Students, faculty and staff took pictures, filled out paperwork and took an oath at the university’s first Passport Day on Friday, an on-campus event designed to make it easier for students to study abroad.

The event in Anne Arundel Hall hosting the State Department’s Washington Passport Office was co-sponsored by the Honors College and Education Abroad, offering a convenient location for members of the campus community to apply for the document.

“We’re committed to having our Honors students have some international experience,” said Traci Dula, an assistant Honors director. “I wanted to host something that would make it easier for students.”

About 140 people registered for the event, which was open to the entire university community, she said.

“People have taken advantage of it,” Dula added. “We hope to do it again.”

Freshman communications major Grace Lee said she was glad she didn’t have to drive all the way to the passport office to take care of her documents.

“The fact that it’s on campus,” she said, “it’s a lot easier.”

Freshman civil engineering major Ian McElwee said his passport was due to expire fairly soon, so he decided to take advantage of the event.

“I plan on studying abroad, and I had to get [my passport] renewed,” he said. “When I heard about Passport Day, I thought, ‘Why not get it over with now instead of later?’ It’s one less thing I have to do when I’m planning to study abroad.”

-By Leyla Korkut

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Katherine Anne Porter — who was well-known for writing letters filled with sordid tall tales — spent the last decade of her charismatic life living near the campus. So when she died in 1980 at the age of 90, she left her legacy of letters and literary artifacts to the university she called her neighbor.

But in recent years, according to a Washington Post article, the university and various literary figures have been at odds over Porter’s estate in the courts.

During Porter’s life, Barbara T. Davis was appointed trustee to control her works. They began a personal relationship, exchanging notes over the years and eventually becoming close friends. As trustee, it was Davis’ responsibility to decide how Porter’s works would be put to use — Porter chose to house them at this university.

But after Porter’s death, Davis gained sole control over the use of Porter’s works. She allegedly knowingly misinterpreted Porter’s will to ensure full control of her literary pieces.

In 2006, then-Libraries Dean Charles Lowry petitioned for the university to become Davis’ successor as trustee, so it would own all rights to Porter’s work.

Davis did not agree with this proposal; she argued that the university should hand over rights to her and her associates, who knew Porter best.

In 2007, state Attorney General Doug Gansler represented the university in a legal battle, arguing that Davis had intentionally sought to eliminate the university’s role in controlling Porter’s works by dissolving a foundation set up in Porter’s name — without informing the university.

Porter’s will specifically stated that the trust could only be dissolved in the event that the university was incapable of promoting her work.

But according to the Post article, the university displays Porter’s artifacts in a special room and is working to put the display online and preserve the current works.

The fiasco culminated when Davis suddenly died in 2009. The case is still on hold, and it is unclear who now has access to Porter’s works.

— By Maria Romas

Freshman year is a curious time in a young person’s life.

Each fall, hundreds of new students are thrust out of the nest and into dorm rooms to fend for themselves, miles away from the supervision of dear ol’ Mom and Dad. For most, it is their first opportunity to be independent, liberated from the rules and curfews of their high school days.

But when Thanksgiving rolled around and most freshmen returned home for the break, life as they knew it came to a screeching halt.

For freshman letters and sciences Mark Altskan, going back under his parents’ roof and being subject to their rules for the break was definitely a culture shock, one that led to more than one argument over his lost freedom.

“I couldn’t do anything … I had a curfew for the first time in forever,” he said. “I was expecting it, but it was kinda stressful.”

He added he was glad to be back on the campus, where he was “more independent and more free.”

But other freshmen said the return to the nest was no big deal because their parents were not too strict, or because they had been home several times before.

For some, like New Jersey native and freshman aerospace engineering major Jesse Cummings, going home was a much-needed time to relax and catch up with family members and old high school friends they hadn’t seen in months.

“It was definitely great,” Cummings said. “It wasn’t necessarily like being back in high school again, but it was just nice to experience that sense of home and security.”

