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FFRRIIDDAAYYMARCH 30, 2012

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LGBTQ community opensGaypril with drag show

BY LISA BERKMANCORRESPONDENT

Students gathered in support to kick offthe start of Gaypril, a month devoted to thecelebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender and questioning community with adrag show.

Two drag queens performed to an audi-ence of eighty students yesterday as membersof the Queer Student Alliance and the Centerfor Social Justice Education and LGBTCommunities hosted tables with informationabout their groups and the month-long cele-bration.

This year’s Gaypril focus is expanding fromgender variance to include transgender andtranssexual students, said Rebecca Pero, QSAsecretary.

“There isn’t necessarily enough of a need

for those type of programs, but we felt thisyear it really suited our body to have more pro-grams in that area,” said Pero, a School of Artsand Sciences junior.

Though June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, andTransgender Pride Month, the annual cele-bration was moved to April, so students couldenjoy the festivities, she said.

Kyle Hartmann, Center for Social JusticeEducation office manager, said the ceremonyreflects the importance of having the LGBTQcommunity at the University.

“It’s good for the University to show thatthere’s a bunch of events going on throughoutthe month and that we do have a large studentpresence of LGBTQ identified students,” saidHartmann, a School of Arts and Sciences jun-ior.

RUSA addresses security oncampus, Rutgersfest concerns

BY ADAM UZIALKOCORRESPONDENT

All outdoor on-campus events scheduled forFriday, April 20 are canceled because of con-cerns that students may emulate Rutgersfestthrough parties and makeshift festivals.

Campus Dean of Students Tim Grimm saidat the Rutgers University Student Assemblymeeting yesterday that a University task forceis taking preventative measures againstRutgersfest replacements, such as “Ragefest.”

“After last year’s Rutgersfest there’s beengreat concern, especially since students intend-ed to hold it anyway,” Grimm said at theStudent Activities Center River Lounge on theCollege Avenue campus.

Grimm said he realizes much of the prob-lems the University faced last year — particu-larly the multiple shootings that occurred on

the College Avenue campus — were notbecause of University students.

“We understand that most of the problemsweren’t related to Rutgersfest,” he said. “It wasmostly high school students who heardRutgers was party city on that day.”

Grimm said the task force wants to keep stu-dents safe, not restrict them.

“Our concern is not with the students andhow they celebrate,” Grimm said. “Our intent isnot to control off-campus students. Our intent isto stop the kinds of behavior that cause themost significant problems.”

Everyone wants to do whatever is possibleto create a safe campus but it is a little supersti-tious to preemptively cancel all events to pre-vent crime, said RUSA vice president JohnConnelly.

“They made the month of April a taboo,”Lady Marisa, Miss Den 2012, performs for a crowd of 80 during the opening ceremonyof Gaypril last night at Trayes Hall in the Douglass Campus Center.

NELSON MORALES / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Campus Dean of Students Tim Grimm speaks about the role of the University’s April 2012task force yesterday during a Rutgers University Student Assembly meeting.

KEITH FREEMAN / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Hip-hop performer Big Sean performs for hundreds of students yesterday at the College Avenue Gym. Rutgers University Programming hosted the concert. For more photos, see PAGE 3.

ENRICO CABREDO / ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

SHAKE THATFemale alumnireflect on careeraccomplishments

BY AMY ROWEFEATURES EDITOR

In celebration of Women’s History Month, three femaleUniversity alumni have shared the stories of their careers andmaintain that they had to follow their passions and have confi-dence to get where they are.

RRUUTTHH AANNNN BBUURRNNSSRuth Ann Burns, a Douglass College alumna, was the

youngest female correspondent to report on the Vietnam Warin 1966 in between her junior and senior year.

“I was a journalism major, and that was the biggest story ofthe day, and I wanted to get over there to cover the war,” Burnssaid. “I looked much younger than I was at the time, and nodependents were allowed in the country, but I got [press con-

SEE ALUMNI ON PAGE 2

SEE RUSA ON PAGE 3

SEE SHOW ON PAGE 3

LeGrand expresses hope in research BY ADAM UZIALKO

CORRESPONDENT

Eric LeGrand took the stageWednesday in front of an audi-ence of 70 people at the BuschCampus Center to present hisoutlook for the future, reflectingthe event’s theme of “Don’t StopBelieving.”

