December 11, 2012

SPORTS

OPINION

NOT ENOUGH

DIVERSIONS

UNNECESSARY HOLDUP

Men’s soccer bench players aren’t enough to help Terps notch win in College Cup semifinal p. 8

YEAH, BOI

Businesses won’t want to come to College Park if the delays with Terrapin Turf are the norm p. 4

We’re all rooting for an OutKast reunion, but maybe Big Boi proves his skill as a solo artist? p. 6

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 70

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tuesDAY, december 11, 2012

Firefighters put out blaze on Knox Road

Students robbed, hurt on Metro

Unattended menorah caused fire, officials say

By Fola Akinnibi Staff writer Firefighters responded to a fire on the 4200 block of Knox Road, said Prince George’s County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady.

Prince George’s County fire officials received a call from a Knox Box Apartment resident, who reported seeing

smoke at about 6:50 p.m. Eight units responded, Brady said. An unattended Hanukkah menorah ignited the fire, he added.

Firefighters broke windows to better fight the fire, which is common practice, Brady said.

“Typically we break windows to See fire, Page 2

By Fola Akinnibi Staff writer a fire occurred on the 4200 block of Knox Road. A menorah caused the blaze. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

A group of university students fell victim to theft, intimidation and assault — all caught on tape — while riding the Metro on Nov. 30.

Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the incident, said Metro Transit Police spokeswoman Caroline Lukas.

The students were traveling into Washington at about 11 p.m. when a large group of young men and women began harassing them on the train, said a victim of the incident who wished to remain anonymous to protect their identity. In a video of the incident posted online, members of the group See metro, Page 7

Varsity spots thriving

mixing it up

By Nick Foley Staff writer

University alumna opens soda shop in Washington, offers up original drinks, retro atmosphere

By May Wildman For The Diamondback Dec. 5 doesn’t ring a bell for most people, but for cocktail aficionados, it holds certain significance.

Prohibition was lifted on Dec. 5, 1933, forever marking the date as an important one for American libation.

And on Wednesday, the anniversary, university alumna Gina Chersevani received a liquor license for her latest venture, Union Market soda shop Buffalo & Bergen.

“Now tell me that’s not the coolest thing for a liquor license date,” Chersevani said. “The Bacchuses of the

In an area where people face harrowing traffic and never-ending commutes, Tori Fyock has it made — she’s narrowed down her travel time to 30 seconds.

A resident of The Varsity apartment complex, the sophomore Spanish major returns from class, throws on her uniform and heads down to her cashier post at Bobby’s Burger Palace, where she decided to work after frequenting the restaurant her freshman year.

“I would come here all the time and I figured, ‘Why not work here?’” she said. “I enjoy my 30-second commute to work — it’s awesome.”

A slew of diverse restaurants in retail spaces under The Varsity have refined

world were with me.”

Chersevani is a mixologist, a term used to describe bartenders who create innovative drinks, which seems to sum up her concoctions. She’s created cocktails such as the “Landlubber,” which includes spiced rum, smoked banana peels and allspice dram.

Although Chersevani is best known for her bartending prowess — she runs The Eddy, a bar inside Hank’s On The Hill, one of chef Jamie Leeds’ three Hank’s Oyster Bars — Buffalo & Bergen is an entirely different animal.

The soda shop, which officially opened See alumna, Page 2

gina chersevani, a university alumna and mixologist, sips one of her concoctions at her new shop, the Union Market soda shop Buffalo & Bergen, which was inspired by her mom’s favorite soda shop. may wildman/for the diamondback

A new type of classroom

Advocates still fighting for better workplace env.

By Annika McGinnis Staff writer

Students brew wine,cider

By Laura Blasey Senior staff writer Alcohol and college tend to go hand in hand, but not usually in the classroom. That is, unless you’re a student in professor Christopher Walsh’s technology of fruit and vegetable production class.

In the class, 10 students are given

INDEX

See varsity, Page 7

christopher walsh teaches a student in his technology of fruit and vegetable production class. su hong/the diamondback the opportunity to learn about the nuts and bolts of farming fruits and vegetables. The upper-level, major-only plant sciences elective gives students

the opportunity to visit local farms and even practice some enology — the

NEWS 2 OPINION 4 FEATURES 5 DIVERSIONS 6 CLASSIFIED 6 SPORTS 8

See class, Page 3

Workplace reforms that began in October have helped university staff work and travel more safely, though some employees say little has been done to address the root of their lack of security on the campus.

Increased English-language classes and security patrolling, among other new policies, are tangible improvements, but they’re only a start in addressing the wide-

Submit tips to The Diamondback at newsumdbk@gmail.com

spread reports of abuse, employees and student advocates said. The underlying problem, said Don Mitchell, a Residential Facilities electrician, is the complex hierarchy of supervision Mitchell said allows supervisors and managers to get away with illicit behavior.

“For decades, they’ve been able to belittle and humiliate and name-call and yell at and curse workers with complete impunity,” Mitchell said. “But when you try to get something done

For breaking news, alerts and more, follow us on Twitter @thedbk

See workers, Page 7

© 2012 THE DIAMONDBACK

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | News | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

ALUMNA From PAGE 1 this month, offers 14 different kinds of syrups and all manner of liquors to mix with. In addition to sodas and knishes (baked Jewish dumplings), Buffalo & Bergen serves egg creams, malts and steamers, which Chersevani described as “the ultimate hot chocolate.”

These drinks are made possible by a restored 1930s-era soda counter, which used to reside in a Woolworth’s in Chicago.

“This machine cost more than a Mercedes,” Chersevani said.

“I never spent so much money in my entire life on one piece of equipment. I went to Chicago four times to get this to work.

They rebuilt the entire back, the engine and everything.”

Buffalo & Bergen is named a fter Bu ffa lo Avenue a nd Bergen Street in Brooklyn, N.Y., where Cherseva n i’s mother grew up. Chersevani would get egg creams from Norma’s, a soda shop her mother loved in particular.

So when it came time to open her own shop, Chersevani looked to channel the nostalgia factor that plays into many soda shops — and threw in some Brooklyn culture to set hers apart.

The shop itself is at once retro and modern. Light bulbs hang encased in glass globes around the curving dark wood counter. And at the center of it all is the soda fountain.

Behind it all is a large mirrored panel, on which the day’s menu is inscribed in a colorful scrawl.

Buffalo & Bergen is located in the new Union Market, a lightfilled, airy warehouse teeming with small shops that offer gourmet fare, including fresh local produce, a Korean taco place and an oyster bar.

Union Market is located in what could be the middle of nowhere in terms of culinary offerings. It’s surrounded by rundown wholesale establish-

Gina Chersevani, a mixologist, experiments with unique flavors and liquors, earning her a reputation for creating popular, innovative drinks. The university alumna opened Union Market soda shop Buffalo & Bergen earlier this month and maintains The Eddy, a bar inside Hank’s On The Hill, and plans to open another bar in spring 2013. may wildman/for the diamondback ments and shabby gift shops, near the NoMa/Galludet area.