While some freshmen came back homesick, others reported they had gotten sick of home.

“It was nice, but it’s good be back,” said New Jersey native and freshman letters and sciences major Lauren Michelotti. “I’m over high school. It was nice to see my family and old friends, but I got my fill.”

— By Leah Villanueva

The week of Thanksgiving has long been a point of contention between students and teachers. Students want to get home and relax, but professors are reluctant to give up precious school days before finals.

And for out-of-state students who make up about 30 percent of the school, choosing between attending an important class and beating the holiday travel rush is an especially pronounced tug-of-war.

“I have a three-hour lab tomorrow, a lab report due, and I will be there until tomorrow evening and can’t leave early,” said senior psychology major Sarah Blankenship.

Because she is from out-of-state, Blankenship will face packed highways that will make her trip significantly more inconvenient, she added.

“I could have gone home last Thursday if it weren’t for this class; now I won’t be home until at least 10 p.m. Wednesday or early Thanksgiving morning,” Blankenship said.

Some students have late Wednesday classes that, if not canceled, will make it impossible to get home at all if they prioritize classes over turkey.

“There’s a kid in my class who won’t make it home at all because flights to New York were too expensive this close to Thanksgiving,” Blankenship said.

While many professors chose to cancel classes to ease travel worries for students, others said if the university stays open, it’s fair game to hold class.

Sora Devore, an adjunct lecturer in the art department, said she simply follows department protocol, which states classes should only be called off if a make-up class can be scheduled in its place.

“I made the decision based on my employer’s policy,” Devore said. “There is not enough time in the semester to hold a make-up class, and it’s virtually impossible to coordinate all of my students’ schedules.”

And in-state students are subject to scheduling conflict woes, as well. Missing out on family get-togethers hurts even when the family isn’t so far away.

Shinduk Seo, a freshman business major, said she’ll be taking a math quiz tomorrow, even though she’d much prefer to be with family awaiting her sister’s arrival flight.

“It’s a teacher’s prerogative to give quizzes and tests before Thanksgiving because school isn’t canceled,” said Seo. “But it’s so inconvenient to travel and get home for many people, and it’s just the nice thing to do, especially for many students who have to go far.”

— By Kelly Farrell

What do Massachusetts, Kansas, Utah, Oklahoma and Washington all have in common? They have all passed state-wide bans on Four Loko, the 23.5 ounce alcoholic energy drink that’s taken the nation by storm. And the rest of the country may not be far behind.

Last week, Four Loko announced they would be removing the caffeine from the drinks after widespread criticism prompted a Food and Drug Administration investigation over the dangers of mixing energy drinks and alcohol.

Students are taking it pretty hard. Many claim the actions of irresponsible young people should not spur an FDA ban that’s spreading across the country.

“The banning is ridiculous,” said Laila, a junior who is not yet 21 but said she has enjoyed Four Loko on numerous occasions. “It’s a people not being able to drink responsibly problem, not a Four Loko problem.”

Laila added she thought the media hype that Loko will not be available much longer actually forced students to stock up.

In College Park, students reported the drink has been sold out for days, and many have left the confines of the city in search of their favorite night-time cocktail. Earlier this month, a manager at #1 Liquor told University Police Maj. Chris Jagoe the store would be taking it off its shelves, and the owner of College Park Liquors said her distributor was no longer offering it.

“Make your own Four Loko” recipes have been cropping up on websites and circulating on Facebook as students search for a way to get their fix.

“One of my friends has Four Loko hidden in her closet,” Laila said. “I know another person who left College Park because they were out of it, just to stock up, and purchased over a dozen.”

Many students pointed out that the drink experienced a surge in popularity since the media — exhibit A: this blog — began publicizing it.

“I think the media coverage is making people drink more than if it weren’t banned because there were a lot of people that didn’t know about it until they were giving it so much coverage and discussing banning it.”