Dr. Wise Young, his physicaltherapist and mentor, held themicrophone for LeGrand as herecalled his injury during the Oct.16, 2010 Scarlet Knights footballgame against Army’s BlackKnights in the MeadowlandsStadium.

“When I first got hurt, I waslaying on that field, and I felt likeI knocked the wind out ofmyself,” LeGrand said. “Coach[Greg] Schiano came running upto me and said ‘you just got tokeep praying, you just got tofight.’”

LeGrand said he saw his moth-er before he was taken off thefield and assured her that hewould be “all right.”

After seeing his mother,LeGrand said he “blacked out”and was unable to remember any-thing that happened until the fol-lowing Wednesday, four daysafter his injury.

“The first year, you face thingsyou’ve never faced in your wholelife,” LeGrand said.

Young, director of theUnversity’s W.M. Keck Center forCollaborative Neuroscience saidhe first met LeGrand about sixweeks after his injury.

Young said he told LeGrandthat he was working on therapiesfor chronic spinal cord injuriesand that he wanted LeGrand tofeel that he was not alone.

“I want to make sure that Ericunderstands that we are hereworking for him,” Young said.“He’s my hero. He always waspoised. He always had this confi-dence that he was able to do this.”

LeGrand said he began thera-py with a lot of stretching andsoon progressed to therapies,such as what he called “the stand-ing frame” where LeGrand wouldbe able to stand with assistancefrom a mechanical frame.

“I would get dizzy a lot andstart feeling like I was going topass out,” LeGrand said about hisearly attempts to stand.

LeGrand said he was able tofight through the pain, using hissupporters as inspiration for hiscontinued therapy.

“How can you give up?”LeGrand said. “I take it as aresponsibility every day to getthrough therapy.”

LeGrand said his efforts paidoff when he released a picture ofhimself standing on July 13, 2011along with a tweet that read:“Standing tall, we can’t fall.Standing upright again#bELieve52 #TeamUSA.”

“The therapists can’t tell youwhat it is. I can’t tell you what it is.It’s just a blessing to me,”LeGrand said.

As for the future, LeGrandsaid he plans to be a broadcasterfor ESPN.

“After I get my degree, I wantto go into broadcasting,” LeGrandsaid. “I’m hoping to work withESPN in the next two years.”

Dr. Young said he applaudsLeGrand’s efforts both physicallyand in the classroom.

“Eric was taking classes againin January through Skype anddoing his physical therapy at the

same time,” Young said. The event, sponsored by

Student Society for Stem CellResearch, also featured musicalperformances by the student acappella group Deep Treble, theUniversity yo-yo club, and rapperProfessirX, a victim of a spinalcord injury himself.

ProfessirX, also known asRichard Thomas, became para-lyzed after he was shot in theneck and now devotes his time torapping about the need for a cure.

The title of the first song heperformed, “I Believe,” promotedthe idea of not only using stemcell research for spinal cordinjuries, but also other conditionsthat could benefit from stem cells.

“Everybody has got to believethere’s a chance for me to get outof this chair,” Thomas said in thesong. “And if it ain’t me, it’s thekids of the future.”

LeGrand said with the help ofsome of his teammates, classesvia Skype were just like being inattendance physically.

“My teammates would put thelaptop right up front so once I putmy headphones on, it was justlike being there,” LeGrand said.

Since Young first arrived at theUniversity 15 years ago, he hasseen a rise in spinal cord injuryresearch.

LeGrand said he is confidentin Young and his staff, claimingthat a cure is on its way.

“I know that this man righthere will find a cure for all of us,”he said. “And then we’re going toparty.”

All proceeds from the event’sadmission went to the CentralJersey Spinal Cord InjuryAssociation Inc., which is affiliat-ed with LeGrand.

Eric LeGrand, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, left, and Dr. Wise Young, Legrand’s physical therapistand mentor, reflects on life difficulties with spinal cord injury on Wednesday at the Busch Campus Center.

WILLY MELLOT

tacts].”The climate for women start-

ing careers after college was intransition at this time, the peakof the feminist movement, Burnssaid.