Union Market follows a trend of new businesses sprouting up in Northeast Washington, a pattern pioneered by the increasingly trendy H Street.

As a resident of Capitol Hill and someone who has “always had a little bit of ghetto in [her] heart,” Chersevani thinks Union Market will be good for the area.

“It’s really going to revitalize this neighborhood,” she said.

But before she was experimenting with flavors and liquors, Chersevani was a fine arts and psychology major just looking to make some extra money. She got a job bartending at the now-defunct Terrapin Station — maybe not ideal, but it helped her get her start — which occupied the space that today houses The Barking Dog on Route 1.

“I would not call it bartending,” Chersevani joked.

“I would call it opening beers out of a bucket. For money.”

Chersevani then waited

tables in Washington restaurants and gained her fi rst “re a l” ba r tend i n g job at Penang, where she eventually went on to revamp the restaurant’s cocktail menu.

“Her cre at iv it y i s ju st amazing,” said chef Nathan Anda, who runs area charcuterie Red Apron Butchery. “Me being a chef, being able to bounce ideas off each other is a lot of fun. …

If I ever have a question about what kind of whiskey I should buy or what vermouth, [Gina’s] the one I ask.”

Many of her drinks contain inventive ingredients such as cucumber water, lavender syrup or egg whites, said Jake Bakst, who met Chersevani at this university and later bartended with her at Penang.

“I think Gina has an ability to place two unusual things together and make it taste not quite what you would expect,” Bakst said.

No matter where she was, each step of her eventual rise

presented her with unique challenges. At the much-lauded upscale Indian restaurant Rasika, for example, Chersevani learned to be humble.

“I worked for an Indian owner and chefs, all men,” she said. “I wanted the job, and what I really wanted was the experience learning from an Indian chef.

In general, they were not kind to me, and it’s OK.” Although Chersevani enjoys a position as one of Washington’s mixology elites, life has not gotten any easier. She’s opened two concepts in three months, an almost unimaginable feat. She’s now working on opening another Eddy bar at the Hank’s location in Old Town Alexandria, Va., which she said will open sometime in spring 2013.

“It takes every single thing that you have and then some to do this business,” she said.

“To get up in the morning every morning, to close your restaurant at 2 and get up at

6 and make knishes and open another place.”

While Chersevani today is a successful businesswoman, she didn’t quite know what she wanted to do while she was in college — and she certainly wasn’t studying business. She still, however, finds ways to

FIRE

use the skills from her art and psychology studies every day, especially as a bartender. “[Consider] the guy who stares at you because he’s just had the worst day of his life,” she said.

“How do you help them? Get them totally s---faced or talk to them?

You talk to them.”

In the midst of all the bartending gigs, Chersevani wondered what it would be like to work in psychology. She applied for a lab position at the National Institutes of Health, but she still ended up deciding to pursue the craft of cocktails — much to her parents’ dismay, she remembers.

After years of hard work, though, Chersevani is one of the premier mixologists in the area. She was recently inducted to the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs board — a feat she doesn’t take lightly.

And amid the current global foodie boom, world-renowned female chefs and restaurateurs are few and far between.

“It sucks to be a woman in this business,” Chersevani said.

“Do you know how many times people ask me where the owner is? They don’t think it’s me. I’m not saying I’m some kind of feminist; I’m not. I want people to open my door. But I also just want the respect of having earned it.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

know the extent of the damage, but nine residents — including From PAGE 1 those in the top- and bottomfloor apartments — will be remove smoke and remove displaced. heat,” he said.

More information will be Fire officials extinguished provided as it is learned. Check the blaze by 7:05 p.m., and back for updates. there were no reported injuries, Brady said. Officials do not newsumdbk@gmail.com

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 | news | THE DIAMONDBACK

3

MyMaryland launches pilot program

Student-founded social media website connects voters, elected officials in hopes of improving communication

By Fatimah Waseem Staff writer Voters often feel disconnected from their local elected officials, but a group of students and staff said they can remedy the problem by bringing the two groups together through social media platform MyMaryland.net.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, which launched its pilot program for this state’s voters on Dec. 1, encourages the state’s voters and elected officials to connect in America’s “first ever 24/7 online town halls.” On the website, users can “vote” on bills to show where they stand on issues, post in forums and create petitions; officials can also engage directly with constituents by creating

class From PAGE 1 production of wine.

Walsh said most of the students who sign up for his class have an interest in agriculture, and many come from suburban backgrounds and are interested in local and sustainable farming. Wine-making has a large presence in farming economics, and, because his students are older than 21, Walsh saw an opportunity.

“Trying to turn some products that aren’t up to consumer standards into marketable products through processing them and trying to get value added in the industry is a big thing,” Walsh said.

“Kids who grow up in the suburbs and don’t own farms have a harder time getting into it, and I realized that a great area for them to learn was enology.”

Walsh has been brewing with his students for almost five years.

dozens of elected officials, found many representatives do not listen to feedback from Twitter and Facebook because they don’t know if the social media users are their constituents. The site, however, is able to verify voters by crosschecking this state’s voter system.

“Communication between representatives and residents is critical to making government work, and sites like MyMaryland. net are a great way to foster better communication,” delegate Tom Hucker (D-Montgomery) said.

The site is compatible with mobile and tablet devices, Singh said, and although all the features will become available with the full launch, only the town halls and voter verification system are up and running for the pilot program.

polls and participating in online discussions, said Ben Simon, the website’s founder and president.

“We cut out the pollsters, the middle man, and allow [elected officials] to engage directly with verified voters, saving them time and money in constituent engagement,” said Simon, a senior government and politics major and former Diamondback columnist.

The MyMaryland.net team will use the pilot launch to gauge the site’s effectiveness and identify any changes that need to be made before a public beta launch by the end of the year. Fifty elected officials were invited to participate in the beta launch; the team will spend early January demonstrating the platform to officials, with the ultimate goal of expanding

across the nation in the next few years, Simon said.

The group has raised more than $65,000 since its conception, Simon said. However, the site was at the center of a funding tie-up with the Student Government Association in early May — then-SGA President Kaiyi Xie vetoed a bill that would give the organization $2,500 in student funds, which was eventually overridden by the legislature.

The dispute hinged on the precedent funding the site would set for future SGA action — the SGA would be funding an unproven product, an act that would have gone “against SGA and university rules and procedures,” Xie said.

“In the end, SGA money was held for MyMaryland, but it was

made clear to all parties that any payments of the money needed to take place according to the terms of a legally binding contract between the university and MyMaryland, as SGA is unable to legally sign contracts,” Xie said.

Xie said although the site has promise, its effectiveness won’t be known until the full launch by the end of the year.

“I think the idea has potential,” he said, “but whether or not potential translates into value is yet to be seen.”

The site is run by a handful of students and staff who work parttime — Simon and Rahul Singh, cofounder and chief technology officer, said they spend 10 to 20 hours a week on the project.

