College Park : University of Maryland alumni magazine.

68 Pages·2001·6.6 MB·English

by  University of Maryland at College Park. Alumni Association.

VOL. 13,NO. 1
FALL2001
$3.50
THE UNIVERSITYOF
MARYLAND MAGAZINE
wat
1
DEPARTMENTS
2 FIRSTWORD From theeditor
3 PERSPECTIVE From the president
4 MAILBOX Yourvoice inprint
5 VIEWPOINT Anthropologist Michael Paolissoon
Chesapeake Bay watermen.
6 NEW & OBSERVED Rebounding from Sept. 1
attacks; tornadocutspath ofdestruction through
campus; celebrated Pisnerquints make Maryland
debut; freshman classswells to4,400; new centers for
civic engagement and black women's laborstudies;
hiking theAppalachian Trail with TENTS; and more.
40 EXPLORATIONS Prehistoric sharks;geologist
seekscluesabout Mars in remoteAustralia;geogra-
pherstudieseffects offorest fireson climate;Japanese
warcrimes uncovered; and more.
45 PORTFOLIO Watercolors appeal toyoung and
old; Choo-ChooQuartet fillselementary schools with
music; piano Ph.D. student wins international com-
petition; performing arts centerdedicated; and more.
50 INBOUNDS Remembering thefootballTerps
sweetestseasons; basketballstandout Francis returnsto
workondegree;ComcastCenteron track;women’sbas-
ketball breaks intotop-25 preseasonpolls;and more.
DON WEBSTER'S ROUGH RIDE TO ACADEMIA 54 ASPIRATIONS The insidescoopon Maryland
byEllen WalkerTernes fundraising; who’s that caller?
Don Websterfound his life’s workafter nearly 56 CLASSNOTES Emmy Award-winning produc-
—
drowning in thechillyAtlantic- -topreserve the ershares success with local eatery; universitygraduate
bountyoftheoceansforfuturegenerations. hits the road in OscarMayer Wienermobile.
COVERPHOTOGRAPHBYJOHNT.CONSOLI 64 IMPRESSIONS Terpout ofwater
PARK
The University of Maryland Magazine
ASKING A LOT OFTHE WATER
byCarolCasey
A longtimeChesapeake Bay lover
shares her memories, affections,
angers andfears for the nation’s
largestand richestestuary.
WATER RIGHTS, WATER CONFLICT:
WHO SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?
byDanielCusick
Inan ageofdiminishing waterqualityand
finitesupply, waterdisputes longassociated
with thearid Westare beginning tocrop
up in the rainy East. FOR MEMORIES, JUST ADD WATER
byKristynPeck
Youwalked by them ahundred timesasastudent;
youdangled yourfeet in them on swelteringfall days;
youvaguely recall a kiss stolen from asweetheartwith
thesound offalling waterbehind you. Theyare the
university's much-loved, but little-known,campus
fountains.
visit us online at www.umd.edu/cpmag
FIRST-WORD
Rn
hen we decided last summer to dedicate the Fall issue ofCollegePark to the theme ofwater, the
COLLEGE PARK
Bilfl United States was still a nation ofrelative buoyancy, like agiant ship bobbing on a blue seaof
prosperity.
— PUBLISHER
The students returned to campus in August, just like they always do bringing with them the C.D.Mote,Jr.
vitality and hope that only college students can instill in a place this size. No one imagined then, President,UniversityojMaryland
even in his or her worst nightmares, that September would bring with it the most horrific violence BrodieRemington
VicePresident, UniversityRelations
ever unleashed on American soil.