“Going to a women’s college,it gave you a sense of confidencethat you could do anything orthat you could be anything,” shesaid. “That was a shared valueand feeling that a lot of Douglasswomen had at the time.”

Burns, now 67, said herreporting in Vietnam came froma perspective different from theother reporters covering the war.

“I was the age of the soldiersfighting the war, and I saw itfrom different eyes,” she said. “Itwas a life-changing experiencebecause you go from a collegeclassroom where you’re guard-ed, [and] then you go to a warzone where you face life anddeath on a daily basis.”

After a few years in print jour-nalism, the East Brunswicknative went on to become a tele-vision producer at WNET in NewYork, she said, where she endedup as a senior vice president incharge of the metropolitan divi-sion.

“That was a terrific experi-ence, I stayed there for 18 years.I got to create the first website,”she said. “Even throughoutthose years, there were womenin positions, but there weren’t alot of women in positions ofpower.”

Burns said today, there stillare not many women in leader-ship roles in television, govern-ment or corporate America.What motivated Burns was theidea that she could achieve any-thing.

“I had some mentors in publictelevision who were male andwho were minority male,” shesaid. “They were very, very sup-portive and pushed me along,even when I didn’t think I wasready for it.”

Burns went on to work as thevice president of Marketing andExternal Affairs at GeorgianCourt University, and now hasher own consulting firm for mar-keting communications and gov-ernment relations, she said.

TTAAMMAARRAA RREEMMEEDDIIOOSS Tamara Remedios, a first-gen-

eration Indian-American whostudied marketing at RutgersCollege in the 1990s, began acareer for herself by publishing“Get Out Today” on the NewBrunswick campus, a guide thatprovided students informationfrom places to eat to the best hairsalons.

The information she pub-lished included answers to ques-tions she received often as a res-ident assistant on the CollegeAvenue campus. The magazinewas the first she publishedthrough her self-started firm,Xplore Communications.

Remedios, from Old Bridge,N.J., is in the minority of entre-preneurs as a female who startedher business when she was 23years old. She said the number offemale entrepreneurs is growing.

“I think as a whole, there aremore men [entrepreneurs]. Iwork with independent restau-rants and cities … 90 percent ofmy clients are men,” she said viaemail correspondence. “But I …interact with more female entre-preneurs now than when I start-ed my business in 1999.”

To become an entrepreneur,

Remedios suggested studentsfollow their passions and be fear-less.

“When I started my business,I think I had less fear than I donow, and I just tried it,” she saidvia email. “I strongly believewhen someone has passion forwhat they do and truly love it, itworks out in some form or fash-ion.”

Now 36 years old and living inNewark, Remedios works forherself and enjoys the freedomof entrepreneurship, where sheworks from home and can takeoff time for vacations every year,she said.

Remedios said it was hard toconvince her parents, who wereborn and raised in India, of entre-preneurship.

“Their thought process was:Get good grades, get a degree,get a good job for life,” she said.“Those aren’t the times anymore.Seeing my parents embrace myprojects over the last 13 yearsmakes me smile — though theystill wonder when I’m going toget a ‘real job.’”

JJEENNNNIIFFEERR SSNNEEEEDDJennifer Sneed, a 2003

University alumna, encountereda diverse student body thatenhanced her undergraduateexperience at the start of the 21stcentury.

“I really cannot imagine hav-ing gotten my education fromanywhere else. Rutgers was theperfect fit for me,” said the 30-year-old Toms River, N.J. native,via email correspondence.“There were many womenenrolled and many of whom haddifferent ethnic backgrounds.”

The University’s climate dur-ing Sneed’s undergraduatecareer helped her launch hercareer in government, which shebegan while interning for Sen.Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., shesaid. After graduation, she washired to open Lautenberg’sSouth Jersey office in Camden,she said.

Now, living in Newark andworking as the director of con-stituent services and SouthJersey projects for Lautenberg’soffice, Sneed handles inquiriesincluding those that regardsocial security, student loans,veteran affairs and immigration.

She also meets with con-stituents on behalf of Lautenbergand helps prepare materialswhile briefing the senator.