The group, which surveyed

He’s well within the law — all of his students are of legal drinking age, and federal law allows individuals to brew up to 100 gallons of wine in their own homes without having to pay alcohol tax. They produce it all in the plant science building, where Walsh and his students can use refrigerated storage and food preparation labs available to the class. Walsh also gets some assistance from connections he’s made through the University of Maryland Extension, an outreach program in the agriculture and natural resources college, and former students who now own wineries in the area.

“We’re not trying to do anything except try to support local agriculture in the end,” Walsh said. “These are the kind of skills that allow people to work in an urban or suburban area and get a job that allows them to be outside but also makes them some money.”

Walsh and his students begin

taking advantage of the area’s large apple industry mid-semester by obtaining apples that fall below grocery store standards and experimenting with fermentation.

“It’s a very hands-on class that takes you outside the classroom, so it’s a little bit more of a realworld education than just being in a lecture and performing experiments in a lab,” said Steve Crisafulli, a student in Walsh’s class and a senior horticulture and crop production major. “You’re actually in the field talking to farmers and seeing with your own eyes.”

The production of alcohol is important to successful farming — it allows farmers to get the most out of a season’s crop yield because not every grape, apple or other crop is of the size, color or quality to be sold in stores or farmers markets.

The ability to turn those sub-par crops into a marketable commodity is a valuable one.

“We’re very interested in teaching hands-on technology,

professor chris walsh and his students handpick apples to brew in his class and store them in the plant science building. su hong/the diamondback the skills that you can use in the workplace,” Walsh said. “I’ve had a lot of graduates come out of suburban areas who are now working in the wine industry in one way or another, so I thought this was a valuable addition.”

Students also learn about quality control, taking low-quality produce and turning it into highquality wine. From hard cider and sweet dessert wines to heartier drinks, students learn the effort

and skill that go into getting that extra bang out of a farmer’s buck.

“It’s a good fit for what I want to do, and it was good to see realworld examples of people in the horticultural field,” said Crisafulli, who hopes to one day have his own land for crop production.

It’s not every semester or class he gets to teach this kind of practical knowledge, Walsh said.

“This is kind of an atypical course for me because it’s a small,

Through a partnership with the Division of Information Technology, students can also add MyMaryland to their MyUM portals, Simon said.

Simon said he’s confident students will use the website, adding they are not apathetic about politics; rather, current communication tools fail to engage audiences.

“While some people will never have any interest in the world around them, we’ve found that a lot of people care about social and political issues,” he said. “With MyMaryland, your voice resonates because it’s a social media platform and your elected official and neighbors are actually in the room listening.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

low-enrollment class restricted to majors, so I can do things in that I don’t generally do in my other classes,” Walsh said.

But Walsh said that just adds to the allure of the class.

“I had heard such great things about it and how much fun it is,” said Crystal Varkalis, a senior plant sciences major. “He’s one of my favorite professors.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

4

Opinion

THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

I am burdened by sorrow. The international community overwhelmingly voiced an unquestioning support for Palestinian statehood by the United Nations recognizing it as a nonmember observer state, laying the groundwork to further the liberation of the Palestinian people. However, Israel’s reaction once again shows disdain for respecting fundamental structures of human rights and international law. The tragic tale of injustice and swallowing ethics whole unfortunately endures. Realizing my nation permits such dread fills my heart with morose and disappointment.

I must urge the U.S. to end its unconditional support of Israel. This toxic relationship is the incarnation of immoral principles.

While Israel must be liable for its blunders, we shouldn’t be exonerating Palestine’s crimes. According to a Nov. 30 Amnesty International news release, Palestine’s admission now places it in a position to ratify certain International Criminal Court charters that would hold actors on both sides accountable for various war and human rights crimes during conflicts such as the 2008-2009 war in Gaza. With U.N. recognition of the state, the region is progressing toward stability and ending Palestinian injustices in both Gaza and the West Bank. Yet Israel is still not pleased.

First, immediately after the declaration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cowardly threatened to cut off life-sustaining resources from Palestine, further aggravating the crisis situation. Next, the day after the U.N.’s decision, Israel launched a new plan to extend its controversial settlement construction into the highly contentious E1 area of the West Bank, a move that world powers such as the European Union condemned vehemently.

Israel has covered its malignance under the smokescreen of nobility, calling itself a liberal democracy that only wishes to safeguard itself. What is liberal or democratic about bombing innocent civilians and undertaking blockades that have crippled an entire nation economically? Israel must take

Editor in Chief

Mike King

Managing Editor

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Managing Editor

maria romas Opinion Editor

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Assistant Opinion Editor

CONTACT US 3150 South Campus Dining Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | newsumdbk@gmail.com OR opinionumdbk@gmail.com PHONE (301) 314-8200

Rethink our country’s relations with Israel MARC PRIESTER

YASMEEN ABUTALEB

EDITORIAL BOARD

responsibility for motivating hostilities in order to hopefully reach a peaceful conclusion. Though not entirely its fault, starving masses of people and killing the innocent has brought hatred from nearly every actor in the region toward the state, which has presented an “existential threat” to Israel’s innocent civilians who wish for peace.

Never will I condone terrorism, but if the tumor stems from Israeli antagonism, then I say we must remove it.

It is past due for the United States to hold Israel accountable for the deliberate disregard of human rights against Palestinians. Because the U.S. has granted unconditional support for the regime, we have effectively become enablers of detestable evils within the Middle East. When the world’s foremost hegemonic power backs you regardless of circumstances, it is clear one will abuse this blessing to a beyond-deplorable level.

When the strong trample upon the weak, the U.S. has a moral obligation to denounce rampant abuses of power. What is justice? I believe it is standing up against abhorrent cruelties against humanity and preserving the core tenets of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Where injustice occurs, it is imperative that we use the olive branch to render them nil. If the United States opts for a role as an unbiased mediator, Israel would lose much of its offense. Thus, it would be forced to come to the negotiating table and be more willing to sacrifice, as the Palestinians have, in order to ensure peace.

This is not an anti-Israel or antiSemitic column. Rather, this is a lobby for righteousness on both sides of this hostile relationship. The U.S. must champion integrity by disassociating itself from oppression and violence.

Whatever consequentialist ends this country hopes to derive from this perverse union are not worth the pain, suffering and destruction of innocent Palestinians and Israelis. Any ends gained through contemptible means aren’t worth anything.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Claiming their new turf R eincarnating Santa Fe Cafe — a bar glorified with legendary status among upperclassmen who experienced its classier charm — appeared to be a simple endeavor in February when Mohammad, Salomeh and Yasmine Afshar purchased the old property on Knox Road. Students eagerly anticipated the arrival of a new bar so close to the campus, and for those with dreams of downtown College Park fully transforming into a vibrant town center, Terrapin Turf (as the bar will be renamed), offered additional cause for optimism.

Nearly a year later, the odyssey of Terrapin Turf’s delayed opening has been a maddening and all-toopredictable display of bureaucratic ineptitude and irrational obstructionism. Though the bar was supposed to open in May and then October, we’re days away from completing the fall semester and the space still looms over Knox Road with its unfinished exterior and aura of empty promises.

