April 2026 - The Old Line

presented by THE DIAMONDBACK

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

Dear reader,

Welcome to The Old Line, a printed magazine that serves as The Diamondback’s yearbook product.

This is our very first edition. We want this piece to act as a positive reminder of the big events on campus each year, from colorful celebrations to historic sports seasons. Yearbooks are an important part of appreciating the past as we move forward through life, and we hope The Old Line can provide that for you.

Maryland Media Inc., the board that oversees The Diamondback, Mitzpeh and Black Explosion, previously also published the Terrapin. That yearbook production was discontinued last year, and The Old Line is our effort to keep a strong, commemorative piece each year.

Any feedback? Please reach out to diamondbackeditor@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.

And with that, please enjoy the 2025-26 inaugural Old Line edition.

Best,

Lizzy Alspach 2025-26 editor in chief, The Diamondback

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3150 S. Campus Dining Hall, College Park, Md., 20742 (301) 314-8200

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Michael Howes

Christian Andriolas

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FALL IN COLLEGE PARK

UMD student-led events draw hundreds, create community for freshmen

By Natalie Weger | News editor

University of Maryland freshmen spent their first weekend in college running through North Campus, trying to whack each other with pillows and pool noodles.

The students were locked into a giant game of granny. They spent the night of Aug. 30 laughing as they dodged their blind-folded peers.

The game started after a group of freshmen knocked on doors at Ellicott Hall, looking to meet new people. It was the first of many seemingly-random student-organized events on campus.

Students have since chased each other in a giant capture the flag game, competed in lookalike tournaments and duked it out in a rap battle.

“I’m really proud of my class for getting the word out and making these events so we can all be together and connect, because you only experience college once in your life,” said freshman American studies major Sahai Adjo.

Most of the events appear spontaneously organized, advertised on social media and mainly attended by freshmen. But they seem to have built community on campus.

Post-granny popularity

A video of the students playing granny went viral on TikTok and amassed more than 300,000 views. Once the friends marked the game a success, they were ready to plan something new.

So the next night, the group threw a “performative male” contest.

The group, now named Twisted Terps, organized the event to search for who best adopts the social media archetype. The viral trend stems from the idea of men curating a persona to be more appealing to women by reading feminist literature, drinking matcha and listening to indie artists.

Contestants brought their totebags, wired earbuds and books to the contest, where they took turns performing in front of the cheering crowd on the McKeldin Mall compass. The event drew hundreds, crowning sophomore computer science major Joshua Zheng as the winner with a $25 cash prize.

“I think we should try to bring more initiatives like this onto campus,” Zheng told The Diamondback. “Promoting women’s rights

and also just supporting women in general is a healthy thing to do.”

Redheads

and riff offs

Other students took it upon themselves to keep the momentum going. The night after the performative male contest, freshman psychology major Parker Landau and freshman marketing major Ashley Morrison made a graphic advertising a rap battle outside Yahentamitsi Dining Hall.

They posted it on YikYak, an anonymous social networking app that connects users with others from their school. More than 100 students came to the event the next night.

“We really didn’t have any idea how many people were actually going to show up,” Landau said. “It lasted a while too.”

Students brought a speaker and crowded in a circle, cheering on each person who stepped up to freestyle.

“My rhymes are fly like the Y,” one of the students rapped. “Yours are 251.”

On Sept. 2, another crowd gathered outside Yahentamitsi Dining Hall for an Ed Sheeran lookalike contest.

They held their phone flashlights up to the sky and formed a swaying circle around a group of ginger-haired students sitting in the center. The crowd sang along to his song “Perfect.”

“It was hilarious, but it was actually really wholesome,” Morrison said.

Excited about the rap battle’s success, Morrison and Landau decided to organize another event. They threw a Pitch Perfect riff off at the same location, where dozens of students spent the night singing and clapping in a circle. Storming Pyon-Chen Hall

More events continued to pop up in the same area. A crowd of students “stormed” Pyon-Chen Hall, a dorm on North Campus. A video showing a group of students running at the building spread on social media. Other posts about “the raid” then circulated on YikYak.

Both Pyon-Chen and Johnson Whittle Hall are the newest, most modern dorms on campus. They’re named after former students who broke racial barriers at the university.

Some University of Maryland Police stayed outside Pyon-Chen and Johnson-Whittle halls after the raid.

Twisted Terps takeover

Freshman information science major Kaylynn Flemons said the random events on campus have helped students meet new friends. Dozens of students gathered on McKeldin Mall Sept. 9 for a giant game of capture the flag.

Flemons is part of the group who organized granny, the performative male contest and capture the flag. The group named themselves Twisted Terps and started an Instagram page that has more than 2,000 followers.

Flemons said the group plans to host more events throughout the year, including more lookalike contests and sporting events. They may even become a university club.

At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun, Flemons said.

“This whole experience kind of showed me college students can have fun just being students, just being kids,” she said. “It’s really cool to me how people can come together so fast, even though we’ve only known each other for about a week.”

Mighty sound, mightier family: What college marching band means to its members

By Stella Garner | Tabloids editor

I’ve heard the same thing over and over again throughout my college career: “You’re in the marching band? That’s so cool!”

Whether it be the bright red band backpack, a tightly rolled colorguard flag or the beads around a drumline member’s neck, members of the Mighty Sound of Maryland stick out like a sore thumb. I think I speak for my peers when I say we wouldn’t want it any other way. The community and experiences that college marching bands offer are unlike anything else on campus.

