The Terrapin Times

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Gambling in Maryland

In the Maryland capital, where gambling is an on-again / off-again hot button issue, two politicians are putting their dignity on the line over the reinvigoration of a decades-old rivalry.

Delegate Herb McMillan (R-Annapolis) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller have made a bet on the Sept. 3 football game between the University of Maryland and the Naval Academy, a game that hasn't been played in 41 years.

If the Navy Midshipmen win, Miller, a Maryland graduate, will attend the Senate's opening ceremonies wearing a Navy jersey and hat. If Maryland wins, McMillan, a Naval Academy graduate, will don the equivalent Maryland gear.

The betters have plenty of time to mull their coming humility ... the opening ceremonies are January 11, 2006.

Ombudsman Galore

Six months after then-Diamondback Editor in Chief Jonathan Cribbs declined The Terrapin Times EIC Nathan Burchfiel's offer to serve as the paper's ombudsman, the University of Maryland's daily paper has officially anounced that the position has been filled.

After more than a year without an ombudsman, the Diamondback in today's Back-to-School issue announced that former DBK EIC Scott Goldstein will serve as the self-watchdog.

Goldstein's first column also appeared in today's edition. He pays adequate lip service to students who have criticized the paper for not employing an ombudsman and pledges "to represent you, the reader."

In addition to promising to actually read the e-mails disgruntled readers might send his way, Goldstein announced the formation of a student panel that will meet to offer feedback on the Diamondback.

The Terrapin Times isn't holding its breath for an invitation!

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

McCray Arrested, Held

Terrapins basketball player Chris McCray was arrested over the weekend following a fight, according to The [Prince George's County] Gazette.

McCray allegedly participated in the fight on Knox Road and resisted arrest. The Gazette reports that McCray has been charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and escaping from custody.

No word on whether or not McCray started the fight by declaring, "I'm from Maryland and nobody can beat me."

Monday, August 29, 2005

Another Top 20 for UMD

The [Baltimore] Sun reports that the University of Maryland has achieved a most unlikely Top 20 ranking: party school.

College Park eeked its way into the Princeton Review's annual list of schools known for their partying habits. Other schools on the list include University of Wisconsin-Madison (#1), University of California - Santa Barbara (#4), Pennsylvania State University (#13) and West Virginia University (#14).

With few bars, tight restriction on Greek life and heavy police control of off-campus parties, some expressed confusion at the ranking. Former SGA president Aaron Kraus told The Sun, "I don't agree with that ranking at all."

Of course the administration is playing down the ranking, which is decided based on student surveys and changes every year -- 7 new schools made the list this year.

"Students should use a variety of sources to determine what is the best school for them," acting communications director Cassandra Robinson told The Sun. "Most importantly is actually visiting the school and getting a sense of the climate when they're on campus."

In other words: "Parents, don't pay attention to that. Visit the school and see how overbearing we are on parties."

We're just waiting for the lightpost banners announcing the ranking.

Friday, August 26, 2005

NCAA Update

The National Collegiate Athletic Association on Tuesday made an exception to its brand new "no Indians" rule for school mascots by allowing Florida State University to continuing using the Seminole name and logo without punishment.

Two weeks ago, the NCAA announced a new policy that would punish schools -- 18 in all -- that used "hostile and offensive" imagery of Native Americans.

FSU appealed the ruling, citing the fact that the Seminole tribe of Florida had given its approval to the use of the name, the logo, and the football team's mascot: a student dressed as an Indian and carrying a flaming spear on horseback.

As Inside Higher Ed reports, the NCAA approved FSU's appeal and will not restrict the university from post-season activities (i.e. NCAA-sponsored bowl games, etc.). The appeal does not repeal the rule, however, and the other 17 universities must appeal on their own if they wish to do so.

Florida State University logo:

Monday, August 08, 2005

UMD Professor Critcizes O'Malley's Bush-Bashing

University of Maryland political science professor James Gimpel on Wednesday criticized Baltimore's Democrat Mayor Martin O'Malley for comments he made at the National Press Club criticizing President Bush.

In a speech The [Baltimore] Sun reported was more like a presidential campaign speech than a gubernatorial candidate's speech, O'Malley attacked the Bush administration for not providing cities with enough resources to secure the homeland.

O'Malley specifically listed Baltimore's port, which only inspects 10 percent of incoming containers while Hong Kong inspects 100 percent of its incoming containers.

"For a Democrat from a city that's broke, everything's a federal responsibility," Gimpel said. He said the comments were not controversial because everyone agrees that the federal government needs to play some role in the defense of the nation's cities.

"Would anyone in the Bush administration really quarrel with that?" Gimpel asked The Sun. "Would anyone in the Ehrlich administration really quarrel with that?"

One can only wonder how long Gimpel, who The Sun reported has consulted for national Republicans, will have a place at UMD. There's just not room for professors who are willing to criticize people like O'Malley and defend people like Bush and Ehrlich.

Tomahawk, Meet Rock and Roll Pt. II

It appears as though the infamous Florida State tomahawk chop is headed the way of Rock and Roll Pt. II.

After four years of soul-searching, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has announced that it is officially offended by the use of Native American names and symbols by its member schools. While the NCAA will not outwardly ban such symbols, it has decided to punish school that do not change their mascot.

According to Inside Higher Education, "The NCAA said that (1) it would no longer let such institutions play host to its national tournaments; (2) colleges already scheduled to sponsor such events would have to eliminate any references to the Indian imagery from the arenas or stadiums; (3) such colleges could not bring mascots, cheerleaders or any other people or paraphernalia that feature Native American imagery to NCAA championships, beginning in 2008; and (4) athletes may not wear uniforms or other gear with “hostile and abusive” references at NCAA tournament events."

Eighteen schools will be affected, including Maryland's ACC collegues at Florida State (the Seminoles), even though representatives from Florida's Seminole tribes have approved the use of the name and logo for the school.

The new policies go into effect in February 2006, meaning schools will be able to participate in 2005 football season events without punishment.

What's next on the politically correct chopping block? Will Notre Dame's Fighting Irish be deemed offensive to those Irish who strive for peace? Will Testudo be banned for incorrectly representing the quiet, reserved and loving nature of the terrapin?

Aren't there more important problems with collegiate athletics than mascots who might be offensive? Apparently not.

Kunkel: You're Doing Well When People Are Mad

Philip Merrill College of Journalism Dean Thomas Kunkel told Knight Ridder Newspapers this weekend that the role of watchdogs in journalism is important and that when they are successful, people get angry.

"If you're doing your job, you're going to make people mad," Kunkel said, referring to the recent suicide of
Miami City Commissioner Arthur E. Teele Jr., after damning stories were printed in the Miami Herald.

He said victims of watchdog journalism "find it offensive when it touches them, fascinating when it touches other people." Find the full story HERE.

Perhaps Kunkel's own students should take his comments to heart the next time they're offended at watchdog journalism directed at them.