After painstakingly gaining the appropriate permits from the county and installing a new sprinkler system as per mandate, the Afshar family is now only waiting for the water to turn on in the building. The withheld running water is the only obstacle preventing Terrapin Turf from opening its doors.

Given how long and drawn out this process has been, it’s only fitting the new bar is now constricted by

something so simple as turning on the water — even as this saga reaches its prolonged conclusion, Terrapin Turf cannot escape the nightmare of bureaucratic impediments.

The original holdup can be attributed to the county licensing office lacking the proper records for the property — an excuse that just reeks of absurdity. How does it take months to find a property’s records? This, along with

OUR VIEW

It’s time for the city to lower its stringent measures regarding opening businesses in the area, starting with Terrapin Turf. the seemingly unnecessary delay before granting permits to the bar owners, leaves this editorial board wondering if county officials are sincerely committed to bringing business to College Park.

Yes, it’s entirely reasonable for the county’s licensing office to follow protocol and due diligence regarding new permits, especially since Santa Fe Cafe closed because its owner would not install a sprinkler system. While it’s expected for county permits, such as the Use and Occupancy Permit, to take several months, it shouldn’t take small businesses more than a year after purchase to launch their operations. This endless bureaucratic nightmare will

likely serve as a caution sign for potential business owners debating whether to open up shop in College Park and the rest of Prince George’s County. Few business owners will want to submit to such a frustrating experience. You wouldn’t know by living in College Park, but construction and renovations do not always need to be mired by delays.

There’s a difference between taking due diligence and dragging one’s feet for the sake of bureaucracy itself. Sadly, it appears the county licensing office would prefer to have businesses desperate and begging before granting them the appropriate permits.

Again, if there were truly valid reasons for the county to have delayed Terrapin Turf’s opening, we’ve yet to hear them. For the sake of current and future businesses in Prince George’s County, we hope the county licensing office was taking appropriate caution throughout this process and had the best interests of the city and the university community in mind when addressing the permits. And we hope there’s a justifiable reason for why Terrapin Turf still doesn’t have water. At this point, it’s hard to find that faith and trust wholeheartedly.

The bar is expected to open in January — though at this point who knows if that will actually happen.

Moving forward, we hope Terrapin Turf’s ordeal proves the exception and not the norm for local businesses. But for now, the doors remain closed. So for God’s sake, turn on the water already.

We’ve waited long enough.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

M a rc P r i e s t e r i s a s o p h o m o re economics and government and politics major. He can be reached at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

The case for excellence ANAND KUMAR-GUPTA There are two types of regret: The more common variation comes after an action is completed. The second is the regret of not doing something or making a certain choice — “I wish I had done that.”

“That” could be anything: not signing up for a seemingly interesting class, not choosing a more appealing major, not asking your crush out on a date, not joining a fraternity or not studying abroad. Whatever, you know.

Honestly, I have felt this second kind of regret way too often. But a recent morning bus journey gave me a fresh perspective on the matter. To put things into context, I was flying back to the U.S. from India and had just arrived in Philadelphia early Monday morning.

Extremely tired, I had two options to get into Washington — either take the 5:45 a.m. bus or comfortably sleep over at my cousin’s and leave Philly in the afternoon. The professor of my only class Monday had emailed us saying he’d be giving a significant quiz in class that day.

So to get to College Park before 11 a.m. — when that class began — I had to choose to take the earlier bus. By 5:15 a.m., I was dutifully standing in line for the bus at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.

Let me stop here and go over how I would have felt had I not made this choice.

Had I instead chosen to rest and leave after noon, I would have missed that class and the important quiz for sure — and probably sulked about losing a chunk of easy points later on. Who knows, maybe at the end of the semester I would have realized I missed out on a better grade (very likely, with the plusminus grading policy) because I had not

made the effort to take the earlier bus on that cold, damp morning. Immense regret, right?

But here’s what happened. First, the bus got into the station at 6:15 a.m., half an hour after its scheduled departure time. Then, the guy who was supposed to check everyone’s reservations before letting the passengers on wasn’t there, for whatever reason. The driver, completely pissed about her colleague’s absence, didn’t have a list of reserved passengers.

By the time she let everyone onboard and started the vehicle’s engines, it was 6:45 a.m., an entire hour late. But it got even better. Fifteen minutes into our journey, I noticed we were simply driving around the 30th Street block. Sheepishly, the driver made an announcement: “Hey folks, the usual route to get onto the highway is under construction and I am not sure what road to take. This might take some time to figure out. I request you to be patient.” By the time we actually hit Interstate 95, we were two-and-a-half hours off schedule. You probably guessed it: I was late for my class.

The point of this anecdote is not that I should have rested and taken the afternoon bus after all. It is that had I done that, I would have regretted not choosing the ideal. Little would I have known how imperfect the ideal was.

This happens entirely too often.

We visualize the ideal situation of the choices we end up not making and feel badly that we’re not in those ideal situations. But you never know how ideal your life would have actually been in those instances. So don’t fret over what you have not done or have not chosen.

Enjoy what you have already.

Anand Kumar-Gupta is a junior environmental science and policy m a j o r. H e c a n b e re a c h e d a t opinionumdbk@gmail.com.

JAKE STEINER/the diamondback

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Geography does matter here It’s about more than simply location, and the Big Ten knows it

I

n the Dec. 6 Diamondback article, “Loh speaks to Sen. on BIG,” university President Wallace Loh is quoted saying, “The Big Ten, what they realize, is that the days of geographical boundaries are over — geography no longer matters.” As chair of the geographical sciences department, and regardless of where one stands on the Big Ten decision, I would like to point out that geography does matter.

This university’s location inside the Beltway is one of its biggest assets. Geography is more than simply location; it is also about space. We are told a major reason why this university was so attrac-

tive to the Big Ten was because of its location, and the TV market would be extended into a highly lucrative geographic area.

Geography is also about connectivity, place and cultural identity.

Whether it’s the issue of the Purple Line, out-of-state tuition or the team you support, geography does matter for this university. This university has one of the best geography departments in the country, and our success, and that of the university as a whole, is based on how we differentiate ourselves from the competition.

Geography is also about scale. At the national level, whether it’s the election, immigration, economic development, outsourcing and trade, extreme

weather events or climate change, geography does matter. Contrary to Loh’s statement, news in the Middle East and deliberations of the United Nations Security Council make it clear that the “days of geographic boundaries” are far from over. There is no doubt the Internet is changing how we view the world and how we connect globally, which is making the geographical sciences even more interesting and relevant to our daily lives. I would request that Loh find another more accurate and less inflammatory sound bite, because geography does matter.

Chris Justice is the geographical sciences department chair. He can be reached at justice@hermes.geog.umd.edu.

OPINION COLUMNISTS WANTED Spring 2013 paid columnists positions are open. Applicants must be enrolled at the university.

Opinion columnists usually write once every two weeks. Exceptional writing ability is required. Knowledge of campus affairs is preferred, but not required. If you are interested in applying for the position, please contact Maria Romas and Nadav Karasov at opinionumdbk@gmail.com for more information and to request an application.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Throngs 5 Strongly advised 10 France, long ago 14 Type of lock 15 Reunion attendee 16 All, in combos 17 Lighter- -- -air 18 Beauty shop 19 Eight bits 20 Drum up business 22 What spies do 24 Ham on -25 Mineral finds 26 Kept late hours (2 wds.)