I didn’t have a conventional journey to the University of Maryland. Moving from Nevada to Prince George’s Community College in Largo, I was a plucky 17-year-old living with my sister, desperate to find a new community. My mom pushed me to ask for admittance into Maryland’s drumline despite not being a student at the time. In a decision that would change the course of my college

experience, the assistant band director agreed.

Before classes begin, the marching band goes through what is known as “Early Week,” learning the fundamentals of marching, and playing and putting the first of our seven yearly halftime shows on the field. It’s fun under the sweltering late August sun for 12 hours a day, seven days in a row, or more if the first home game is earlier.

Immediately I was thrust into a world more intense and terrifying than anything I’d encountered in my high school bubble. Our percussion director, Jeremy, would always describe the rush of new music and marching as “like drinking from a fire hose.”

But for me, Early Week has always been members going from strangers to family in a matter of days. Enduring the same temperatures, the same demanding schedule and the same dining hall meals twice a day meant it didn’t matter what

anyone’s hometown or major was. It’s hard to name another area of campus where I could befriend so many different people at once.

I can’t say band was always the easiest class each fall semester. I can’t even say I always wanted to be at rehearsal; it’s hard to enjoy trudging through freezing rain, which happens more often than one might expect. But facing the well-known adversities of college bands — lack of funding, short turnaround between shows and extraordinarily high commitment time — with a community of peers is what makes groups like these so tight-knit and special.

Like the background music at a cafe or in a movie, college bands are an oft-unseen pillar of campus communities that make all the difference in school spirit and reputation. Being in the band has given me a lot of concrete things — a house of roommates, for one. But what it’s given me in experience, perseverance through hard times – like the second half of a football game – and pride for my school are invaluable to me, and it’s what kept me coming back each year.

I know many band members who chose to hang up their shako after just a year or two, and I understand. The time commitment and stressors of the experience are certainly not for everyone. But for those of us who have found a home in it, college band gives years of memories and a found family to last even longer.

FIRST LOOK FAIR

By Gurnoor Sodhi | Deputyphotoeditor

Every year, University of Maryland students gather at the start of the fall semester on McKeldin Mall to see the variety of clubs available. Take a look at some of the scenes from fall 2025.

Latine Heritage Month Closing Gala celebrates unity among students

By Amanda Sinofsky | Diversionsreporter

The Coalition of Latinx Student Organizations celebrated the end of Stamp Student Union’s Latine Heritage Month events with their annual closing gala on Friday evening.

The gala included food and dance performances in Stamp’s Colony Ballroom and featured keynote speaker Katty Huertas, a designer and art director at the Washington Post. The gala was the final event hosted by the coalition in Stamp’s Latine Heritage Month events, which took

place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Circular tables lined the sides and back of the room, with lollipop and chocolate favors at every seat. The large space in the center of the room was used for performances and dancing throughout the night. The coalition’s theme for this year’s heritage month was “Juntos Bajo el Sol y la Luna,” which translates to “Together Under the Sun and Moon.”

“We work in collaboration with other [organizations] … that’s the mission of CLSO,” said

Katherine Beza, the coalition’s co-president and junior fire protection engineering major. “Having these events is a way of connecting with my community and giving back.”

Beza said she experienced culture shock coming to the University of Maryland as a freshman, even with the knowledge that it’s a predominantly white institution.

She said she went to the coalition’s heritage month events her first year and became

a part of the organization after finding out they planned a variety of events to celebrate the month.

Beza said the attendee numbers were smaller after the pandemic, but have grown every year. She said the increase is a testament to the work the coalition has done to “cultivate this community.”

Despite their large scale, Beza said all the organization’s events are free for attendees.

“[The events are] not exclusive for Latinos, either — it’s for anyone who’s looking for a community who wants to celebrate our heritage,” she said.

Many attendees at the gala were members of the 13

organizations co-sponsoring the event. Brianna Acosta Citala, president of the Latinx Student Union, said she and other students were looking forward to the event because of how much work is put into it.

“Hosting events … means bringing the Latino community on campus, even though it’s small, to unite together and become bigger throughout it all,” the senior psychology major said.

Acosta Citala said many of the events hosted by the coalition and other organizations are also attended by faculty and local community members.

Bianca Gutierrez, a senior public policy major, is a member of Hermandad de

Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., another co-sponsor of the gala.

Gutierrez said although many people that come to events like the gala are Latino, she hopes people who are not are able to get a sense of the community. “I personally really appreciate Hispanic Heritage Month, and I think with everything going on now, it’s really important to spread that awareness and spread that culture,” Gutierrez said.

Grounded in humility, Malik Washington carries high expectations for Maryland football

By Michael Howes | Sportseditor,footballreporter

Pool balls clicked as Malik Washington racked the table.

It was just past 9 p.m. inside Washington’s quiet College Park apartment. After a long practice day, the freshman quarterback unwound with a game of billiards.

Down the road, bars hummed with student life — just like the football program’s buzz with talk of Washington.

The freshman is Maryland’s most heralded recruit in years, but those who know him said he stands apart from the hype. He’s grounded in family, fueled by creativity and defined by a desire to give back. He’s the entertainer who was Buddy the Elf and Simba in middle school plays, the avid reader and musician teaching himself guitar.