DanitaD.Nias’81
But there we were, Sept. 11, glued to our television sets, probably just like you were, as the ExecutiveDirector.MarylandAlumniAssociation
World Trade Center towers and southwest wall ofthe Pentagon
EDITORIALSTAFF
came tumbling down in heaps offire and ash. DanielCusick
Editor
As editor ofa magazine already well into production, I wondered
quietly, "How can any story about water be meaningful in such UDniivaenrsnietyBuEdricthor
times as these? Will war have consumed the nation when this issue CarolCasey
arrives in the mailbox?” Nobody knew. TomVentsias
Writers
Then, in the somberand slightly coolerdays immediately after
JodiPluznik
the tragedy, I noticed something interesting. MichaelRichman
As the universitygrieved, individually and collectively, for those SonyaSenkowsky
EllenTernes
ODK
lost, the Fountain on McKeldin Mall became aplace where NeilTickner
LeeTune
people lingered, often by themselves, to study the tiny waves on the ContributingWriters
water's surface, or to listen to the soft rush ofwatercascading from RachelCohen’02
KristynPeck 02
one rectangularpool to the next. PaulSchuler'02
It was there, on the north side of the fountain, one week and one MagazineInterns
day after the attacks, that I met Danielle Lizotte, an 18-year-old DESIGNSTAFF
freshman from Bowie, Md., whose uncle, William DonovanJr., a JoChrneaTt.ivCeoDnisroelctio'r86
U.S. Navy commander, was among those still missing in the rubble JenniferPaul'93
just 10 miles away at the Pentagon. He was laterconfirmed to be ArtDirector
among those killed. MiraAzarm 01
RaissaMacasieb-Ludwig
Danielle had missed the Sept. 12 campuswidemourningserviceon the mall to bewith herfamily. JasonQuick
But when she returnedforclasses the fo—llowingday, she found the fountain lined with thousandsofcut ContrYibuutWinugD0e1signers
flowersand othermakeshift memorials candles, small U.S. flags, handwritten thoughtsand prayers. RobertLewis'02
Danielle, in only her third weekon campus, knewvery few ofthe 8,000 mourners who had visited the MagazineInterns
fountain theday before, but she understands now theprofound connection sheshares with them. COLLEGEPARKONLINE
Asked what th—e ODK memorial meant to her, Daniellepaused first, then says, “I don’t know www.umd.edu/cpmag
what the word is I guess I was honored. I felt pride, and comfort, I guess. It was very thoughtful." E-MAIL
Danielle has visited the fountain almost every day since Sept. 11, as she says, “to read, ordo [email protected]
homework or just relax.” Sometimes she is accompanied by her hometown friend, Clayton Probst, CollegeParkmagazineispublishedthree
18, a psychology major, who says he comes to fountain to clear his mind, to watch people and to timesayearbytheDivisionofUniversity
Relationsfordues-payingmembersofthe
absorb the sounds of moving water. UniversityofMarylandAlumniAssocia-
And then, in a minorepiphany, it occurred to me that this water, this fountain, is among the tion,donors,facultyandstaff.Lettersto
theeditorarewelcomed.Sendcorrespon-
most valuable things the university can provide to Danielle, Clayton and thousands ofothers in dencetoDanielCusick,Editor,College
these troubling and heavy-hearted days. A place to sit, to reflect, to clearone’s mind, to draw mem- Park.2101TurnerBuilding,College
Park,MD20742-5411.
ories ofloved ones lost, to ponder a brighter future. TheUniversityofMaryland,College
As Lutheran minister Beth Platz, Maryland’s dean ofcampus chaplains, who in 36 years has Park,isanequalopportunityinstitution
counseled students through Vietnam,—the GulfWarand now this act ofterrorism, says, “Water is ewmitphloryemspeenctt.toUnbiovtehrseidtuycapotliiocnieas,ndpro-
always the thing when you’re parched either physically or emotionally. Water is the symbol of gramsandactivitiesareinconformance
refHreoswhmeanpptraopnrdianteew, tlihfeen,,antodbtrhiantgaptphleiessubtjoecatlmoofs—wtateevre—ry irnelcilguidoinnganadsctuorlytuarbeoiunttthheiswovrelryd.O”DK wrieinggtuhrlaapcteeir,otnciosnleoonrnt,nfroeednlei-rgdaiilosnca,rnaidgmeis,ntaanttaeitoilnoanwraselgaoanrrdid--
Fountain and its companion pools around campus to you, the readers ofCollegePark. Good read- gin,politicalaffiliation,gender,sexual
orientationordisability.