30 -- -bopper 35 Levin or Gershwin 36 Codgers’ queries 37 Dome home 38 Great numbers 41 Husky 43 Give a leg up 44 Back again 45 Vintage auto 46 Declare invalid 47 Surpass 50 Aspirin target 53 Barely visible 54 Gander (hyph.)

58 Trace element in salt 62 Dashiell’s peer 63 Loon, for one 66 Pesky bug 67 Vogue rival

68 “Someone Like You” singer 69 Ms. Bombeck 70 Clancy’s Jack -71 Unbending 72 Projection room unit

42 Like many stolen cars (hyph.)

44 Ally opposite 48 Mgmt. biggie 49 Account book

51 52 54 55 56

It repels moths Fictional orphan Ogle Air France hub Clay pot

57 59 60 61

Piercing As to (2 wds.)

Specify Term paper abbr.

(2 wds.)

DOWN 1 Bullfinch topic 2 Molokai neighbor 3 Lesage hero Gil -4 Guard 5 Lying fallow 6 Estuary 7 Toothpaste choice 8 Pierre’s school 9 Overalls material 10 Desert of Asia 11 Tan and Grant 12 A law -- itself 13 Debt securer 21 Caustic 23 In a ferment 25 JAMA readers 26 Lion, to Tarzan 27 Shop for clothes (2 wds.)

28 Burr or Spelling 29 Cousins of “um” 31 Kind of trip 32 Jovian moon 33 Makes mention of 34 Vacillates (hyph.)

39 Ames inst.

40 Globe substitute 41 Play about Capote

© 2012 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

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TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

64 Really relax, slangily 65 Wallach or Lilly

B

HOROSCOPE STELLA WILDER

orn today, you are not likely to go unnoticed for any long periods of time, for your talents and your personality are sure to attract attention almost anywhere you go -- and even, much to your dismay, when you go someplace to get out of the public eye! Still, you will learn to deal with the kind of attention you are sure to get throughout your lifetime, and turn it to your advantage.

Fighting what occurs naturally is only going to result in frustration and keep you from the happiness you so deserve.

You are strong-willed, but not so much so that you are able to keep the inevitable from occurring.

You believe strongly that you have a destiny, and despite the ups and downs that anyone must endure in life, you are likely to fulfill that destiny to a greater or lesser degree -- provided you do what you are most naturally suited to do.

Also born on this date are: Bess Armstrong, actress; Teri Garr, actress; Donna Mills, actress; Rita Moreno, actress; Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Russian writer; Fiorello La Guardia, New York mayor; Hector Berlioz, composer.

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.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You may be encountering

opposition that you do not fully understand. Difficulties arise that are far-reaching.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You’ll want to be sure that everyone who jumps on board with you truly believes in what you are trying to bring about.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You can improve your odds and minimize any negative trends simply by being yourself -- and telling the truth when you have the chance.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Are you more concerned about racing against the clock today, or against an opponent who is gaining ground?

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Communication is the key to solving a problem that has been quickly developing behind the scenes.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You are torn between loyalty to a friend, and a feeling that he or she is moving in a direction that is somehow threatening to you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You’re interested in doing something that has not yet been done, but you must know that

such a commitment will be quite time-consuming.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You’ll want to protect those around you from a threat that seems to come from many directions at once.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You may have had trouble recently getting your message across, but today you have a chance to reach a broader audience with clearer details.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Unless you apply yourself fully, you will not be able to bring to fruition those plans that you spent so long formulating.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You are trying to stay on message at this time, but an opponent is making it difficult for you to keep your emotions under control.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You can’t afford to turn in your work after the due date. Be sure that you are staying current and providing others what is needed.

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SU | DO | KU © Puzzles by Pappocom

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PREVIOUS DAY’S PUZZLE SOLVED:

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY:

        

APARTMENTS AUTOMOTIVE BEAUTY E DUCATION FLORIST HEALTH LEGAL RECREATION RELIGION

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

APARTMENTS APARTMENTS AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE BEAUTY B EAUTY E DUCATION E DUCATION A PARTMENTS F LORIST APARTMENTS ALORIST UTOMOTIVE F H EALTH AUTOMOTIVE B HEAUTY EALTH L EGAL B EAUTY E LDUCATION EGAL R ECREATION E DUCATION F RLORIST ECREATION R ELIGION FLORIST H EALTH RELIGION HEALTH LEGAL LEGAL RECREATION RECREATION RELIGION RELIGION

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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

Diversions

ON THE BLOG

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

Need more Diversions? Head online for a review of the cinephile-friendly AFI Silver Theatre, a guide to fun holiday activities and an interview with Hyde Park on Hudson director Roger Michell. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

REVIEW | VICIOUS LIES AND DANGEROUS RUMORS

SIR LUCIOUS LEFT FOOT STRIKES AGAIN Big Boi, half of the famed hip-hop outfit OutKast, proves his worth as an independent artist (again) with a diverse, vibrant album ous Rumors,, he covers territory from ind ie rock to electron ica,

By Zachary Berman Senior staff writer On “Ascending,” the opening track from Atlanta-based Big Boi’s second solo effort, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, the rapper states the album’s headstrong refrain, saying, “If y’all don’t know me by now, y’all ain’t gon’ ever know me.”

Nothing could be closer to the truth — whenever Big Boi is brought up in conversation, the talk always seems to turn toward his work as half of the long-dormant OutKast, widely considered one of the best groups in the history of the genre.

No one can deny that a break in the OutKast hiatus would be a huge event, but many ignore the fact that Big Boi has plenty to offer on his own. With Vicious Li e s a nd n d D a n ge r-

without neglecting the estimable rap prowess that ties the whole mess of scattershot musical influences together.

“Descending,” featuring Little Dragon, appears at the back end of the album, shows Big Boi believes he’s made his point through the music itself, as he restates the album’s refrain one final time after recontextualizing it.

The album may not be OutKast, but Big Boi

has proved he has an independent wealth of creativity for listeners to explore.

It’s quite an accomplishment.

A n d ye t, it’s c le a r B i g B oi’s success would have been impossible without the plethora of guest musicians present on the record.

While many fans are likely to be initially confused by such songs as “Shoes For Running,” featuring the odd pairing of pop-rapper B.o.B. and surf punk/noise rockers Wavves, the melting pot of styles works more often than not, creating 17 tracks of playful, airy and often boisterous music.

In fact, the only songs on Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors that don’t featu re g uest a r t ists a re “Apple of My Eye” and “Ascendi ng,” t he former of wh ich a lso happens to stray the furthest from what uninitiated listeners might expect from Big Boi. The track bears more of a resemblance to a song by late-’80s

The Cure or Pet Shop Boys than anything else.

That said, when Big Boi does play with other artists, it helps to defi ne his independence as a musician more than muddy his visage.