Although the drink has been around for years, it just started to receive media and legislative attention this fall as stories of extreme drunkenness, injuries and fatalities from young drinkers began popping up.

Some people have asserted Four Loko is marketed toward a younger demographic because of its bright colors and catchy packaging. Students retaliated, however, saying that argument is invalid because it is no easier to obtain than other alcohol. How difficult that is in the first place is subject to debate, but that’s for another blog post.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has been a vocal opponent of Four Loko, issued a warning to companies in the beverage industry.

“Let these rulings serve as a warning to anyone who tried to peddle dangerous and toxic brews to our children,” he said. “Do it and we will shut you down.”

— By Kelly Farrell

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend. But Elizabeth Labor is after a diamond much bigger than one that could fit on a ring.

Labor, a senior criminology and criminal justice major, is one of five finalists in the running to be a ballgirl for the Philadelphia Phillies — a two-year, part-time job that combines baseball with humanitarian efforts.

“Ballgirls are a present force, they’re all around the stadium,” she said. “It’s a perfect position for me.”

Labor said growing up in the Philadelphia area has made her a Phillie Phanatic (with a smaller nose and less green hair) and a baseball enthusiast.

“It combines baseball and the Phillies and helping people,” she said. “I think it’ll help me get focused with where I want to go in life.”

Labor said the job is about 10 percent baseball — going to the games and interacting with fans — and 90 percent charity work with Habitat for Humanity and making appearances at local high schools.

“I’ve always been a big fan of helping people — I’m a [resident assistant] and I’m a tour guide,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to combine my two passions — people and baseball — and this job satisfies both.”

Labor, in addition to being an RA and a member of Maryland Images, is a member of both an intramural softball team and the club ice hockey team, and she’s a general member of the senior class council.

Freshman animal science major Erica Greenwald is one of Labor’s residents in Ellicott Hall, and she said Labor is perfect for the job.

“She would be an awesome ballgirl. She loves the Phillies and she plays softball,” she said. “She’s a great person and she deserves this.”

Labor and the four other girls will find out their fate Nov. 30 based on who receives the most votes on the Phillies’ website.

“I met the other girls [Monday],” Labor said. “We had to do an appearance on the news so we had to go on CBS and promote the voting for the fans. They’re all really nice. It’s definitely going to be a tough competition.”

— By Erin Egan, photo courtesy of Elizabeth Labor

Despite the special fertilizer treatments, routine prunings and other precautionary measures taken to keep the campus’s giant willow oaks healthy, one of the trees lining McKeldin Mall was no match for a mid-summer thunderstorm.

The giant willow oaks, which are the most cherished trees on the campus according to the university’s arborists, live in the lap of luxury as far as trees are concerned. But after losing a third of its branches to 50-mph winds, tree No. 868, on the Holzapfel Hall side of the mall, will be cut down tomorrow after it was determined to be a public safety risk.

It was no easy decision.

“It’s a very big deal,” said Karen Petroff, the assistant director for Arboretum and Horticultural Services. “We take those trees very seriously and weigh all the options.”

To cut down one of the giant willow oaks, Arboretum and Horticultural Services must first have two other independent arborists determine that the tree must be cut down to ensure public safety.
After it was determined that the tree posed a public safety risk, a date was set for the tree to come down — easier said than done, with the typically heavy pedestrian traffic on the mall. Petroff and her staff decided the day before Thanksgiving would do.

“It’s always a sad day,” she said.

But tree No. 868 hasn’t lived a dull life. Although it’s not quite as old as the some of the other willow oaks, which were planted in 1938, No. 868 was planted soon after. While its current wound, a 6-foot gash in its side, is the most visible damage to the tree, it may not have been the worst. While being inspected following the July thunderstorm, one of the independent arborists found the tree had also been struck by lightning at some point in the past.

Petroff and her staff will handpick another willow oak to take No. 868’s place. It will be planted on Arbor Day in the spring.