ing, and wishes for peace in this coming holiday season. —DanielCusick, Editor
2 COLLEGEPARK FALL2001 PHOTOBYJOHNTCONSOLI
a
PERSPECTIVE
Dear Alumni and Friends:
The month of September tested our spirit also injured as the institute’s temporary
as a nation and a university like at no quarters were totally demolished. Given
time in recent history. First the terrorist the tornado’s 200-mph wind speed and its
attacks wrenched our national persona, path through a heavily populated part of
and then less than two weeks latera dev- campus, we are fortunate that the human
astating tornado cut its path through the and property losses were not greaterstill.
campus. But through these trials we as a Just as we had pulled together after the
university family realized a deepening 11th, once again faculty, staffand stu-
strength ofcharacter that has been quite dents rallied to assist students in finding
moving to those close to the university. housing, identifying cars and helping to
I would like to share with you an cleardebris. Stories ofsacrifice and
account ofhow this university community extraordinary effort abound. Dining Ser-
responded to these two September trials. vices staffworked 21 hours straight to
The University ofMaryland is a very coordinate the delivery offood to police,
diverse community, with students drawn fireand emergency personnel. A staff
from every state and U.S. possession as member in Work Control, who lost her
well as some 150 countries. More than brother in the terrorist attack on the Pen-
4,000 new treshmen were experiencing tagon, fielded calls late into the night to
—
their first days on campus a time meant direct needed assistance to devastated
to savor new experiences, not to face areas. We learned, too, how much we can
unprecedented stresses away from home depend on our neighbors as fire depart-
with few, and often no, close friends. ment crews from across the state rushed to
On September 12 more than 8,000 of help, local restaurants brought in food,
us gathered on McKeldin Mall for aday of and legislators offered support.
mourning and reflection. I witnessed an The tornado struck Monday evening of
unparalleled sense ofcamaraderie and the week celebrating the opening ofour
coming together in a moving ceremony magnificent Clarice Smith Performing
where campus citizens laid 10,000 flowers Arts Center. Even though the tornado’s
by the fountain in remembrance ofthose path brushed the center, nearly all activi-
lost in the tragedy. Teams ofcounselors ties went on as scheduled. Never did the
provided services both formal and infor- Friday night performance ofBeethoven’s
mal, and they were there simply to listen. majestic “Ninth Symphony,” with its tri-
I am quite proud to tell you that our stu- umphant chorale finish, resonate more
dents from Arab nations and those ofthe joyfully to those ofus gathered in the ships with industry and federal labs. We
Muslim faith found us to be a sanctuary Concert Hall. A community open house have begun to create the Maryland-China
—
concerned about their well being too. on Sunday drew in more than 5,000 research park next to the campus, the first
That was ofcritical importance to us. testimony to the enduring powerofthe Chinese research park outside ofChina.
While the September 11 attacks were arts and especially to the teams ofpeople And the successes ofourfootball team, led
shared by the nation, the tornado targeted who put the campus back togetherso by alumnus Ralph Friedgen, lifted our
the campus and a few communities quickly after the tornado struck. spirits through Septemberat a time when
around us. It was the first tornado to hit Life will never be the same, but the it meant more to us than ever. —
locally in 70 years and wreaked havoc ofa university, recharged by this remarkable It is agreat time to beaTerp a great
magnitude not seen before at this univer- community spirit, has returned to its time to takepride in the university and
sity. Literally in a matter ofseconds, two bustling, high-energy pace.We welcomed its many accomplishments and to warm to
students, sisters, were killed. They were new faculty members, including three the sense ofcommunity surrounding her.
