The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper
M O N DAY, M A R C H 9 , 2 015
Old Greenbelt Theatre to reopen with U prof’s help Single-screen theater to become nonprofit center
screen movie theater near Crescent Road in Greenbelt will reopen to the public as a nonprofit theater later this month. Caitlin McGrath, a university English professor who is now the theBy Jeremy Snow ater’s executive director, said the theater @JeremyM_Snow could offer special events and screenSenior staff writer ings as well as internships for students. Though it had long been underperAfter 10 years of saving money, two forming and has been closed for the years of planning and nine months of renovation, the Old Greenbelt last nine months, McGrath said she Theatre is ready for showtime. caitlin mcgrath, executive director of the Old Greenbelt Theatre, says reopening the theater as a nonprofit The more-than-75-year-old singleSee theater, Page 3 organization could bring art films and film classes to the community. enoch hsiao/for the diamondback
FROM NEWCOMERS TO CHAMPIONS
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NITE ride considers Uber-like phone app Students could be able to request rides easier By Morgan Eichensehr @MEichensehr Staff writer DOTS is looking into developing a free mobile application for NITE Ride to remedy some complaints about the nighttime curb-to-curb service. The application would function like the transportation service app Uber, which allows users to request a taxi to pick them up from their preferred location, said David Allen, Department of Transportation Services director. “Someone can request a ride via the app. They’ll know where the vehicle is; the vehicle will know where they are and can be dispatched to get them,” Allen said. “So students could stay inside, stay safe and come out as the vehicle pulls up.” Allen said this idea came up in a recent meeting with University Police Chief David Mitchell when discussing student safety. T he current Shuttle-UM NITE R ide service offers students a ride to campus destinations that normal bus routes don’t service. However, some students said they experienced long waiting times and unhelpful operators. Senior nursing student Laurie Hu nt sa id she uses N I T E R ide regularly and thinks the app could promote safety. “[The dispatcher] will tell me a time and I’ll go outside and wait, and I just don’t feel safe, and it’s freezing or snowing,” Hunt said. With the app, “students wouldn’t have to wait outside in the dark.” Last week, the Residence Hall Association approved a resolution presented by Transportation Advisory Committee Chairman Steve Chen, calling for the development of the app. About 24,000 NITE Rides were requested over the past academic year, Chen said. He said there are currently two NITE Ride vehicles serving students, with an average arrival time of about 12 minutes. However, he said, many students complain about several aspects of the service.
THE TERRAPINS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM celebrates at midcourt of Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, after defeating Ohio State to clinch the Big Ten tournament title in its first season in the conference. The squad, ranked No. 4 in the nation, has won 24 straight games, a streak that ties the program record set during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. photo courtesy of maryland athletics
Workshop for wildlife help refreshes univ student group Project WILD event aims to spread awareness By Aisha Sharipzhan @aishasharipz Staff writer Members of this university’s Wildlife Society chapter were taken back to their elementary school days Sunday while participating in a workshop to learn how to better educate others about animals and the environment. The Wildlife and Heritage Service
of this state’s Department of Natural Resources brought the Project WILD workshop to this university. The aim was to train the club members — potential future educators — about wildlife and environmental conservation. About 20 club members came out to the six-hour workshop in the Animal Science/Agricultural Engineering Building, looking to gain resources and tips on how to educate children and adults about these concepts, said Kerry Wixted, education specialist for the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Heritage Service and leader of the presentation. “It’s been very educational and informational. … I’m glad I came here to see how things work out,” freshman biology major Katie Mullen said. “[Working with children in the future] is definitely a possibility.” Sze Wing Yu, the president of this See wild, Page 2
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Terp Thon exceeds fundraising expectations Dance marathon raises more than $604,000 By Talia Richman @TaliRichman Senior staff writer Nine days after Tara Sankner’s eighth birthday, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. And when Tara’s mother told about 1,200 students at Terp Thon that doctors informed the Sankner family three weeks ago that one terp thon participants celebrate raising $604,318.24 during this year’s drive. rachel ge0rge /the diamondback of Tara’s tumors had grown, the amazing comfort.” cluding Tara, who came to the event. T he sixth annual Terp T hon, neon-clad crowd exploded with “These children are incredibly during which students danced from brave and have gone through so much chants of Tara’s name. “It means a lot that people are noon to midnight Saturday, raised more than what I’ve had to deal with there to support us,” said Tara, $604,318.2 4 for Wash i ng ton’s in my 22 years, and some of them are now 10, after wiping tears from Children’s National Health System her eyes onstage. “It feels like an in honor of the “Miracle Kids,” inSee thon, Page 2
SPORTS
OPINION
MAKING HISTORY
STAFF EDITORIAL: Sexual assault data
Behind Melo Trimble and Dez Wells, the Terps men’s basketball team edged Nebraska last night for its program-record 26th regular-season win P. 8
U.S. Senate bill would make universities more transparent P. 4
DIVERSIONS
BREAKING DOWN THE UNBREAKABLE Tina Fey gives Netflix a new hit P. 6