“I am proud to stand up forothers and try to assist them inresolving a problem or celebrat-ing an accomplishment,” shesaid via email. “I really enjoywhat I do. It is tremendouslyrewarding to play a role in mak-ing a positive difference in thelives of others.”

Sneed recognizes that gov-ernment is predominantly male-driven, but said women are con-tinuing to make their way intothe field.

“In my particular office, therepresentation of females tomales is pretty equal, which isvery positive,” she said via email.“I am extremely proud that Sen.Lautenberg has been a big advo-cate for women throughout hiscareer.”

For female students lookingfor careers in government or aposition in office, Sneed said con-fidence is an important asset.

“Women need to speak up andfight for what they stand for,” shesaid via email. “Instilling encour-agement to do anything that oneputs their mind to at an early age… is key to … more women inthe future running for and get-ting elected to public office.”

ALUMNI: Women share

professional experiences

continued from front

MA R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 2 T H E DA I LY TA R G U MUNIVERSITY2

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released today shows mostNew Jersey residents support the New York City PoliceDepartment’s strategy of secretly monitoring Muslimgroups, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton press release.

Of those who were polled, 47 percent said the mon-itoring was necessary to protect the country. On theother hand, 32 percent said the strategy was a violationof civil rights, while 12 percent said it was both neces-sary and a violation of civil rights, according to thepress release.

While only 24 percent of those polled said theapproach is “very effective” in protecting the countryfrom terrorist threats, three-quarters of New Jerseyansclaim it is “somewhat effective,” according to the pressrelease. Just 18 percent said the monitoring produceslittle effect.

David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagletonpoll, said the poll showed New Jersey residents hold asimilar attitude to their New York counterparts con-

cerning the issue, according to the press release.“Another recent poll told us that New Yorkers

strongly supported the NYPD,” said Redlawsk, a pro-fessor in the Department of Political Science, in therelease. “But New Jerseyans also seem to have fewproblems with the NYPD’s actions, which is more sur-prising since we’re talking about an out-of-state policeforce operating in secret here.”

The poll also showed differences in opinionbetween the state’s regions. Among urban residents,half said monitoring is at least somewhat effective — asentiment shared by 80 percent of residents from theJersey Shore counties, according to the release.

“Not surprisingly, those closest to the surveillanceoperations are the most likely to be concerned for civilliberties violations,” he said in the release.

The poll surveyed 601 adults throughout the stateusing landline and cellphones, according to the release.

POLL REVEALS NEW JERSEYANS SUPPORT NYPD SURVEILLANCE OF MUSLIM STUDENT GROUPS

Connelly, a School of Arts andSciences junior.

Connelly said he wished thetask force consulted with the stu-dent body and had gotten more stu-dent feedback before coming upwith this decision.

Grimm said the task force hascollaborated with local law enforce-ment and landlords in order toensure that those significant prob-lems are prevented.

Grimm said students shouldkeep parties in control, emphasiz-ing that it would help the goals ofthe task force greatly.

“If you’re having a house party,please keep it confined to you andyour friends,” he said. “I don’t thinkany of us want people coming hereto trash our campus, fire off gunsand possibly hurt someone andcause damage that ultimately youhave to pay for,” Grimm said.

Connelly said he thinks peoplewill still have house parties but asolution suggested during themeeting was having the Universityhost a non-alcoholic campus eventfor students.

Grimm said no outdoor eventscan be held April 20 because it isone of the dates identified as mostlikely for widespread parties.

“General rules apply,” Grimmsaid, referring to students maythrow parties off campus. “We areworking to have extra policethroughout the evening and day toensure things don’t get out of con-trol.”

Grimm said the task force doesnot intend to punish University stu-dents for the actions of others after

the final Rutgersfest. “I’m looking for safety of stu-

dents on a day that’s been gettingworse and worse and last year, hit atipping point,” he said. “I can’t turnRutgers into a police state, nor do Iwant to.”

Acting Lt. Michael Rein saidsafety is the main goal for theRutgers University PoliceDepartment.

“The University police depart-ment is community oriented, andthere is no community withoutyou,” Rein said. “The Universitypolice exist to support theUniversity.”

General campus parking wasanother issue brought to attentionat the meeting.