daughters ofa staffmember in the Mary- Pulitzer Prize winners and a Nobel Laure- We stood toge—ther when we needed to
land Fire and Rescue Institute who was ate in Physics, and launched new partner- and it shows. C. D. Mote,Jr., President
PHOTOBYJOHNT.CONSOLI COLLEGEPARK FALL2001 3
MAILBOX
REMEMBERING BLACK SAGA and active with the Veterans’
Club, having just completed
I just read yourarticle about my service in the U.S. Air
the Black Sagacompetition Force. The Veterans' Club had
that is run by professor a mixer planned at Ritchie
Charles Christian. Whileat Coliseum forvery early in the
Maryland, I took apublic rela- semester, the first orsecond
tions course in which our class weekend as I recall.John
had the opportunity to work Belushi’s AnimalHousewas
with Dr. Christian and devel- just released and we quickly
op acampaign to promote his changed our normal mixer
annual competition. Dr. into a toga party. The Univer-
Christian always found time in sity ofMaryland was even
his busy schedule to meet noted in Time magazine for
with us and answerourques- holding this event, one ofthe
tions. At the end ofthe semes- first large toga parties in the
ter, he gave every student in country resulting from the
the class a signed copy ofhis AnimalHousecraze!
book, BlackSaga. His enthusi- SteveHayleek, PERH '83
asm and willingness to teach Dayton Md.
,
young children about African
American history and hisgen- The y—ear ofthe photograph is
erosity and interest in helping 1978 corresponding with
students ofall ages succeed release ofthe movie Animal
should notgo unnoticed. The House. Oh, the memories of
success ofhis competition those togaand Friday night
comes as no surprise. well-rounded guy, he most GUESSTHE YEAR dances at Ritchie Coliseum.
Michelle Vitagliano.JOUR '98 certainly never hit the books. Those were thegood years.
Boston, Mass. My husband and I met The yearwas 1978. 1 was six WaltSchmick, A&S ’72
and hung out with years old then, however the Fort Worth. Texas
A SQUARE PEG Larry and his film AnimalHouseeventually
IN A ROUND future wife for became one ofmy all-time Editor's note: Cindy Rosenstein of
HOLE years in the favorites during high school Owings Mills. Md.. a 1979
lounge ofthe and shaped my vision ofcol- criminaljusticegraduate, recog-
I laughed out Society for lege. Boy, was I wrong. There nizedoneofheroldcollegepals,
loud to see Physics Stu- was not even one toga party whowillremain nameless, as one
Larry Tansill’s dents along my entire six years there. 1 was ofthetoga-cladmenattendingthe
well-loved face with many a little too late, I guess. 1978 campuswidetogaparty.
in the photo on otherphysics ShaneCohen Thetogacrazeofthelate ’70s
pages 60 and 61 in students. I honestly B.S. ’96 ENGR was inspiredbythemovie Ani-
the Class Notes section didn’t think your maga- B.A. ’96 BSOS mal House, starringcomedian
ofyour latest issue (with the zine would induce much nos- Metairie. La. John Belushi. Rosenstein's name
caption “Well-rounded stu- talgia for a non-mainstream, wasdrawnfromapoolofallthe
dent hits the books, 1989”). non-Greek former physics The Guess the Yearpicture in correctanswers, andshe will
From the picture, I believe geek, but you did it. Thanks. the Summer 2001 edition ol receiveapolo-styleshirt with Terp
that Larry was eating his Stephanie Warner CollegePark magazine was logocourtesy oftheMaryland
lunch, nodoubt bought at the B.S. ’90. M.A. ’00 BSOS taken during the Fall 1978 Alumni Association.
