There was no love for The Love Movement yesterday when its attempt to gather 100 students to shoot a music video only brought about 10.

Gabe Barouh, a senior sociology major and member of The Love Movement, has been slowly producing a music video of “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and The Machine as a theme for the group. Yesterday’s shoot was supposed to feature over 100 students running down McKeldin Mall.

But only about 10 students showed up — and several of them were members of the movement — and attempts to recruit passersby and students studying in the library proved unsuccessful.

But the show had to go on, and the depopulated scene was shot nonetheless.

“We wanted to have a video that would really capture our club as a whole and perhaps even move people,” Barouh said. “The song is really powerful, and it has meaning for a lot of people, even if they don’t know what exactly. I wanted to put my own interpretation on it, and have some Maryland themes.”

Other shots for the video feature students doing mundane jobs or homework and slowly progresses toward people running and leaving their things behind.

“One of the shots was going to be a man on a cell phone who eventually throws it in the trash can to run in the group,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to let go and do what you feel for a while. Participate in the things that actually make you happy.”

Freshman communications major Emily Dennison thought the idea of the video was creative.

“I think it is a really cool idea, and we just happen to have the longest mall in the nation, so why not do something cool with it?” she said. “I decided to participate because Gabe is a really cool guy, and I felt like helping him out.”

But Dennison was one of only a few.

And at the end of the shoot, Barouh and the others found themselves wondering: Where is the love?

— Erin Egan

The Department of Transportation Services offers charter buses as one of its key services, and the department will be making good on that charge with a few new shuttles later this month, Director David Allen said.

Students and faculty attending the American College Personnel Association’s convention in Baltimore from March 26-30 can get to and from the campus at no cost thanks to a shuttle sponsored by DOTS, the departments of Resident Life and Fraternity and Sorority Life, Stamp Student Union and Campus Recreation Services.
The charter will run twice between the stops for the first four days of the convention and once on the last day. Allen said any student or faculty member will be able use the bus if they are registered for the convention.

The ACPA — an organization of student affairs professionals based in Washington — is holding its annual convention at the Baltimore Convention Center. Among the topics scheduled to be discussed at the convention include “leadership in challenging times” and “student success,” according to the program overview. Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker will be a featured guest speaker.

And speaking of New Jersey: DOTS has added a third bus to its annual spring break bus routes due to high demand, according to Allen. The buses transport students from the student union to either Metropark in Woodbridge Township, N.J.; Cherry Hill, N.J., just outside of Philadelphia; or Port Authority in New York City. The Cherry Hill bus is new this year. Tickets for the buses, which leave at 2 p.m. on March 18 and return March 27, cost $50 roundtrip and $30 one way.

— Spencer Israel

Commencement speakers at college graduations are supposed to impart wisdom on young adults about to start their lives in the scary real world.

That’s why some students think Charlie Sheen would be perfect for this year’s ceremony.

Andrew Artuso, a senior finance major and a Student Government Association letters and sciences legislator, created a Facebook event titled “We Want Charlie Sheen!” in an attempt to get the former Two and a Half Men actor, who was fired from his show yesterday, behind a podium in Comcast Center this spring.

Students at other universities have proposed similar campaigns, but nearby George Washington University appears to have been the first.

“I want a winner speaking at my graduation, not some pussy like Thomas Jefferson,” Artuso wrote in the group’s information section. “I want a guy whose life is perfect, so he can teach me how to be special and get tiger blood running through my veins.”

Artuso, who couldn’t be reached for comment, continued with: “And lets face it…. hes not busy with two and a half men right now [sic].”

Of the about 370 students who are “attending” the event as of last night, many posted comments expressing their approval, but with a definite kick of sarcasm. Comments ranged from completely comical (“charlie sheen wants to reopen turtle”) to skeptical that it’s at all possible to get the self-proclaimed “high priest Vatican assassin warlock” to speak.

