosphere at first, with fans bantering with opposing players and watching the teams warm up — just like they do before every home game. But once the stands start to fill
By Jenny Hottle Staff writer While Kyle Renfro warmed up in goal Tuesday night at Ludwig Field, five Terrapins soccer fans made snide remarks as the Virginia Tech goalkeeper prepared for the upcoming game. “Corner,” said one, as Renfro deflected the ball over the crossbar. “Two goals,” said another as a player launched a ball into the back
Initiative seeks to improve city to attract homebuyers College Park hopes to see home ownership rate increase, officials say, as student rentals continue climbing By Nick Foley Staff writer A well-known saying plastered on a sign downtown, marking the city “A Livable Community,” will soon be no more. Replacing the sign is just one of several initiatives in the works as part of a citywide brand makeover, one which
officials hope will make potential residents see College Park as much more than simply “livable.” College Park City Council members hashed out ideas for a new slogan with marketing firm idfive at a work session Wednesday as part of an effort to improve the city’s image to potential homebuyers. At Wednesday’s meeting, idfive creative director Matt McDermott present-
ed four different logos with slogans to the council and asked for their input in reaching a final decision. Idfive also recently released the results of its crowdsourcing initiative to poll city residents and reveal what they think of different aspects of the community. The overall effort is intended to attract potential homebuyers to the city to balance out the soaring number of student rentals,
according to city economic coordinator Michael Stiefvater. “The city would like to see the homeownership rate increase,” Stiefvater said. “We want to make sure the College Park name is out there when people are looking to buy a house.” The four designs attempted to highlight several areas in which the city excels: education, affordable housing
and easy access to major cities. McDermott noted more than 80 percent of city residents have attended some college, and one in five has an advanced degree, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics. The first option for a new slogan, “A smart place to live,” would emphasize the See makeover, Page 3
Loh among most popular univ. presidents nationally,survey shows By Sarah Tincher Staff writer Whether Wallace Loh is cheering on Terps athletes at Ludwig Field or student entrepreneurs in Cupid’s Cup, the university president’s presence is often met with a smile. He may even be one of the most popular university presidents in the country, according to a recent survey. Loh was ranked as one of the nation’s 10 most popular college presidents
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and chancellors in a recent survey conducted by business and finance website Glassdoor.com. Only three other university presidents, those of Yale, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania, received top marks from the survey, which asked university employees if they approve of the way their president is leading their institution. “He’s become involved with not only academics, but also sports — even with the social interface now with Twitter,” said sophomore fire protection engi-
neering major Tyler Pierce. “I feel like everyone’s kind of rallying around him, and I think that that’s very good to have in a university setting.” MORE ONLINE While that survey was conducted in For video of how September, Loh’s students feel about current rating on their president, check Glassdoor.com is at diamondbackonline.com
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See loh, Page 3
university president wallace loh was ranked one of the nation’s 10 most popular college presidents and chancellors in a recent survey. He attends many academic and sporting events and regularly tweets. file photo/the diamondback
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