Food Co-op, and I can assure semester. I was newly enrolled
you that although Larry is a at the University ol Maryland
4 COLLEGEPARK FALL2001
VIEWPOINT
Giving Voice to the Watermen knowledge is perceived as unscientific or
anecdotal because its validity cannot be
assessed through scientific testing. While
The Chesapeake Bay is a valued natural resource, enjoyed by all bay advocates, including watermen,
We recognize the need forscientific, hypothe-
millions throughout the Mid-Atlantic. express our appreci- sis-driven research, should we really dis-
ation of the hay through widespread support of policies and miss empirical and experiential data from
those who, with a keenness that escapes
programs that protect and restore our for waterman communities? the outsider's eye, carefully study and
marine resources. However, there is Twopossibilities come to mind. As a observe the ecological processes on the
another bay resource that receives much first task, we might reflect upon what we bay? Is not their long-term success at
—
less ofourattention and support the really know about watermen, versus earning a livelihood on the watera reli-
bay’s watermen. able measure ofthevalidity oftheir
Forcenturies, the region’s harvesters ecological knowledge?
ofoysters, crab and fish have supported Todate, too much ofthe bay’s
close-knit coastal communities, exhib- resource management has been top
ited ingenuity in developing new tech- down. However, discussions ofco-man-
—
nologies including the skipjack, a agement approaches with watermen as
—
sail-powered oysterdredge boat and equal participants are beginning to take
provided us with oursummer steamed shape. Watermen are motivated topar-
crabs. Today, however, oysterand crab ticipate in these efforts since thevery
harvests are a mere fraction ofwhat polices implemented directly affect
they once were, the result ofparasitic their lives and incomes. Furthermore,
infections, habitat destruction and contrary topopular image, watermen
decades ofheavy commercial and recre- considerthemselves stewards ofthe
ational fishing. assumptions we may hold based on sec- bay’s natural resources. As one waterman
At the same time, the numberof ond- or third-hand information mediated recently expressed, “Whowould be fool
watermen “working the water" declines through ourown cultural biases. Many enough todestroy where they’re makin’
yearly, and it is an aging population. watermen believe they are perceived by their living?”
With restrictions on commercial licenses urban dwellers as, in their own words, The Chesapeake Bay symbolizes not
and high startup costs, many young men “ignorant rednecks.” While it’s true that only the beauty and bounty oi nature, but
whose fathers and grandfathers were many watermen lack formal schooling also the homeofavibrant and changing
watermen are “heading down the road" to beyond high school, most are family men cultural landscape. Watermen are central
find work ashore. whovalue and define themselves by hard to that cultural landscape, and they pos-
Many may view the demise ofthe work. They believe in community and sess ecological knowledge and motivation
Chesapeake Bay watermen as an religion, demonstrate remarkable self- to be key participants in ourefforts to
inevitability ofour modern and post- reliance, and possess mechanical and fix-it protect and manage the bay. Forwater-
modern times. A pessimistic view is that skills that make any urban Home Depot men, their heritage is the right to "work
the communities and landscapes sur- weekend warriorenvious. Watermen com- the water.” It is time wevalued that right
rounding the bay must change as urban munities exhibit some ofthe core cultural and valued theirheritage bygiving them
sprawl and coastal development engulf values that are widelyconsidered to be in greatervoice in protecting the bay.
more and more ofthe bay's watershed. decline in contemporary urban societies.
Still, it is not too late forenlightened Second, we need to integrate the exten- MichaelPao/isso isassistantprofessorinthe
resource management that integrates both sive ecological knowledge accumulated by University ofMaryland’s Departmentof
ecological and cultural priorities. As users watermen overgenerations into our poli- Anthropologyandistheprincipalinvestigator
ofthe bay and supporters ofefforts to cies and programs toensure a healthy ofa NationalScience'Foundationstudy ofcul-
manage the bay’s resources, what might Chesapeake Bay. Natural resource man- turalmodels ofpollutionandenvironmentheld
we do in research and conservation to help agers, scientists and conservationists do by ChesapeakeBaystakeholdergroups, includ-
promote a more comprehensive concern seek watermen’s input, but too often this ing watermen.