“Malik knows who he is outside of football,” said Kiana Teixeira, Washington’s mother. “He would tell people all the time, ‘I’m just a regular teenage kid that happens to be really good at throwing a football.’”

The then 19-year-old expected to lead Maryland football as its new face. How he channeled his highly-touted composure and drive determined his success in a lackluster season.

“To be honest, I never really looked at it as pressure,” Washington said. He lined up his next shot and wore his compression shirt from practice. “I just saw it as people supporting me — my goals and aspirations.”

Rooted in family

Washington’s commitment to the Terps over other illustrious offers last year was unsurprising in his circle.

He was raised neighboring much of his family in Freetown, Maryland, a historically Black community in Glen Burnie. His relatives helped run the community association and built a park named after an uncle. Washington’s great-grandfather left Fogo in 1914, while his great-grandmother was born the same year in Massachusetts and was from Brava, another island in Cape Verde.

“It’s just part of that culture of everything is family first,” Teixeira said.

Washington grew up with constant gatherings on his street — cookouts, birthdays and Thanksgiving dinners. At his step-grandmother’s 60th birthday party, he emceed the program, a natural role for someone known to grab the mic for lip-syncs.

It was formative for Malik, who grew up with three cousins his age alongside his five siblings.

“Growing up, we would tell our kids, you don’t have friends — your cousins are your friends,” said Tarah Coates, Washington’s godmother. “Faith and family was really huge. ”

Teixeira said Washington was the

kind of “amazing big brother” who would offer to feed or watch his siblings so she could rest. Some mornings she’d find his younger brother curled up in Malik’s bed.

“You only get one blood family,” Washington said. “Being close to home to them and them being able to come support me just like they did my whole life is really important.”

A leader at Spalding

When Katherine Mosco saw Washington’s name in her sophomore theology class at Archbishop Spalding, she knew him as the school’s rising star.

She asked students what they wanted to be known for on the first day of class. Mosco expected Washington to mention athletics.

“I want to be known as a kind person,” Mosco recalled Washington saying.

“I was already blown away by his maturity and how he approached life and all the people that he interacted with every day,” said Mosco, who later wrote his college recommendation letter.

Washington’s humility shined at Spalding. On graduation day, he lingered in the cafeteria taking pictures with staff.

Washington was also a leader in

the school’s Black Student Union and interned in the admissions office. He launched the Friday Night Lights Youth camp, a free clinic he organized each summer for local kids at Spalding’s field.

Prospective students could also spend a day following Washington. Requests filled up so fast that the admissions office was eventually forced to limit who could.

“He knows everyone, and everyone knows him,” Spalding football coach Kyle Schmitt said. “He’s a one-name guy.”

In middle school, Washington just wanted to read after he finished classwork. At Spalding, while others pulled out phones, Mosco said he reached for a book until the bell.

His love for books also inspired Mosco’s graduation gift. She contacted about 30 educators, administrators, mentors and family members, asking each to contribute a book and a note about the impact he left on them. Together, they gifted Washington a personal library.

The quarterback said he looks through those notes on tough days.

“He’s one of the best athletes to come out of Spalding ever, and he walked around and made everyone feel important and seen,” Mosco said. “I truly believe his humility is what makes him stand out. ”

of the quarterback’s life. Spalding, meanwhile, had never claimed a MIAA A Conference football championship before he arrived.

But Washington chose Spalding for more than football. His cousin had starred there and he was drawn to the school’s environment. It allowed him to keep playing basketball and the opportunity to help build a program.

“It was kind of like my college decision,” Washington said. “A program that was on the rise, had some success, but still trying to get over that hump.”

Washington sat behind a senior quarterback as a freshman — a role Schmitt said he embraced. Schmitt admitted he put Washington in a tough spot during a semifinal loss to McDonogh, when the young arm threw a late interception.

That game became a turning point. Washington told coaches afterward, “I’m never losing to McDonogh again.”

He kept his word, going 33-3 as Spalding’s starter, never losing to a conference opponent and delivering the school’s first three MIAA titles — the last a 31-7 rout of McDonogh that sealed a perfect senior season.

“There’s a killer instinct in there that isn’t always apparent when he’s super nice and just shakes everybody’s hand,” Schmitt said.

Is Washington the one for Maryland football?

In many ways, Washington’s commitment to Maryland mirrored his decision to attend Spalding.

The Terps haven’t won a conference title in more than 20 years and have delivered mediocre results for most

Washington’s impact stretched beyond the field. He cracked Spalding basketball’s starting lineup alongside now-Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore after beginning as the sixth man in his freshman year.

Washington earned All-League honors as a junior, posting 17 double-

doubles while leading Spalding to the MIAA and BCL title games. Spalding men’s basketball coach Josh Pratt said his imprint was undeniable in his final year of hooping, almost earning him player of the year.

“Everybody knew he wasn’t going to play basketball in college,” said RJ Newton, a former teammate now playing wide receiver at Holy Cross. “With everyone knowing that he still took it very seriously and still made sure that he was a leader on that team.”

Washington’s teammates describe him as loyal as he is competitive.

In his commitment livestream in summer 2024, he let Spalding teammate and cornerback Jayden Shipps announce his pledge to Maryland alongside him.

“That’s one of the biggest recruits in years at Maryland, and he decides to share his commitment day with his teammate. That was just Malik in a nutshell,” Schmitt said.