Jack Molenaar, director of theDepartment of TransportationServices, said the department isnot looking to penalize studentswho may get tickets — rather it isdone to open up parking spaces.

“Enforcement is done to makesure people follow all of these poli-cies,” he said. “If you don’t make ithurt a little bit, people start to cal-culate how many times they can doit before they get hurt.”

Molenaar said the enforcementsystem is not money-driven,though the money collected fromparking violations stays within thetransportation department.

“If we wanted to make moneyoff of you, I’d put meters on everycampus and then make you driveeverywhere and charge whatever Iwanted,” he said. “The rules andenforcement ensure that you havea spot.”

Molenaar said the signs in park-ing lots around campus would beredone during the summer toreduce student confusion.

RUSA: U. parking lot signsto be redone for fall semester

Alex Proulx, a Schools of Artsand Sciences senior, said theseevents help give students a senseof belonging.

“Kids are coming from theirhometowns, and they don’t realizewhat they have here,” Proulx said.“Not only are there people that arein the same boat as you, but thereare a lot of them.”

Hartmann said the scope andinfluence of Gaypril is to increaseopportunities.

“I feel like it is growing some-what,” he said. The University, ouroffice specifically, is offering newthings that haven’t been happen-ing in the past.”

Attendees were given a Gayprilcalendar with a list of events forthe month. Plans include discus-sions, movie nights, a DemarestHall drag show and a Queer Ball.

Events are being introduced tothe campus, like the greek “BeingQueer” celebration and the nation-al NOH8 (No Hate) Campaign.

Paul DeStefano, a member ofthe campaign, said a photographicprotest against inequality will bestaged on April 4 to raise aware-ness. The protest features subjectswith duct tape over their mouths,to symbolize the LGBTQ mem-bers that are silenced by bias.

“Any time you have the oppor-tunity to bring the attention ofissues related to equality andsocial justice to a campus commu-nity, it’s beneficial,” DeStefanosaid. “It opens a dialogue amongthe students and everybody affili-ated with the University about theissues going on.”

Sarah Stern, a School of Artsand Sciences first-year student,said Gaypril can help promote thegay rights movement.

“Rutgers is so diverse — notjust in skin tone, but in sexual ori-entation, as well,” Stern said. “A lotof people don’t understand whatLGBTQ is all about, so the moreawareness, the more we educatedother, the more people will acceptit.”

Pero said the opening eventhad no political agenda and wasjust an opportunity to bring theLGBTQ community closer togeth-er.

“A lot of the times with recentevents, we focus so much on

inequalities and injustices andeverything else,” Pero said. “Butthis is really a nice way to cometogether and celebrate togetherwho we are as individuals [and] asa community and just show thatoff.”

But Gaypril is not only for theLGBTQ community. Pero said allyparticipation has increased overthe years, and she hopes morepeople will join in.

“I think it’s a really great oppor-tunity to experience somethingdifferent and be a part of a com-munity that they may have nothave thought of joining before-hand,” Pero said.

SHOW: Monthlong events

include a Queer Ball, campaign

continued from front

Big Sean, above, performs his hip-hop rountine for a crowd of students at a Rutgers UniversityProgramming Association concertlast night in the College AvenueGym. R&B singer Miguel, topright, opened the concert.

PHOTOS BY ENRICO CABREDO / ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

HANDS UP IN THE AIR

MA R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 2T H E DA I LY TA R G U M UNIVERSITY 3

Alexis Milian, Miss Den 2012, performs her drag routine during theGaypril opening ceremony yesterday at the Douglass Campus Center.

NELSON MORALES / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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“I know that this man right here will finda cure for all of us. And then we’re going

to party.”

Eric LeGrand, former defensive tackle for the Scarlet Knights football team,on finding a cure for spinal cord injuries

SSTTOORRYY IINN UUNNIIVVEERRSSIITTYY

QQUUOOTTEE OOFF TTHHEE DDAAYY

As a writer I try to strayfrom response column —normally it feels like sellingout to journalism, thatrather than come up with apoint on my own doing, Iwould take someone else’sargument and counter it.The column in questioncame from an issue of TheDaily Targum last week — not the Tuesday column,as rebutting that would be the intellectual equal ofmy 6-foot-4 self playing basketball with toddlers —too easy #dunkcity — on Friday, March 23,“Denounce Genital Mutilation.” My problem lies notwith the theme of the column. I, like most people ofsound minds, find the genital mutilation of babygirls — particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia —despicable and disgusting. My problem is that theargument doesn’t go far enough.

