The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper 2015
BiG baske ten tball I NS I
DE
T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 015
SGA approves police advisory board Initiative passes unanimously after long debate; group will allow students to voice police concerns By Taylor Swaak @tswaak27 Staff writer university Police Chief David Mitchell answers questions from the audience and SGA members during a meeting yesterday. stephanie natoli/the diamondback
The SGA voted last night in favor of establishing a Police Chief’s Advisory Board and Review Council in light of
This university’s chapter of the NAACP, Black Student Union, Social Justice Coalition, Asian American Student Union, Student Labor Action last semester’s campuswide protests Project and University Police officers surrounding national police brutality attended the meeting to speak on the idea of creating a board, which and transparency concerns. After about an hour and a half of will facilitate discussion between speakers, questions and debate, the students and police. “It’s students sitti ng on the initiative passed unanimously with council, questioning policy that no abstentions.
POTUS clarifies ‘Bill of rights’ for financing in follow-up conference
Council intervenes to assist Camden apartments residents in safety concerns
By Jon Banister @J_Banister Senior staff writer T he d ay a f ter i nt roduci ng his Student Aid Bill of Rights, President Obama joined Secretary of Education Arne Duncan yesterday in a discussion about his goal to make college more affordable. “We can’t allow higher education to become a luxury; it’s an economic imperative that every American family should be able to afford,” Obama said during a conference call. “Every American family should be able to say to their kids, ‘You can join that middle class or higher, as far as your talents and hard work will take you,’ and that’s what college is all about, and the only way we’re going to be able to do that is if we redouble our attention on making it accessible to everybody.”
By Eleanor Mueller @eleanor_mueller Staff writer In the wake of 12 break-ins and a homicide within the last six months at Camden College Park apartments near IKEA, the College Park City Council sent a letter Tuesday night to the apartments’ management outlining residents’ concerns. The council addressed the letter to the regional vice president of Camden Property Trust, the Houston-based company that owns Camden College Park, requesting a meeting to discuss management’s perceived unresponsiveness and disregard for resident well-being. “The unfortunate part of things is that the management has not been quite responding the way they Twelve break-ins — including four in the same day — and a homicide in the past six months at the Camden apartments prompted the College Park City Council to send a letter to management outlining residents’ concerns. Residents said they’re not being listened to and formed an association. tom hausman/the diamondback
Cole Holocker first liaison to serve twice By Eleanor Mueller @eleanor_mueller Staff writer
Mark Brimhall-Vargas heads to Tufts Univ By Jess Nocera @jessmnocera Staff writer Mark Brimhall-Vargas, deputy chief diversity officer, is leaving to fill a position at Tufts University after two decades working for this university’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion. josh loock/the diamondback University, where he will serve as chief diversity officer and associate provost. “Mark has such a long and deep impact on diversity inclusion work on campus,” said Nick Sakurai, LGBT
ISSUE NO. 85 , OUR 105 TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION DBKNEWS.COM
Submit tips, comments and inquiries to the news desk at NEWSUMDBK@GMAIL.COM
@thedbk
See camden, Page 2
City reappoints SGA student liaison, approves deputy plan
Univ diversity officer, LGBT advocate to leave position
After two decades at this university, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer Mark Brimhall-Vargas has taken another position, and campus LGBT advocates said his absence will be difficult to fi ll. Today marks his last day here. Brimhall-Vargas is moving to Tufts
See SGA, Page 3
camden Residents seek help
Obama: U access for all students
See OBAMA, Page 2
the police may be doing, questioning recent police events, just kind of keeping an open dialogue with the police,” Student Government Association President Patrick Ronk said. University Police Chief David Mitchell said the department is eager to work with students and address their concerns.
TheDiamondback
Scan the QR Code to download our mobile app
Equity Center associate director at this university. “We have very few senior-level openly LGBT employees on campus. … He has held a unique See LGBT, Page 3
For the first time in city history, the College Park City Council on Tuesday night reappointed its student liaison to serve for a second year. Cole Holocker, a sophomore government and politics major and the current student liaison to the council, requested his own reappointment by the council last week. “I’ve really enjoyed this opportunity, and think I’ve learned a lot,” Holocker said at a March 3
work session. “I think I can use that experience to continue to serve the students and the city as I have this past year.” The eight City Council members and the mayor voted unanimously in favor of Holocker’s reappointment. A student liaison has never served two terms before because most of them graduate or seek different experiences, Holocker said. But he said he hopes his continuation for another year will work in favor of the students and the city. “I’ve done my best to represent students to the City Council,” Holocker said. “I think the continuity between two years will benefit students and residents.” See LiAISON, Page 2
SPORTS
OPINION
DOMINANT OFFENSE
STAFF EDITORIAL: Sustainable dining
Freshman Megan Whittle scored a career-high six goals to lead the Terrapins women’s lacrosse team to a convincing 17-2 victory over Towson last night P. 10
New Pepsi cups demonstrate Dining Services’ priorities P. 4
DIVERSIONS
TABLE FOR ONE On the trials and tribulations of eating alone at 251 North P. 6
MS in Law Infomational Open House March 25 • 5:30-7 p.m. Stamp Student Union Grand Ballroom More info and RSVP at law.umaryland.edu/msl