Maryland teammates have praised Washington’s maturity since he enrolled early in spring 2025. The Terps won’t publicly reveal their starting quarterback until the opener against FAU, though.

Washington said he might be nervous on his first snap, but expects to settle in once he completes a pass and takes a hit. His focus is on earning the respect of his teammates and coaches, he added.

Among fans, that respect already exists — along with anticipation. Many view him as Maryland’s long-awaited savior.

Football in photos

Below:

Senior

receiver

Cutout right: Freshman defensive back Braydon Lee #2 celebrates after a big play against Michigan. Maryland football lost against the Wolverines, 45-20, on Nov. 22, 2025. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Right:

The maryland football team runs out onto the field for their 55-10 loss to Indiana on Nov. 1, 2025. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Second photo right:

A Maryland cheerleader performs during the Terps’ 24-20 loss to Washington on Oct. 4, 2025. (Elan Amienyi/The Diamondback)

Second photo below:

A person holding a giant Maryland flag runs out onto the field during the Terps’ 34-31 loss against Nebraska on Oct. 11,

Freshman defensive lineman Zahir Mathis #9 lines up for a snap during Maryland football’s 34-31 loss against Nebraska on Oct. 11, 2025. (Ryan Bowie/ The Diamondback)

Below:

Junior tight end AJ Szymanski #89 holds a football in the air in celebration against Washington on Oct. 4, 2025. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Below on left: fans in maryland’s student section cheer on the football team as it played Washington on Oct. 4, 2025. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Below on right:

Sophomore offensive lineman Michael Hershey #61 lifts up a player in celebration of a touchdown on Sept. 5, 2025. Maryland football won against Northern Illinois, 20-9. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Cutout left:

Freshman quarterback Malik Washington #7 jumps in the endzone for a touchdown during Maryland football’s 24-20 loss to Washington on Oct. 4, 2025. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Above left:

Redshirt junior Jamare Glasker #14 is tackled out of bounds after an interception in the first quarter against Indiana on Nov. 1, 2025. Maryland ended up losing its homecoming game against the Hoosiers, 55-10. (Gurnoor Sodhi/The Diamondback)

Above:

Senior wide receiver Octavian Smith Jr. #5 runs the ball during Maryland football’s 20-9 win over Northern Illinois on Sept. 5, 2025. (Akash Raghu/The Diamondback)

Left top:

Junior linebacker Daniel Wingate #1 warms up for Maryland football’s 24-20 loss to Washington on Oct. 4, 2025. (Elan Amienyi/ The Diamondback)

Left bottom:

Freshman wide receiver Justin DeVaughn #88 cheers on fans during Maryland football’s 24-20 loss against Washington on Oct. 4, 2025. (Elan Amienyi/The Diamondback)

Love Island alumni at UMD reaffirm the series’ longevity

By Talia Macchi | Diversionsreporter

From Fiji to Maryland, iconic players

Austin Shepard, Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen from Season 7 of Love Island landed in College Park in September. To see these three contestants who didn’t even win the show, people needed to buy tickets.

And those events? They sold out fast. I found out Nic was coming to Maryland through an Instagram post my mom sent me, telling me to buy tickets. Although I watched Love Island every night this summer with her and my sisters, I am surprised that Nic was even on her feed. Why are hers and so many others’ feeds still trapped in the Love Island summer?

Season 7 of Love Island USA wrapped up in early July with a reunion episode airing in August. In most cases, reality TV contestants fade once cameras cut. But Love Island stars this year didn’t disappear a few days after the season concluded. Instead, they continued their daily broadcast through social media, creating a stronger connection with fans who felt like they lived by their side for weeks in the villa.

Unlike most reality TV shows, which span over the course of a few months with weekly episodes, Love Island is rather fast-paced

with a new episode airing five days a week. Viewers watch the islanders wake up, argue, make up and go to bed.

This sense of routine blurred the line between reality and entertainment. Season 5 gained a lot of traction through players like Rob Rausch, a guy whose sarcasm and looks turned him into a fan favorite.

Season 6 maintained the momentum by drawing viewers in with the show’s classic strong suspense and many cliff hangers. But by the time season 7 premiered, fans were fully sucked in and the show became a bonding opportunity as opposed to just entertainment.

Many, like myself, watched with their families (creating awkward moments of course), streamed in bars and viewed clips on TikTok.

When fans invest that much repetitive time into characters — sorry, real people — they form attachments which stick. But now, the inclusion of social media introduces a parasocial relationship to this dynamic. The show feels real in a way reality TV, ironically, often doesn’t.

For example, TJ Palma left the villa while being in a couple with Iris Kendall, but he didn’t just fade away. He posted a TikTok to

“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls, making mine and many fans’ hearts break for him.

Even though they were trapped in a tropical paradise together for less than two weeks, their connection on the show felt genuine and his post aimed to prove that, giving fans hope.

A month later, Iris ended the show with Pepe Garcia, but when rumors that he cheated surfaced, TJ came back into the picture. Soon, the pair posted on social media together, giving fans what they wanted months ago. It felt like I was watching this drama unfold in my own friend group.

Viewers built a connection with cast members while watching the show, and that feeling has only gotten stronger through seeing their daily social media posts. All summer long we watched the cast do everything from making breakfast to getting ready together. Now on social media, everything feels familiar, like we deeply know each other.