The few tracks that do go for the classic club-slammer vibe turn out to be the least effective songs on the album. The worst is “In the A,” featuring T.I. and Ludacris, an obvious attempt to recapture the fat marching band stomp of “General Patton,” one of the most recognizable songs off Big Boi’s 2010 record Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.

That small caveat aside, fans of Sir Lucious are sure to get a similar amount of enjoyment out of Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. For those who still aren’t on board with Big Boi, now is the perfect time.

It may have slipped in at the tail end of the year, but Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors certainly deserves some recognition for the different directions it takes hip-hop, making it one of the genre’s better albums of the year. diversionsdbk@gmail.com

photo courtesy of hiphopwired.com

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

workers From PAGE 1 about it, they just go to their bosses … and then the so-called investigation is going to be one of their buddies or bosses saying ‘Did you do that?’ and they say ‘No! We would never do that.’”

Last year, after exposure campaigns by student and staff organizations, including Justice at Maryland and the Black Faculty and Staff Association, reports of violations began to surface — including overworking employees, racial and sexual harassment from supervisors, safety and security problems, a lack of promotional opportunities and a double standard between treatment of workers and of managers.

After the BFSA released a 56-page report outlining such concerns, the administration held its own investigation. Last summer, Facilities Management officials investigated safety and security concerns, especially those of housekeepers working the 4 a.m. to noon shift.

The numbers of actual inci-

dents was “almost nonexistent,” said Carlo Colella, Facilities Management assistant vice president, but the university implemented the reforms anyway.

“We could’ve just dismissed it and said, ‘This is an exaggerated concern or not a well-founded risk,’ but instead we said, ‘Let’s take a look at our employees and details, how their work assignments are developed, where are they parking, where are their buildings, how do they get from point A to point B,” Colella said.

“The response from the housekeepers has been very positive.”

Many workers worried they were unsafe walking from their parking spots to clock-in locations and job sites, said Sam Williamson, a member of JAM, which is a student advocacy group fighting alleged worker abuse on the campus. But as part of the university’s response to these allegations, Facilities Management implemented new policies in October, helping workers travel more safely in the early morning hours.

The university installed time clocks in eight more buildings, re-

assigned staff to different working zones or parking lots, increased security patrolling and worked to ensure staff members are either driven to their work sites from their clock-in locations or walk with others, according to an email Colella sent to his department.

The university also offered more English-language and computer classes to employees, and training programs in civility and respect became mandatory for Facilities Management staff members. A total of 840 employees have taken part in the training since November, Colella said.

It’s hard to measure the reforms’ impact, but they are an “excellent beginning,” Mitchell said.

And at a recent worker appreciation dinner, Williamson said, many employees expressed gratitude for student advocates’ work in pushing for the reforms.

“Things have improved,” said an early-morning housekeeper who wanted to remain anonymous to protect her job. “I had a lot of problems with [my supervisor] in the past — she was mean. She’s more friendly now … [Workers] can park closer; safety is better

now; they’re taking solutions.”

However, the university’s new mandatory one-time, half-day civility trainings seem insufficient, Mitchell said.

“It’s hard to believe that a grown adult that’s spent 50 years being a sexual predator or bigot is going to be changed by a threehour time,” Mitchell said.

Although the new reforms address safety, they do not touch on emotional issues between supervisors and workers, said Williamson. Some housekeepers prefer working in buildings without team leaders, even though they have to work more, because they aren’t harassed as much, the senior history major added.

Once, a housekeeper told Williamson she was raped in a bathroom she had been cleaning.

“Nobody could hear her because they were all on different floors,” Williamson said, adding the victim did not report the incident because she was afraid. “Workers had to come in and deal with that fear and never figure out who it was.”

And while many employees said their work is reasonable, some report strenuous working con-

ditions, said Einas Ahmed, a JAM member and senior behavioral and community health major.

“A woman from Jamaica … complained about working so hard and so often that she didn’t feel like she was in pain until she went home and sat down to relax,” Ahmed said. “And then she felt the pain.”

The university has “no tolerance” for any such behavior, Colella said, noting issues that arise “are taken very, very seriously and investigated very thoroughly, and appropriate action is taken.”

But the university doesn’t tr u ly u ndersta nd work i ng conditions, said a housekeeper taking her lunch break at 8 a.m. in Stamp Student Union.

Workers need more opportunities to “improve their lives,” she added, including higher pay and promotion opportunities.

In the future, JAM hopes the university will implement a zerotolerance policy for harassment and discrimination and hold “honest conversations” between management and workers. Several state legislators met with universi-

metro

varsity From PAGE 1

From PAGE 1

student-residents’ palates and, in some cases, employed those living an elevator ride away.

The ground floor of the apartment building, which opened September 2011, houses seven functioning retail slots: Looney’s Pub, ChiDogO’s, Bobby’s Burger Palace, Roti Mediterranean Grill, The Frame Mender, YoLove and Royal Farms. A new tenant recently signed a lease in the eighth space, which previously held Austin Grill Express, according to College Park Economic Coordinator Michael Stiefvater.

Looney’s Pub, positioned under a mass of thirsty students, has benefited from its supreme location, he said, and Bobby’s Burger Palace has seen the most people through its doors since opening.

“Those are the two standouts,” he said.

Roti has seen a steady flow of business from customers seeking pita bread, couscous and falafel, among other flavors, but is still working to spread its health-conscious message across town, said General Manager Netsai Matowe.

“We’re at a weird location — we have great business from all the students who live upstairs and on either side of us,” she said.

“We’re trying to build the business by really reaching out to more than just students.”

Marketed as an alternative to burger chains, the eatery has brought more eclectic fare to a university community heavy on pizza and

can be seen screaming at the students.

“They were just making threats,” the student said.

“It was just screaming; there wasn’t real coherence in it.”

In the video, one member of the group can be seen grabbing a student’s phone and exiting the train at the Fort Totten station. The student followed the individual off the train and attempted to retrieve her phone by allegedly tackling the individual.

Other g roup members rushed in, and, according to the source, punched the female student.

The victims can be seen screaming for the suspects to ret u r n t hei r phones.

Other riders did not provide any assistance, according to the source.

“I was a little scared,” the student said. “I was more upset that they hurt my friend.”

Looney’s Pub has been one of The Varsity area’s business “standouts,” city official Michael Stiefvater said. file photo/the diamondback Chinese restaurants, Matowe said.

“Businesses really aren’t changing or rotating [downtown],” she said. “We have a lot of … first-timers who maybe aren’t aware of Mediterranean food.”

While housing growth in recent years has presented new culinary options for College Park, Matowe said she predicts further development heading north on Route 1 toward Ikea, which will bring in more restaurants.

“They’re going to develop from campus to Ikea,” she said. “There’s not enough space over there for stuff to come in, so they’re going to develop outward.”

Another specialty restaurant in the strip, ChiDogO’s, opened in March, and the eatery

consistently sees patrons flow in to satisfy their hot dog cravings, according to shift supervisor Tiffanee Clement.

“We have customers that come from deep in Virginia,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of people tell me they’ve been looking for a hot dog spot, and once this popped up, they were happy about it.”