“Other universities are doing the same thing we are: ‘Petition to get Sheen to speak at graduation.’ So unless we offered him a huge amount of money or he had ties with UMD, I highly doubt it would be possible, even if the university agreed on it,” said senior communication major Kyle Slye, who is “attending” the event. “He is hot in the media right now because he is acting crazy, and people like us students find it hilarious, but people like the administrators of our university probably thinks he is insane.”

Like Slye, freshman ecology and evolution biology and Spanish major Leandra Bitterfeld found the prospect of having Sheen at graduation funny but unrealistic.

“I think it’s so funny, and I’m sure that many students graduating this spring would enjoy Charlie Sheen talking at their graduation ceremony,” she said. “In all reality, however, I feel like the idea is completely far-fetched, and I think that many students would agree. Also, I am sure that the taste level and respectfulness of the university would be questioned if Charlie Sheen were to talk at the graduation ceremony.”

Chances are, though, if Sheen does agree to come to commencement, he’ll have to bring his “goddesses,” and there probably isn’t enough room in Comcast Center to accommodate them all.

— Erin Egan

Most students who walk into Stamp Student Union’s food court just want a quick, tasty meal — they aren’t expecting a health food store. The options are mostly fast-food chains that students think only serve up the grease.

However, members of the Center for Health and Wellbeing, Dining Services, the Wellness Coalition and Stamp’s Initiative to be Healthy campaign beg to differ. Last week, student representatives from each program stood at the far end of the food court giving students information on how to stay healthy when eating inside the student union.

“I think this is a great thing,” said junior dietetics major Jill Corbin, who was working the stand. “Students are often looking for healthier ways to eat on campus, and this gives them ideas on how to eat better.”

Fliers for “Beating the Freshman 15,” “Personal Diet Analysis” and “The Stamp Best Choices for Healthy Dining,” were popular sheets for students to pick up, said senior dietetics major Debi Zvi, a student nutritionist.

“We went through the nutrition facts for all the restaurants in Stamp and picked the healthiest options,” she said. “Now, they do not abide by any nutritional standard, it’s just the healthiest of each place.”

A number of items at Subway, SaladWorks and McDonalds were selected as healthy choices, while far fewer items were listed from Panda Express, Taco Bell, Sbarro, Chick-fil-A and Sushi by Panda.

Senior kinesiology major Reggie Vergara stopped while passing through the student union and said he found the information useful.

“Stamp obviously has lots of fast foods,” he said. “This helps you find food that won’t necessarily be bad for you.”

— Maria Romas

Students have been drooling at the prospect of Your Highness — a Universal Pictures film set to open April 8 — having its world premiere at the university for one reason: James Franco, the movie’s star.

A competition, “Bring the World Premiere of Your Highness to Your College,” allows students from universities across the nation to vote to bring the film’s stars to their campus for the premiere.

As of last night, this university was in third place behind Rutgers University and Boston College.

Many students, including sophomore public health major Lareine Karpouzian, are infatuated with Franco and hope he travels to the campus.

“I really hope this works out,” she said. “He is amazing, and I love him. I’ve voted at least 10 times and definitely plan on voting more. I’m really excited.”

Like Karpouzian, freshman accounting and finance major Natalie Spencer also voted because of her devotion to the actor, who starred in hits such as Pineapple Express and Milk.

“I saw the trailer and it looks pretty funny, so I voted. And I love James Franco,” she said.

The Facebook group encouraging students at this university to vote, created by two students, said the winning the competition would also bring actors Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman to the campus.

However, the page makes clear: “But probs not NatPo b/c she is insanely preggers,” suggesting that Portman may not attend because she would be too far along in her pregnancy.

Despite excitement over the movie and its stars potential appearance at the university, some students just want something different to look forward to.

“There haven’t been as many big concerts or stars here as I was expecting for such a big school, so to have an event this huge come here would be really exciting,” freshman kinesiology major Jenn Walsh said.
— Erin Egan