PHOTOBYJOHNTCONSOLI COLLEGEPARK FALL2001 5
—
Attacks Prompt Calls for Campus Unity
One day after America’s
worst terrorist attack,
8,000 people joined
together on McKeldin
Mall to remember
those lost, grieve for a
wounded nation and
find strength through
unity as a university
community.
Few days in the history ofthe University of University President C. D. MoteJr., in an e-
Maryland have unfolded with such profound mail to the university community that after-
senses offearand tragedy as that of Tuesday, noon, captured the mood ofthe campus as news
Sept. 11, 2001. ofthe devastation mounted, “Never in the
As thousands ofstudents filed into their courseofmy life have I had to endure a national
morning classes and faculty and staffsettled crisis ofthis proportion," he said. “The loss of
into theiroffices, the news of the terrorist innocent life and the national terror induced by
attacks on New York’s World Trade Centerand ourdefenselessness have taken on asurreal qual-
the Pentagon shocked, and then consumed, the ity that is far beyond my
campus, turning an otherwise pristine fall experience.”
morning into one of the most anguished days in Only later would
university history. Mote learn that two grad-
Classes dismissed in an eerie silence. Stu- uate students in the
McKeldin Mall absorbedthe dents and staffmembers gathered nervously in Smith School ofBusiness,
university'scollectivegriefon front of television sets and World Wide Web Navy officers Eric Allen
thedayafterterrorshockedthe browsers. Sirens wailed through the morning Cranford and Michael
nation andtheworld. airas emergency vehicles raced along Route 1 Scott Lamana, had died
and onto the university in the Pentagon attack.
grounds, securing the campus On Wednesday, shock began giving way to
against potential threats. grief. Even with classes cancelled, more than
It was a day where the only 8,000 students, faculty and staffgathered on
lesson learned by students and McKeldin Mall fora 30-minute mourning serv-
staffalike was that the world ice organized by the university’s chaplains. In a
and the unchallenged sense of remarkable display of campus unity, prayers of
—
security that defined it was peace were offered in the traditions ofChris-
no longer the same place. tianity, Hindu, Islam andJudaism as volunteers
6 COLLEGEPARK FALL2001 PHOTOSBYJOHNT.CONSOLI
passed out 10,000 cut flowers to those in atten- Civic Engagement at Heart of New Center
dance.
As two-and-a-half minutes ofsilence SM
— ne ofthe nation's largest funders of nonprofit work in the fields of
enveloped thosegathered disrupted only by BSi civics, public health, the environment and religion has awarded $4.57
the sounds ofmilitary jets—patrolling the million to the University of Maryland to study patterns ofcivic engagement
nation’s capital high above Lutheran chaplain
and disengagement among young Americans between the ages of 15 and 25.
Beth Platz invoked members ofthe community
The grant, from the Philadelphia-based Pew Charitable Trusts, supports
to take solace in the moment, adding, “In that
the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement,
flowerand in this silence, you might allow your
or CIRCLE. The center is directed by William A. Galston, a professor in the
heart to speak in any
university's School of Public Affairs, with the active involvement offaculty
way you desire.”
and researchers both at Maryland and from around the nation.
As the service
"On the one hand, young people are volunteering their services in record
closed, a lone saxo-
numbers," says Galston. "On the other hand, young people are disengaging
phonist, Chris Vadala
from the institutions through which binding public decisions are made."
ofthe university’s —
Indifference toward matters ofcivic importance voting, social and eco-
School of Music, played —
melodies by Duke nomic welfare, government spending is one ofthe biggest dilemmas facing
younger Americans,
Ellington as thousands
according to scholars
placed their roses, carnations, chrysanthemums
ODK involved in the effort.
and lilies on the rim ofMcKeldin Mall’s
fountain. The memorial remained undisturbed In addition to better
understanding such
until Sept. 14, when many returned to the mall
civic disengagement,
to help bury the flowers in the East Garden, just
researchers are look-
across from Main Administration Building.
ing for ways to
Hundreds chose to express sentiments in
increase the involve-
writing on large white sheets draped over tables
ODK ment ofyoung people
near the fountain—“Peace be on Earth"
... “God Bless” ... "We will always remember” in the public affairs of
their communities and
“Teach us to forgive.”