Some spots are thriving more than others, but all are “doing fine,” Stiefvater said.

“At this point, I don’t have any reason to believe any of them will fail,” he said. “Given the nature of the restaurant business, some will, eventually.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

ty President Wallace Loh, university officials and worker advocates in August and promised regular quarterly meetings. Though JAM wasn’t able to sit down with officials in the fall, according to Colella, members hope they can hold another meeting this spring.

Next semester, JAM will continue to hold speak-outs, meetings with administrators and worker appreciation events, hoping to expand its outreach and increase its pressure on the administration, said JAM member Renée Nicolas, who graduated from the university in the spring.

Workers’ treatment on the campus also reflects who the students are, Williamson said.

“If you’re going to be here and your tuition dollars are going to be supporting this university, what does it say if that money is supporting people being overworked and hurt on the job and disrespected, and we don’t do anything about it?” Williamson said. “I’m fighting for everybody: I’m fighting for myself, I’m fighting for people in my community.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

The incident was unusual, said University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky.

He said he had never heard of a similar event involving a group of suspects on the Metro or in the College Park area.

Metro thefts, however, are common, and students and riders should take several precautions to protect themselves, Limansky said.

“Keep personal property secure and hidden so people won’t be tempted to grab it,” Limansky said. “Students using Metro should, of course, always be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to police.”

He also advised students to check Metro’s website for safety tips.

Lukas declined to comment further on Metro Transit Police’s ongoing investigation.

“Stuff like that happens and you can’t just stop going on the Metro,” the source said. “If anything, I’m just more cautious.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

SPORTS

DEPTH From PAGE 8 stifl ing any hope.

But the Terps broke through twice in three minutes late in the half, tying the game in the 77th minute. “ W h at a re si l ient p erformance from Maryland’s point of view,” Georgetown coach Brian Wiese said.

“They could have chucked it on mu lt ipl e o c c a s ion s as that half wore on. They keep pressing, and they keep going. We knew that about them. We knew they weren’t going to go over easy.”

Ambrose entered for defender Jordan Cyrus in the 72nd minute and promptly threw Georgetown’s defense off balance. He gathered the ball in space just outside the Georgetown box — as a Hoyas defender yelled, “Left foot, left foot” — and launched a strike off the crossbar with h i s lef t foot. Mu l l i n s, a s he has been for most of the year, was in the right place a n d h e a d e d t h e re b o u n d

FATIGUE From PAGE 8 did against George Mason.

“Our firepower right away defensively was really, really go o d ,” F r e s e s a i d o f t h e team’s performance against the Patriots. “We were really locked in.”

The Terps limited the Patriots to just 26.8 percent shoot-

past Georgetown goalkeeper Tomas Gomez.

“We knew that it was going to be somebody to fi nd a way to get us just that one goal back,” Mullins said. “We then knew we’d be able to fi nish it out and hopefully get back to the tie.”

Minutes later, Francois, one of Cirovski’s most dynamic bench options, took the ball in the midfield and sprinted toward the Georgetown goal.

Two Hoyas collapsed onto him, but he held them off long enough to put the ball into the lower right corner of the net.

All of a sudden, the game was reset. The control the Hoyas exhibited through the first 70 minutes had vanished nea rly as qu ickly as thei r two-goal lead.

“Against a team like Maryland,” Wiese said, “you’re never going to feel secure with that.”

For the final push in the second half, Ambrose and Francois were joined off the bench by midfielders Helge Leikvang and Tsubasa Endoh, and forward Jake Pace, while

ing on the night, and allowed 16 points in the paint.

T he defensive d isplay ca me two days a f ter the Terps held the Cavaliers to 25 percent shooting in Thursday’s 79-55 victory.

That stingy defense also helped the Terps trigger their up-tempo offense, as the they outscored the Patriots, 20-4, on fast breaks Saturday.

“In order to get transition,

Cyrus moved from defender to his natural forward position.

The Terps’ depth altered the course of the game.

Endoh had n’t seen significant action in a month.

Leikvang was in and out of the lineup. But in crunch time, Cirovski called on them, and he got a response.

“M a r yl a nd’s got 18, 20 frightening players on their roster,” Wiese said. “When they are pushed up against it, we k n e w [t h e y wo u ld come back].”

But, in the end, Gomez went to his left to save Leikvang’s last penalty kick attempt, ending the comeback effort.

T he Terps’ depth had dug them out of the early hole, but it couldn’t manage the gamewinner in the fi nal 13 minutes of regulation or the 20 minutes of overtime, sending the game to penalty kicks, where they ultimately fell.

“In today’s game,” Cirovski said, “you see the absolute beauty of this game, and you see the cruelty.” sportsdbk@gmail.com

we need to get steals or have them put the ball on the backboard,” Hawkins said. “That started working for us in the second half.”

To continue that trend, the Terps (6-2) must slow down Tigers (4-3) guard Tanisha McTiller tonight. McTiller, who is the only Tiger averaging double-figure points, leads her squad with 16.7 points per game and 4.1 assists per game.

NOTEBOOK From PAGE 8 game, so he’ll bounce back.

Charles is a tough guy.”

CHARITY STRIPE Turgeon had a difficult time fi nding many positives after Saturday’s game. The Terps struggled en route to their worst offensive performance of the season, and their 37 percent shooting effort left much to be desired.

One of the few places they did fi nd success was the freethrow line, where they made a season-high 18 of 22 attempts.

“We’ve all made a conscious effort to get in the gym a lot more and shoot our free throws,” forward Dez Wells said. “We have been in practice probably 30 m i nutes longer than we usually would.

And just do what it takes for us to get better as a team.”

Those efforts paid off Saturday. The Terps’ 81.8 percent mark against the Bulldogs is well above their 67.6 percent

Not to mention McTiller has taken 111 shots this season, more than twice as many as the next closest Tiger.

So how will the Terps defend Towson’s top threat? They’ll likely assign freshman guard Chloe Pavlech — who was forced into the starting lineup because of mounting injuries — to the daunting task.

And that’s not a bad thing, Frese said. Especially not the

season average, which ranks seventh in the ACC, and it was just the second time they topped 80 percent in a game this season — they shot 82.4 percent i n a 77-57 w i n at Northwestern on Nov. 27.

It’s only one game, but their improvements Saturday could be a sign Turgeon’s extra emphasis in practice is paying dividends for the Terps.

“Coach Turgeon says after every practice we have to shoot 25 free throws,” center Shaquille Cleare said. “After last practice, he wanted us to shoot 50 free throws. So it’s helping our percentage a lot.”

FEWER TURNOVERS The Terps have struggled mightily with turnovers this season. The team averages a near-ACC-high 15 giveaways a game, and its minus-4.56 turnover margin is by far the worst in the conference.

To combat this, Turgeon has instituted a new rule in practice: If you turn the ball over, you do push-ups.

“In practice now, when

way Pavlech has been playing.

“Chloe is doing a tremendous job,” Frese said. “She’s locking down the best offensive player out there.”