— Photos and text by Alicia McCarty

As students gather with family and friends this week to enjoy Thanksgiving meals, it may not occur to many to be thankful for the star ingredient in many holiday desserts — chocolate.

But experts say a drought in West Africa, where many cocoa trees are grown and harvested, as well as a group of mysterious diseases, are having a crippling effect on cocoa trees, starting what experts are predicting will lead to a worldwide chocolate shortage and significant increase in prices.

The founder of the Nature Conservation Research Council, John Mason, predicted in The Independent that, within 20 years, chocolate could become as rare as caviar, and so expensive that average consumers — including students — won’t be able to afford it.

Entomology professor Galen Dively, an expert in genetically modified crops, said the world could be saved from a chocolate catastrophe if the U.S. Department of Agriculture is successful in mapping the cocoa tree’s DNA, making it possible to insert drought- and disease-resistant traits.

“Once you get [the trees] sequenced, it’s much easier to insert genes later to make the trees more resistant,” said Dively, who has worked with cocoa trees in Grenada. “You can significantly improve the quality and yield of crops with genetic engineering.”

Student reactions were mixed in response to a possible spike in the price of chocolate. Junior dietetics major Marlene Hurst said although she wouldn’t spend too much more money, she already doesn’t mind springing the extra few dollars for a higher quality candy bar.

“I enjoy chocolate, but I wouldn’t define myself as a chocoholic,” Hurst said. “But when I do enjoy a chocolate bar, I have no problem splurging the extra four bucks getting an organic dark chocolate bar.”

But senior accounting major Britney Gerstner said if a chocolate price increase is in order, she couldn’t picture students shoveling out the extra money from their already thin wallets.

“I feel like since we’re on limited budgets anyway; I don’t think I would spend the extra money, and I don’t think any of my friends would either,” she said.

-Photo and text by Claire Saravia

Not sure what to wear to Thirsty Turtle’s funeral? Route One Apparel has the answer.

A group of students is selling red mesh jerseys to commemorate the bar that was shuttered earlier this month after allegedly serving underage patrons.

The garment features a picture of a turtle wearing sunglasses, sipping a drink. It also includes a catchy phrase — “Barely Remembered, Never Forgotten” — and the words “Turtle Survivor” on the back, which likely sum up the experience for some at the establishment.

The jerseys come in sizes varying from XS to XXL and are available here.

Creators of the jersey declined to be interviewed because of the negative news coverage surrounding Turtle.

— By Leyla Korkut

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration unveiled graphic new warning labels for cigarette packs, complete with gruesome pictures depicting everything from tooth decay to corpses, trying to discourage Americans from smoking.

Yesterday afternoon, student activists on McKeldin Mall were using lower-key means to accomplish similar ends.

Students in the Colleges Against Cancer at UMD group solicited signatures on petitions for tobacco control and cancer research funding, surveyed students’ views on smoking and educated students on this university’s existing smoking restrictions.

“We’re trying to raise awareness about the dangers of both firsthand and secondhand smoke, as well as gauge student opinion about creating a campus with designated smoking areas,” said Colleges Against Cancer president Ariella Cohen.

The event — part of the national Great American Smokeout — also included a counselor from the University Health Center’s Smoking Cessation Services to provide information on her program’s quit-smoking program.

Smoking Cessation Services — which is available to students, faculty and staff — offers professional counseling, access to nicotine replacement therapies and medication, and even participation in acupuncture, all free of charge, according to the program’s website.

“We’re really a cutting edge university when it comes to the health center,” said Edie Anderson, a counselor in the program. “Lots of other universities don’t have these services.”

About 60 students graduated from the program last year, she said, but it’s unclear how many quit smoking for good.

In any case, if the pictures featured on the FDA’s new labels have the desired effect, students may soon be flocking to the Health Center in an effort to kick the habit. Counseling appointments can be made any time from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

-By Lauren Kirkwood. Photo by Charlie DeBoyace/The Diamondback

See video of the event