Very likely, Nic could be strolling through College Park with fans going up to him like they are best friends that hung out together all summer. Although Nic and Olandria placed second and left the show as a couple, their College Park presence doesn’t feel like a crazy big celebrity spotting — they just seem like normal people.

After each episode, viewers bond over shared thoughts and feelings on TikTok and Instagram comment sections, making assumptions and predictions about the players and their motives – something that show producers seemed to take into consideration, making the reality TV show not so reality TV.

That’s the thing with Love Island. The finale doesn’t end the story, it creates a second season on social media, where contestants compete on maintaining their fame through social media and fan events, at places where the majority of their fanbase spend their time — college bars.

(Screenshot via YouTube)

‘Breaking Bad’ star Giancarlo Esposito inspires personal success at SEE lecture

By Justin Mehlbrech | Diversionsreporter

Renowned actor, director and producer Giancarlo Esposito spoke to students on Oct. 2 at the Student Entertainment Event’s yearly back–to–school lecture in Stamp Student Union, inspiring students to take control of their own stories through resilience and education.

From his Broadway debut at age 7 to a career of iconic roles, including Gus Fring in Breaking Bad or Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, Esposito’s cold, villainous roles have earned him a cult following.

Kicking off the new academic year, Esposito spoke about his career and recounted the lessons he learned along the way, hoping students watching would apply them to their own lives.

Rowan Bruck, a freshman computer science major, was looking forward to Esposito’s lecture for a while as an admirer of his most prominent roles.

“I’ve always been, like, a really big fan of his work,” Bruck said. “This is definitely something I’ve been looking forward to for a while.”

Breaking from his Broadway career at 17, Esposito earned a degree in radio intelligence and communication, a pillar in his journey to success.

Esposito said he needed a backup plan before transitioning into television and film acting, with his degree providing the fundamentals for his directorial career through his work operating cameras and copywriting.

“That’s when I learned how to really shoot movies before I had even made a movie,” Esposito said.

Esposito highlighted the merit of pursuing higher education. Although he considered his time in college a fallback, his degree proved useful in his entertainment career, proving that education can apply to every aspect of life, even in non-traditional fields.

Connor Grabowski, a sophomore art history, chemistry and studio art major,

reflected on his own hardships as an artist working in a competitive field. He resonated with Esposito’s determination, as he found success with similar grit.

“[Esposito’s] emphasis [that] you have to take the step and you have to just keep reaching for it, even if you’re inevitably going to reach failure, is really pertinent,” Grabowski said.

Esposito later revealed that he saw more potential in his character Gus than the Breaking Bad producers. He ultimately pitched Gus as a recurring villain and the antithesis to protagonist Walter White.

He used this example to emphasize the importance of taking matters into your own hands. Without his effort, Gus would’ve been relegated to a traditional one–off villain.

“It’s like seeing what needs to be done … and doing it,” Esposito said.

Receiving widespread acclaim for Gus, fans like Grabowski believe he made the right choice.

“My main exposure to Giancarlo … was also through Breaking Bad [and] Better Call Saul,” Grabowski said.

Esposito told the audience to speak their mind and create a personal brand for success. It’s not enough to simply work hard at something, Esposito said, but success truly becomes yours when you are an active collaborator on a project.

But Esposito’s brand and vision often came with rejection.

Recounting times, roles and oppor-

tunities slipped away, Esposito initially felt jealous, but learned to trust the process. He believed certain roles were meant to be lost so others could have the potential to excel in.

“The key is to find the way that’s right for you,” Esposito said.

By the end of Esposito’s lecture, many students felt inspired, taking them out of the isolating feeling of searching for a career and aiming for success. Sharing his own takeaways from the lecture, Grobowski plans to apply Esposito’s work ethic to his own life.

“The most … pertinent thing to me was … you have to do it,” Grabowski said.

As the lecture came to a close, Esposito reminded the audience that although failure is challenging, it’s a necessary step in their growth. Through failure, they can discover their own pathway to success, he said.

“There’s not only one way,” Esposito said. “There are many different ways. The key is to find the way that’s right for you.”

Graduate labor Union Rally

Captions read left to right, top to bottom.

Graduate students march along Route 1 on Oct. 1, 2025. The university’s Graduate Labor Union, formerly known as Fearless Student Employees, fights for collective bargaining rights. (Jonathan Peter Belling/The Diamondback)

Supporters of the Graduate Labor Union gather on McKeldin Mall to demand recognition on Feb. 26, 2025. The Student Government Association passed an act on Sept. 24, 2025 calling for this university to recognize the Graduate Labor Union. (Alexa Yang/The Diamondback)

Protestors march Along Route 1 on Oct. 1, 2025. (Jonathan Peter Belling/The Diamondback)

Graduate students chant and hold signs along Route 1 on Oct. 1, 2025. (Jonathan Peter Belling/ The Diamondback)

Graduate students give speeches in front of the College Park City Hall on Oct. 1, 2025. (Jonathan Peter Belling/The Diamondback)

International players find community, belonging with Maryland field hockey

By Christian Andriolas | Fieldhockeyreporter

Fleur Knopert has a picture in her room of her holding a field hockey stick with an American flag displayed on it. The senior defender’s dream was always to come to the United States and pursue the sport.

