2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Opinion
A pleasant surprise
When my TERP alumni magazine arrived today, I was very surprised to discover Connie Chung on the cover as part of "Maryland's Dream Team." My mind immediately flashed back to a time probably in the late 1980s, when, along with other friends on Hagerstown Six, I watched Chung make an appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman. During their conversation, Letterman sensed some awkwardness in Chung and he pressed her to reveal where she had gone to school. Chung would not say, suggesting it was embarrassing. When she finally admitted she'd gone to this university, the campus was treated to echoing boos that seemed to come from the many dorm lounges that were also watching. At least Letterman insisted it was a good school.
When I spoke with a fellow alumnus about this, he said we should forgive her. He's right. It is nice to see that Chung's finally come around to supporting the university. I just wish she'd thought that way back then. Donations are great, but good words can go a long way, too.
Mike Robinson
Class of 1991
Lynchburg, Va.
Marijuana cartoon inappropriate
I do not understand the purpose of your March 2 cartoon, in which you allude to the Residence Halls Association senators being "supportive of stoners." I get it, and it's funny. "Blunty McGee" and "Chad the Roommate" as RHA mascots. I am curious, however, about what this has to do with the fact that the RHA disagrees that, at the university, small amounts of marijuana are equated with rape, weapon possession and arson in terms of their consequences. This is not a "pothead" issue where people are just looking to be able to smoke up in the dorms all they want. The resolution passed by the RHA is one of common sense. I think you may find that a number of the senators who supported this bill do not condone smoking in the dorms but favor a sensible policy that does not compare rape, weapons or arson to marijuana possession. Additionally, portraying the supporters of this reasonable change in policy is disrespectful, ill-willed and ultimately unnecessary.
So I ask you once again, what was the purpose of drawing this cartoon?
Benjy Fogelman
Sophomore
English and theatre
Drug charges have serious consequences
A lot has recently been written about reducing the penalties for being caught with marijuana on the campus. While I fully support any reduction in penalties for drug use, and I commend the Residence Halls Association's vote to reduce the consequences for marijuana use in a dorm, everyone should be aware that the current university policies reflect the real legal penalties for being caught with marijuana in the state of Maryland. Unlike being caught with alcohol, being caught with marijuana could send you to jail if you don't take the charges seriously enough.
I've been arrested a couple of times for marijuana, including once in Ellicott Hall, which caused me to lose my apartment in the South Campus Commons. Being caught with drugs may have long-term consequences that will make it much harder to find a job after graduating. University policies should be in line with the legal consequences of being caught with drugs. In addition to getting university and dorm policies changed, students should work to get the penalties for violating state drug laws reduced, as a number of other states have already done.
Dave Veasey
Class of 2003
Gary recruits team players
In light of the Terrapin men's basketball team's recent success, I would like to personally call out all the sharp critics of Gary Williams who could not seem to keep their mouths shut one year ago.
I take great umbrage in those people calling themselves Maryland fans. It is very easy to stand with the team when it wins, but who out there stood behind this team when it lost? Despite Williams taking this program to a Final Four and national championship, few stood with him.
He took the program out of the ruins of complete probation, no postseason, no televised games and few scholarships. This was a man who left a comfortable position with a successful Ohio State program to right the ship for his beloved alma mater. Few stood with him; many should be ashamed.
Worse, it was the student body who stopped believing in him. For those of you who contend he cannot recruit, let me explain. Williams built this program on guys such as Joe Smith, Keith Booth and Johnny Rhodes, as opposed to guys who have great recruiting ratings. Gary looks for guys who are known as great team players, great transition players and glue guys.
The success continued with many Sweet 16 appearances, eventually gaining a great national reputation. With that, big recruits came knocking in the form of John Gilchrist, Travis Garrison and Nik Caner-Medley. Then, the winning stopped, and the frustration began.
Now, Williams has gone back to recruiting guys such as James Gist, Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes and junior-college transfer Bambale Osby. These guys are a mix of slashers, transition warriors and shot-blockers. Osby, who has garnered the most attention, is short on height but big on heart. This is the program I have come to love, and this is the program Williams has provided for us.
Let this be a lesson to all you who turned your backs on this program and on our coach. As we turn our attention to the NCAA tournament, let's be forever grateful that Gary Williams is our coach.
Chris Oxenham
Senior
Finance
Air your views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 600 and 800 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Policy: The signed letters, columns and cartoon represent only the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback's editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.