The removal of certain portions of a baby girl’sgenitals — especially in Africa, where it is rarely, ifever, done cleanly — is a heartbreaking, disgustingpractice that is practiced quite commonly. However,I found issue with the relative ease that the authorshrugged off male genital mutilation, a practice wecommonly call circumcision. Why the author choseto be so selectively outraged is beyond my under-standing. The fact that the genital mutilation offemales was enough to warrant commentary but theconcept of male circumcision gets an implicit nod isbeyond me.

The author points out that FGM has “no cultural,no traditional and no religious aspect.” The practicewas started in Africa before the Common Era, or“Before Christ,” and has spread through many coun-tries in Africa. Baby girls are taken, have their geni-tals mutilated, and are returned to their family.Considering that most of this is in impoverished,sub-Saharan Africa — the author points out that it iscountries such as Somalia where this is most wide-spread — we can assume that the procedure is notdone in any manner of safety or cleanliness.

With or without clean facilities and instruments,the horror of the practice is inherent in the name —genital mutilation. What piqued my interest was theimplicit assent to male genital mutilation on thebasis of religious or cultural tradition.

In the act of circumcision, a baby boy’s foreskinis removed from his genitals, in some cases — par-ticularly in Orthodox Jewish communities, whereone mohel spreads herpes to babies through the“tradition” or removing the foreskin with the mouth— in unsanitary conditions. A report by theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics in 1999 also report-ed that the babies do feel a significant amount ofphysical pain and psychological stress during theprocedure, yet the practice continues. Where is theoutrage? Since the horrible practice of female geni-tal mutilation is practiced with no link to religion or

culture, it is disgusting, butmale genital mutilation getsa pass because of Genesis17:10-14 and Leviticus 12:3?

If your first defense is toclaim that our governmentmaintains a separation ofchurch and state, considersome other archaic, sillylaws in Leviticus — not let-

ting cattle graze with other kinds of cattle (19:19),not wearing clothes of mixed fabrics (19:19), nothaving sex with a menstruating woman on penalty ofsocial isolation (20:18), the death of any person whocurses their parents (20:9), the banning from altarsof people who are “blind or lame,” or people with flatnoses (21:17-18), the banning of shaving or cuttingcertain parts of someone’s hair (19:27). The list ofbarbaric or inane laws we ignore that are found inthe Old Testament can go on for pages and pages,but I have a 1200-word limit and an even smalleramount of patience. Yet the practice of genitallymutilating babies — the most defenseless subjectsone can imagine — is not only constitutionally pro-tected, but culturally accepted? When was the lasttime we threw a party for someone who had killedtheir wife for not being a virgin on their weddingnight (Deuteronomy 22:20-21)? Dale and ShannonHickman in Oregon are currently facing second-degree manslaughter charges for following theword of a holy book and attempting “faith healing”rather than taking their baby to a hospital. Are we asa people so morally bankrupt and insensibly lackingin self-awareness that we’ll hold the hangers-on toremnants of archaic code accountable for someharm instilled from mindless adherence, but notothers?

Let the record show that I am not attempting to“one-up” the practice of FGM, nor am I dismissing itas an undeniable, categorical evil in the world.Simply put, I am fed up with double standards in ourculture. I find it hard to believe that reasonable peo-ple, who can be so moved by a woman’s account ofFGM in Africa, are dismissive of the act performedon those girls’ brothers, fathers and cousins simplybecause a stipulation in a millennia-old book writtenby mostly illiterate Bronze-Age nomads told themto. To paraphrase Nobel Prize-winning physicistSteven Weinberg, regardless of religion, good peo-ple will do good and evil people will do evil. But foran entire culture, for literally millions of people toshrug off the genital mutilation of some childrenwhile taking an affront to others, for good people todo an ultimate evil — deny a problem with the geni-tal mutilation of babies — that takes religion.