Knopert — a Netherlands native — accomplished that with Maryland field hockey as one of the team’s seven international players. The Terps’ roster also includes players from Australia, Germany and England, creating a sense of belonging among a diverse group.

“It’s a big change, but a very positive change,” sophomore midfielder Ella Fehr said. “Coming from club hockey in Germany, it feels so much more professional … especially at Maryland.”

Field hockey is a major spectacle overseas. Much like tailgating in the U.S., fans gather with friends and family to eat, drink and watch the game before hosting firework shows at night.

The experience overseas also intensely prepares players. Girls play with and against men and women outside of their age group.

“My teammates would be women with kids … and I’m still in high school,” senior defender Ericka Morris-Adams said. “That obviously elevates your game … especially when you play with the boys. It’s a different level.”

But the transition to the U.S. isn’t easy, especially beyond the field. Knopert noted that many players have their parents on the sideline, while she must FaceTime her parents to speak with them. She said it’s “nothing compared to having them in person.”

Childhood pictures, home flags and decorated lockers are common practices for international players. It can help them appreciate how far they’ve come to live out childhood dreams.

Adjusting to the time zone difference and getting acclimated to a new environment and culture is challenging

when trying to stay in touch with her parents, but makes family trips more memorable, sophomore midfielder Annemijn Klijnhout said. She highlighted that parents’ trips are “extra special” and that their visits bring an added focus and motivation on the field.

“When you’re in the game and you do the anthem, you look to your parents and I think they’re also really proud to see you play here,” Klijnhout said.

Players are also forced to adjust to different play and communication styles in the U.S. They can’t always say phrases the way they want, but they still work meticulously to avoid language barrier issues.

The barriers can make for some lighthearted moments, too.

Americans know what it means when they are told to bring a speaker to practice. But Dutch players know it as a “music box” and don’t know what to carry with Klijnhout said.

Another key differ ence is the pace, play style and tactics. Players go from smaller teams emphasizing collective attack strategies with a more give-and-go play style to fighting daily for a spot on a larger team, where coaches cater to players’ individual strengths.

“It’s such a big transition,” coach Missy Meharg said. “By the middle of the end of October, they’re starting to get their beat, and they’re start ing to get the vibe and the cultural difference.”

When Maryland enters that part of its season, its international players grow

more comfortable. Families of domestic players also take international players under their wings and help bring the team closer, according to Morris-Adams.

The special bond among the seven international players comes through regular check-ins in their group chat, making sure everybody is prepared to travel and supporting each other through the shared journey of moving across the world to pursue the sport they love.

They share handshakes, cultural desserts and meals and teach their language to each other for fun as they build lifelong connections.

Maryland welcomes all cultures and inspires a sense of opportunity and belonging. Meharg has rostered many international players in the past, which makes players feel she is

Family Weekend

Families traveled to College Park to visit their loved ones enrolled or just to see their alma mater. The Diamondback photo desk captured a few scenes from the weekend, take a look here.

By Gurnoor Sodhi, Elan Amienyi | Photo staff

Nyumburu’s Juke Joint open mic celebrates community pride through the arts

By Joe Wicke | Diversions editor

The rattling snares of a drum kit brought the 2025 Homecoming Juke Joint to a start in Stamp Student Union Wednesday evening.

The Nyumburu Jazz Club gradually crept into Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” Cymbals snaked in and bass guitar punctuated the pauses. With a baritone saxophone, trumpet and piano, the band fully assembled with exotica flair.

offers outside of academics.

“It’s a place where a lot of people who [have] similar backgrounds get to express themselves, whether it be poetry, dance or song,” Christopher said. “Seeing that expressed onstage is beautiful, and it kind of brings people together.”

Junior information science and information systems major, Dorian Mkam similarly said Juke Joint offers a respite from classwork.

“UMD is an academic-heavy school, but us being able to showcase what we can do outside of school is always cool,” Mkam said.

Various dance groups took the stage throughout the night.

Decked out in camouflage pants, all-women African dance group Afrochique performed its boot camp-inspired routine, claiming only the top cadet dancers would be able to survive.

The group launched into precise, energetic movements to deliver this promise. With each meticulously choreographed step, the dancers moved together. Parts of the audience stood up to watch and even used chairs as vantage points.

The jazz club began a night of music, dance and poetry, exalting various cultures and fostering community.

Hosted by the Nyumburu Cultural Center, Juke Joint is a monthly open mic event for students and community members to showcase their multidisciplinary talents. While a typical session lasts about 90 minutes, this month’s spanned three hours to celebrate the University of Maryland’s homecoming week.

Jason Christopher, a junior information systems major, said Wednesday’s event was his third time at Juke Joint. He finds the event to be a reminder of the community this university

Afrochique closed out Juke Joint more than three hours into the night and 30 minutes past its scheduled end. The crowd still came alive.

Natalie Gilmore, a freshman biological sciences major, said one of her favorite parts of the night was the audience’s infectious energy, as they would often break out into dance parties in between acts.

“I didn’t expect to get so hype out of nowhere,” Gilmore said. “I thought it was really cool.”

Diazporic, a co-ed African dance team at this university, featured similar maximalist movements as zombified Eagle Scouts to celebrate Halloween. UMD S.T.E.P.P., a step dance team, paid homage to slasher films and horror icons Ghostface and Jason Voorhees during its set.