Pavlech and the rest of the Terps’ defense have earned the squad two consecutive wins, and it kept them competitive at UConn.

But for the defense to continue that solid play, the depleted Terps must avoid falling

somebody turns the ball over, they have to do like five pushups,” Allen said. “Unless you want to do push-ups all practice, you’ve got to not turn the ball over. Five push-ups is hard when you’re tired.”

Saturday’s efforts might help save the team’s tired a rms, thoug h. T he Ter ps turned the ball over 11 times against South Carolina State, a notable improvement from their season average.

“We worked on it, and it was better. Our guards were actually pretty good last game.

If you look at the assists to turnovers, our guards were fi ne,” Turgeon said. “We will continue to get better. We are doing some things in practice that I think will help us. Guys are conscious with it, so I was happy with it.”

Hopefully happy enough to let his team slide on the pushups this week.

“We turn the ball over way too much,” Allen said. “Eleven’s still a lot, but it’s better than what we were.” sportsdbk@gmail.com

victim to fatigue.

Despite a daunting string of upcoming games, Frese is focused on making sure her team does just that.

“It h a s been a g r uel i ng stretch that we have come out of, especially with three freshmen and a limited bench,” Frese said. “We just want to be fresh when we play.” sportsdbk@gmail.com

TWEET OF THE DAY A.J. Francis @The_Franchyze Terps football defensive end

“Sports are the only career field where people not in the organization are jubilant when someone loses their job…. never ceases to amaze me.”

Sports

PFIRMAN WEEK’S TOP FRESHMAN

Terrapins women’s basketball forward Tierney Pfirman earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors. For more, visit diamondbackonline.com.

PAGE 8

ON THE BLOG

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

MEN’S SOCCER

Not deep enough

MEN’S BASKETBALL | NOTEBOOK

Mitchell struggles, gets benched Sat. Terps stronger from free-throw line; turnover numbers improve

By Connor Letourneau and Josh Vitale Senior staff writers

Forward Christiano Francois (left) and defender Mikey Ambrose made significant contributions off the bench for the Terps in a loss to Georgetown on Friday. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

Contributions from bench not enough for Terps to overcome Georgetown in College Cup semifinal

By Daniel Gallen Senior staff writer

HOOVER, Ala. — Midway through Friday night’s College Cup semifinal matchup against Georgetown, the Terrapins men’s soccer team was searching for something to ignite an otherwise forgettable performance.

The Terps’ play was stale. They weren’t manufacturing the same threats they were accustomed to during the season.

And things were looking dire as the Hoyas took a 4-2 lead.

Though the No. 2-seed Terps ultimately fell to the No. 3-seed Hoyas in penalty

kicks, the Terps’ reserves pushed the game to a 4-4 tie with a key rally through the fi nal 20 minutes of regulation. For a team that had 16 players score this year, it was the bench’s expected performance on the game’s biggest stage at Regions Park.

At one point in the second half, only six of the Terps’ 11 starters were on the field, and only five were at the position where they started.

“That’s been one of our team’s strengths all year long,” coach Sasho Cirovski said.

“We threw some guys in that hadn’t played a lot of minutes, and they rose and contributed very well.”

Defender Mikey Ambrose, a starter for the entire season until the quarterfinals against No. 10-seed Louisville, assisted on forward Patrick Mullins’ goal in the 74th minute. Spark-plug forward Christiano Francois ran through the entire Hoyas defense in the 77th minute for the equalizer.

With the Hoyas taking two-goal leads twice in the second half, it appeared the Terps were finished. They hadn’t come back from a two-goal deficit all season long, and Georgetown’s defense was See DEPTH, Page 7

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Frese concerned about fatigue Terps playing 4th game in 9 days at Towson tonight

By Aaron Kasinitz Staff writer B re n d a F re s e w a s a b i t worried the Terrapins women’s basketball team would be worn out before Saturday’s contest against George Mason.

The 11th-year coach knew injuries had left the Terps with just eight available players on the roster. She also knew the team was play ing its th i rd game in six days after losing to No. 2 Con nect icut on Monday and beating Virginia on Thursday.

It didn’t take long, though, for the No. 10 Terps to dispel those concerns. The squad held the Patriots scoreless for the first seven minutes of the game, jumped out to an early 18-0 lead and cruised to a 90-40 rout.

“I was [concerned], just from a fatigue end,” said Frese, whose Terps will face Towson on the road tonight, “but credit these players.”

The team’s two star forwards helped counter any lingering fatigue. Alyssa Thomas notched the second triple-double in program history Saturday, while Tianna Hawkins added 27 points to lead the team to the 50-point blowout.

Still, exhaustion is a concern going forward.

The Terps will be limited to eight players all season, meaning they’ll have to fight through fatigue during a daunting ACC schedule. They will likely use an overwhelming defense to overcome that potential tiredness — just as they See FATIGuE, Page 7

Coach Brenda Frese, who has just eight healthy players on her roster, is worried about the Terps’ potential tiredness. charlie deboyace/the diamondback

Charles Mitchell doesn’t like being taken out of games.

The Terrapins men’s basketball forward claims he would play the full 40 minutes if he could — anything to help his team win contests.

But on Saturday, coach Mark Turgeon believed the Terps had their best chance of securing a victory over South Carolina State with the freshman spending the majority of the game on the bench. About 15 m i nutes after making his fi rst career start, Mitchell saw a teamm ate b e ckon h i m to t he sideline. He had logged a season-low eight minutes and wouldn’t return for the second half.

“He wasn’t ready to play,” Turgeon simply said after the Terps’ 61-46 win.

Mitchell struggled against the Bulldogs’ packed-in zone defense. He turned the ball over twice early, letting a Dez Wells pass fall through h is ha nds a nd losi ng the ball in traffi c. Mitchell also seemed disoriented when facing South Carolina State’s weave offense, a slow-down scheme the Terps hadn’t seen yet this season.

“Just their type of offense, they’re really patient,” guard Seth Allen said. “You have to be patient, you know, you just have to be mentally tough.”

Patience doesn’t always come easily to Mitchell. The Marietta, Ga., native thrives when given the freedom to attack the glass, to use his frame to muscle his way into the paint. He leads all ACC rookies with 6.9 boards per game and has established himself as one of the Terps’ top offensive rebounders,

Forward Charles Mitchell played just eight minutes Saturday. charlie deboyace/the diamondback averag i ng just one fewer than center Alex Len. Despite h i s successes, M itchel l has become a common target for Turgeon during film sessions this season. T he second-yea r c o a c h b e l i e v e s M i t c hell has a tendency to lose focu s over t he cou rse of a ga me, somet h i n g he’l l need to refine if he hopes to com m a nd sig n i f ic a nt minutes when conference play arrives next month.

Saturday’s benching likely helped Mitchell understand that message.

“You’ve just got to tell him to keep his head up,” Allen said. “Not everybody has a great game. We were in the locker room, and everybody was in his ear telling him pick his head up. It’s just one See NOTEBOOK, Page 7

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 | THE DIAMONDBACK

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THE DIAMONDBACK | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012