... country.
While many consoled themselves in the
The center also
company ofothers, some, like Corey Merdler,
will fund research
20, a mechanical engineering major from Balti-
about civic engage-
more, walked quietly along the fountain to
ment and disseminate
reflect on the events and to prepare himselffor
its findings to practi-
uncertain days ahead.
“The whole bruntofthis thing hasn’t hit me tioners, policy makers
and interested scholars
yet, but it seems really fitting todo this,” he said
of the mourning service. “It changed what’s hap- in such disciplines as
pened from just a news event intoa real human political science, soci-
ology and education.
experience. Everybody is hurting from this.”
An advisory board of
Fostering asense ofunity among Maryland’s
leading scholars and
largeand diversecampus community wasacrit-
practitioners from
ical part ofthe healing process forstudentsand
staffmembers alike, officials say. And while the around the country will
help shape CIRCLE'S
ramifications ofthe attacks will be felt for
research agenda and
months and even years tocome, many within
the university community began taking small guide its grant-making
decisions, Galston
comfort on that sunny, somberafternoon on —
— says. KP
McKeldin Mall. DC
COLLEGEPARK FALL2001 7
—
Whilecutting a swath ofdestructionthroughthe
university's North Campus,thetornado ofSept.24
sparedthe newClarice Smith Performing Arts
Center(left, in background).
father, F. Patrick Marlatt,
is assistant directorofthe
Fire and Rescue Institute.
He had just seen his
daughters offfrom the
institute, where they were
visiting, when the tornado
struck.
Universitypresident
C. D. MoteJr., in a state-
ment to the university com-
munity, expressed concern
and sympathy, saying, “We
aregripped by their loss
andgrieffor their family
theyareour family.”
Patrick Marlatt and six
otherstaffmembers were
pinned under the implod-
Home ed buildings housing the
Tornado Hits Fire and Rescue Institute
until rescuers could pull
A them out. One staffmem-
tornado packing winds of up to 200 miles per hour
ber suffered serious
slammed into the university’s north campus on Sept. 24, injuries. About 25 stu-
killing two sisters who were university students and dents reported minor
injuries, and hundreds of
temporarily displacing thousands from north cars parked in the path ofthe storm were dam-
campus residence halls and a university apart- aged, some flipped over. Total damage to prop-
:
ment complex. erty on campus was estimated at $15 million.
The storm, which struck around 5:20 p.m. While most campus buildings were spared
on an afternoon marked by dark skies, blowing by the storm, more than 700 university stu-
rain and fierce lightning, also destroyed tempo- dents living in the University Courtyard apart-
rary buildings housing the Maryland Fire and ments had to be relocated until repair work was
Rescue Institute, a university-based training completed. Students who were evacuated from
and certification program for firefighters from high-rise residence halls were able to return to
across the state. their rooms within seven hours after the storm.
The sisters, Colleen Marlatt, 23, and Erin A University ofMaryland Tornado Victims
Marlatt, 20, were killed when theircarwas lift- Fund has been set up by the university to aid
ed offthe ground by the tornadoand thrown those affected by the disaster. Contributions
into a tree. Colleen Marlatt was expected to should be mailed to the University ofMaryland
graduate in December with a degree in environ- College Park Foundation, cloTerry Miller,
mental policy and communication. Erin Marlatt 2103 Pocomoke Building, College Park, Md.,
was a sophomore majoring in sociology. Their 20742. —DC
8 COLLEGEPARK FALL2001 CLOUDYSKYPHOTOBYTOMVENTSIAS.ALLOTHERPHOTOSBYJOHNT.CONSOLI