“I’m African, so seeing African dance onstage and people celebrate that is something beautiful to see,” Christopher said.

Juke Joint did not limit itself to dance acts. Chavannah Green, a freshman business administration and management major, brought a violin onstage. Green’s act began serenely, as intimate strings filled the space.

Suddenly, Green launched into Jeremih’s “Birthday Sex.” The crowd erupted.

Gerald Tabe, a sophomore neuroscience

major and a Juke Joint regular, sang his act entirely in French. A blend of pop and R&B, he defined his vocals with an impossibly high falsetto.

Mkam said Tabe’s vocals were particularly impressive.

“The high notes that he was able to hit and the performance he was able to give to the crowd was honestly outstanding,” Mkam said. “He deserves a lot of praise for that performance, and I’d love to see him continue singing.”

Spoken-word artist and senior public health science major Mohammed Salih recited a poem about the Trump administration’s efforts to intimidate people of color, rebutting that communities carry more power than the administration realizes.

“We shouldn’t live in fear, we’ve got nothing to be afraid of, we’ve got our community,” Salih reminded the audience before the set.

It’s this community, Gilmore said, that gives her a deep sense of pride. “I was sitting down the whole time thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I love being Black,’ because it was just fun,” Gilmore said. “It gives you a sense of pride, you know what I’m saying?

Maryland football collapses in homecoming matchup

First campus snowfall brings flurries and fun

Peruvian Culture Club, Terp Lions celebrate cultural fusion

The clangs of drums and cymbals filled the room, guiding the movements of the lion dancers in H.J. Patterson Hall last week.

The event was a collaboration between the Peruvian Culture Club and the Terp Lions to celebrate the Lunar New Year and highlight the connection between Chinese and Peruvian culture.

Captions read clockwise.

A lion dancer performs in H.J. Patterson Hall on Feb. 26, 2026. (Ashley Neyra/The Diamondback)

A person pets the head of the lion dancer during the Feb. 26, 2026 performance. (Ashley Neyra/The Diamondback)

The lion gets close up to a person spectating its performance in H.J. Patterson Hall on Feb. 26, 2026. (Ashley Neyra/The Diamondback)

Members of the Terp Lion Club perform a lion dance in H.J. Patterson Hall on Feb. 26, 2026. (Ashley Neyra/The Diamondback)

By Ashley Neyra | Photographer

Members of the Peruvian Culture Club explained how a law once allowed Chinese laborers to immigrate to Peru, bringing with them traditions and cuisine that later became integrated into Peruvian culture. Over time, this influence helped create its own culinary tradition known as “Chifa,” a fusion of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine.

To share a taste of this history, the Peruvian Culture Club brought a tray of arroz chaufa for attendees, offering a reminder of how the cultures continue to blend through food. Take a look through more scenes from the club event.

YouTuber MatPat shares theories about success at SEE All Niter Lecture

By Maxine Poe-Jensen | Diversionsreporter

Popular gamer and internet personality Matthew Patrick, better known as MatPat, took the University of Maryland community on a deep dive of game theory and his own theories of personal success at Stamp Student Union on Feb. 6.

MatPat’s event, which included a lecture, Q&A and meet and greet, marked Student Entertainment Events’ first guest lecturer of their annual All Niter event.

As soon as the emcee introduced the headliner, the crowd roared with ferocity. Unassuming attendees would have thought they were at a rock concert, certainly not at a video game lecture.

MatPat’s YouTube channel, The Game Theorists, gained a cult following in 2009 and gradually reached a widespread audience. Now, the channel has more than 19 million subscribers and multiple hosts. But early on, MatPat was beloved for his simple graphic design, far-fetched gaming theories backed by detailed math and science and distinctive voiceovers.

Though Patrick recently retired from The Game Theorists, he was eager to talk about everything game theory, gaming and YouTube.

Much like his YouTube videos, which theorize the plots of popular video games, MatPat wasn’t afraid

to get into the logistics of his internet success. He talked in detail about the science behind YouTube, from algorithm, copyright and mastery of the longform video essay.

He shared anecdotes about how he was scared to be sued by the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog, the use of his psychology degree and the painstaking hours of editing videos in the middle of the night.

For some, this might have seemed too in the weeds for a man who has made a living talking about Five Nights at Freddy’s and Mario Kart. But this technical jargon is a major part of MatPat’s appeal.

There are many other creators, like Markiplier or PewDiePie, who make video game content. But MatPat stands out for his ability to explain the nitty-gritty, analytical aspect of gaming.

Catherine Tran, a junior psychology major, has watched MatPat for almost 12 years.

“The amount of research that he puts into his work is insane,” Tran said. “All the math that he does, all the side stuff. I think that’s awesome.”

Tran is one of many students at this university who are MatPat fans. According to SEE’s lecture moderator, the event sold out about 20 minutes after going live.

It was clear how much fanaticism there was for the internet personality and how much he appreciated it. Throughout the lecture, MatPat tossed out references to his videos as inside jokes between him and the audience, delivering his authentic

self to a room full of fans.

James Barry, a sophomore computer science major, was pleasantly surprised that MatPat’s personality translated from small screen to real life.

“You’d expect that in real life he would be a lot less like animated, a lot less entertaining. But in reality, he’s just like that,” Barry said.