When my TERP alumni magazine arrived today, I was very surprised to discover Connie Chung on the cover as part of "Maryland's Dream Team." My mind immediately flashed back to a time probably in the late 1980s, when, along with other friends on Hagerstown Six, I watched Chung make an appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman. During their conversation, Letterman sensed some awkwardness in Chung and he pressed her to reveal where she had gone to school. Chung would not say, suggesting it was embarrassing. When she finally admitted she'd gone to this university, the campus was treated to echoing boos that seemed to come from the many dorm lounges that were also watching. At least Letterman insisted it was a good school.
When I spoke with a fellow alumnus about this, he said we should forgive her. He's right. It is nice to see that Chung's finally come around to supporting the university. I just wish she'd thought that way back then. Donations are great, but good words can go a long way, too.
Mike Robinson
Class of 1991
Lynchburg, Va.
Marijuana cartoon inappropriate
I do not understand the purpose of your March 2 cartoon, in which you allude to the Residence Halls Association senators being "supportive of stoners." I get it, and it's funny. "Blunty McGee" and "Chad the Roommate" as RHA mascots. I am curious, however, about what this has to do with the fact that the RHA disagrees that, at the university, small amounts of marijuana are equated with rape, weapon possession and arson in terms of their consequences. This is not a "pothead" issue where people are just looking to be able to smoke up in the dorms all they want. The resolution passed by the RHA is one of common sense. I think you may find that a number of the senators who supported this bill do not condone smoking in the dorms but favor a sensible policy that does not compare rape, weapons or arson to marijuana possession. Additionally, portraying the supporters of this reasonable change in policy is disrespectful, ill-willed and ultimately unnecessary.
So I ask you once again, what was the purpose of drawing this cartoon?
Benjy Fogelman
Sophomore
English and theatre
Drug charges have serious consequences
A lot has recently been written about reducing the penalties for being caught with marijuana on the campus. While I fully support any reduction in penalties for drug use, and I commend the Residence Halls Association's vote to reduce the consequences for marijuana use in a dorm, everyone should be aware that the current university policies reflect the real legal penalties for being caught with marijuana in the state of Maryland. Unlike being caught with alcohol, being caught with marijuana could send you to jail if you don't take the charges seriously enough.
I've been arrested a couple of times for marijuana, including once in Ellicott Hall, which caused me to lose my apartment in the South Campus Commons. Being caught with drugs may have long-term consequences that will make it much harder to find a job after graduating. University policies should be in line with the legal consequences of being caught with drugs. In addition to getting university and dorm policies changed, students should work to get the penalties for violating state drug laws reduced, as a number of other states have already done.
Dave Veasey
Class of 2003
Gary recruits team players
In light of the Terrapin men's basketball team's recent success, I would like to personally call out all the sharp critics of Gary Williams who could not seem to keep their mouths shut one year ago.
I take great umbrage in those people calling themselves Maryland fans. It is very easy to stand with the team when it wins, but who out there stood behind this team when it lost? Despite Williams taking this program to a Final Four and national championship, few stood with him.
He took the program out of the ruins of complete probation, no postseason, no televised games and few scholarships. This was a man who left a comfortable position with a successful Ohio State program to right the ship for his beloved alma mater. Few stood with him; many should be ashamed.
Worse, it was the student body who stopped believing in him. For those of you who contend he cannot recruit, let me explain. Williams built this program on guys such as Joe Smith, Keith Booth and Johnny Rhodes, as opposed to guys who have great recruiting ratings. Gary looks for guys who are known as great team players, great transition players and glue guys.
The success continued with many Sweet 16 appearances, eventually gaining a great national reputation. With that, big recruits came knocking in the form of John Gilchrist, Travis Garrison and Nik Caner-Medley. Then, the winning stopped, and the frustration began.
Now, Williams has gone back to recruiting guys such as James Gist, Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes and junior-college transfer Bambale Osby. These guys are a mix of slashers, transition warriors and shot-blockers. Osby, who has garnered the most attention, is short on height but big on heart. This is the program I have come to love, and this is the program Williams has provided for us.
Let this be a lesson to all you who turned your backs on this program and on our coach. As we turn our attention to the NCAA tournament, let's be forever grateful that Gary Williams is our coach.
Chris Oxenham
Senior
Finance
Air your views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 600 and 800 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Policy: The signed letters, columns and cartoon represent only the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback's editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.
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