SEE’s lecture offered a coveted behind-the-scenes peek into a beloved creator whose success skyrocketed because of passion, dedication and creative approach to something as ubiquitous as the video game. For this generation’s college students, it was inspiring to see how authentic their idol is, both on and off the screen.

The Q&A portion of the lecture let MatPat’s vibrant personality shine through.

When MatPat answered a gaming question from senior aerospace engineering student Joshua Stein, his

excitement was palpable as he shot up in his seat, his friends screaming around him.

What was Stein’s reaction? “Chills. Just pure excitement.”

The super-fan continued, “[MatPat] is my childhood hero.”

celebrating 100 years of black history month

By Claire Huss | Staff writer

Solomon Comissiong said there’s nothing anyone can say to make him feel bad about himself or who he is.

But as he learned more about Black history, he felt his sense of pride grow in himself. And this February, Comissiong said, he hopes more people cling to the Black History Month celebration across campus.

“The more I learned about Black history growing up, the more I walked upright as a Black boy,” Comissiong, the University of Maryland Nyumburu Cultural Center’s student involvement and public relations assistant director, said.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the celebration, which the historian Carter Woodson started as “Negro History Week” in February 1926 to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans, resisting the societal pressures of the Jim Crow era. In 1976, the now-Association for the Study of African American Life and History declared February as Black History Month. Since then, every U.S. president has made an annual proclamation endorsing the month.

A century later, some university community members said it’s more important than ever to celebrate. In the past year, the Trump administration has made efforts to eliminate pieces commemorating Black history by removing historical monuments and changing wording on federal websites and museum exhibits.

“We’re celebrating this 100th anniversary of a time in which there’s pressure for us in some circles, not to have any celebration or acknowledgement of Black History Month,” Sharon Harley, the university’s African American and Africana studies department chair, said.

Although she’s aware of the sentiments

some people hold about commemorating Black History Month, Harley said people who are uncomfortable about the month are often misinformed.

“It’s a story that shows the complexity of life in the U.S., but it’s not one that denigrates America,” Harley said. “This is the life that some people experience, and all through that history, there are groups of people who resisted racism, who resisted oppression, and that’s the story.”

Students celebrated Black History Month by attending events such as the Black Student Union’s Black Excellence Gala, Maryland women’s basketball’s Divine 9 Night and the Nyumburu Cultural Center’s 100th year celebration.

Junior environmental science and policy major Jade Blackmoore and senior journalism major Laura Charleston said there’s extra importance to remembering the lives of Black people throughout history and to not diminish them.

“Black History Month, to me, is intrinsically connected to American history,” Blackmoore said. “As we’re celebrating the 100th Black History Month, it’s so important to recognize the Black voices and Black experiences that have not only shaped the culture and the trends of today, but also American history of itself.”

She also said she wanted people to understand the impact that Black people have had on the country, both throughout history and presentday society.

Blackmoore also noted the importance of learning about historical figures outside classroom settings, which she said sanitize and cherrypick what Black historical figures that students learn about.

Similarly, Charleston said her experience learning about Black history in school was

a watered-down version of a real story of oppression that Black Americans faced. She added that she doesn’t expect things to get better anytime soon, referencing book bans and federal attempts to change curricula across the U.S.

“When you forget it, things happen again, and no one truly grows from it,” Charleston said.

Bans on books, particularly “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, limit children in schools from learning about topics that others might deem “inappropriate,” but really just tell uncomfortable truths about being Black in the U.S., Charleston said.

Charleston remembered visiting the Greenbelt Middle School’s living wax figure museum, where she saw children representing lesser-known Black historical figures.

“I do love that, because I get to learn something new about history,” she said.

By challenging the middle schoolers to explore and find interesting people throughout history, Charleston said the kids end up being more knowledgeable than she was about Black historical figures at their age, and even teach her something new today.

Blackmoore said students should take advantage of library resources and the university’s proximity to museums in Washington, D.C., to continue learning about Black history.

Comissiong added that people can show up for the Black community this month just by approaching history with an open mind and compassion for different cultures.

“I mean, the ultimate race is the human race, right?” he said. “I would hope that that brings us together as a global community.”

By Surafel Gebreyes | Designer

BasketballMen’s

By Gurnoor Sodhi, Jonathan Peter Belling, Mallory Domio, Elan Amienyi | Photo staff

Coach Buzz Williams, in his first year at Maryland, inherited a completely new roster. Here are some scenes from the Terps’ tumultuous first season in the new era.

BasketballWomen’s

By Akash Raghu, Mallory Domio, Jonathan Peter Belling, Will Swearingen | Photo staff

The Terps' season ended on March 22 in the NCAA tournament's second round. But the season was framed by sudden comebacks, an undefeated start and even a viral moment with coach Brenda Frese. Take a look at some of our favorite scenes from the 2025-26 season.

SPring in college park

By Gurnoor Sodhi | Deputyphotoeditor

Booksin bloom

UMD students joyfully celebrate Holi in rain

By Jonathan Peter Belling | Photographer

two students rub colored powder on another student at the University of Maryland’s Indian Students Association’s Holi celebration on McKeldin Mall on March 27, 2026.

A student points and talks at the University of Maryland’s Indian Students Association’s Holi celebration on McKeldin Mall on March 27, 2026.

Testudo Out and about

In the snow

Stephen M. Schanwald Pavilion

Student Section at secu stadium

Xfinity Center

Fit Check!

Statues Around campus