Cody Gorman is a School of Arts and Sciences sen-ior majoring in political science and Middle Easternstudies with a minor in history.

Mutilation a double standard

Due to space limitations, submissions cannot exceed 750 words. If a commentary exceeds 750 words, it will not be considered forpublication. All authors must include name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for pub-lication. Anonymous letters will not be considered. All submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity. A submission does notguarantee publication. Please submit via e-mail to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publi-cation. Please do not send submissions from Yahoo or Hotmail accounts.The editorials written above represent the majority opinion of The Daily Targum editorial board. All other opinions expressed on theOpinions page, and those held by advertisers, columnists and cartoonists, are not necessarily those of The Daily Targum.

Reporters recently discovered a link between thefounder of the company responsible for the productionthe “pink slime” that has had everyone up in arms overthe past few weeks and GOP candidate Mitt Romney.Apparently, Eldon Roth, the founder of Beef Products, isa major donor to the Republican frontrunner and hiscampaign. At a Sioux Falls fundraiser, Roth donated$190,000 to the Romney campaign. Clearly, this sort ofpublicity is not good for Romney’s campaign. The “pinkslime” produced by Roth’s company has beendenounced by public health advocates and has alreadybeen removed from many school districts as a result.Not surprisingly, Romney has failed to comment on thelink. We dart Romney, along with Roth and his “pinkslime” — Romney for failing to explain himself, andRoth for producing something that’s considered bymany to be a health risk to those who consume it.

* * * *

University researches recently turned on what is con-sidered by many to be one of the most powerful com-puters in the Northeast. “Exacaliber” — which nowresides in the basement of the Busch campus’s HillCenter — is a $3.3 million IBM Blue Gene/P supercom-puter that researchers hope to use to solve some of themost complicated data analysis facing the state’s phar-maceutical and financial industries today. The computer,we hear, contains the computational power of 8,000desktop computers. We laurel IBM as well as theUniversity’s Discovery Informatics Institute, whohelped acquired the computational giant, for bringingtop-of-the-line technology like this to the University.

* * * *

This is embarrassing. As if Paul DelVecchio — betterknown as DJ Pauly D from “Jersey Shore” — hasn’tmade a big enough fool of himself already, the reality TVpop star is now looking to tackle the DJ world in a newMTV premiere called “The Pauly D Project.” The showwill follow Pauly D’s around the world, chronicling himas a celebrity DJ. His setlist will include “Rihanna, CalvinHarris, Swedish House Mafia and anything by NickiMinaj.” Big surprise there. We dart Pauly D for over-staying his welcome — or, more importantly, showingup at all — on the television screens of Americansaround the country. Our message to Pauly D: Come onman, enough is enough.

Week in review:laurels and darts

The TuningFork

CODY GORMAN

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PAG E 5

Knights takeon Hoyas inhome opener

BY JOEY GREGORYASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

After 28 games on the road, the Rutgerssoftball team finally has a chance to dis-play its growth in front of a home crowd.

Even better forthe ScarletKnights, theyenter a three-gameseries againstGeorgetown onthe heels of a two-

game sweep of Seton Hall.“We’re really excited. It’s nice to get

home after being on the road all of thistime,” said head coach Jay Nelson. “[Theplayers] can sleep in their own beds. Ithink it’s a good switch for them.”

Not only do the Knights have their firstopportunity to play at home, but it is also achance to confirm the success of Nelson’sscheduling strategy.

He purposely schedules tough teamsand pitchers so when conference play rollsaround, the team is already used to a high-er level of competition, he said.

The last three games are proof the planis paying off.

In the final game against No. 16 SouthFlorida, Rutgers (13-15, 2-3) battled thesecond-ranked Big East team in a 1-0Knights loss that encouraged Nelson.

The only problem with the Seton Hallseries is the Knights did not give anythingto work on in preparation for this week-end.

“We didn’t really show any weaknesses[against Seton Hall],” Nelson said. “We’lljust take some live [batting practice] onthe field and do some ground ball and flyball work.”

Since Rutgers looked on point in SouthOrange, N.J., Nelson tried to keep theteam ready, rather than work on specifics.

“We [did not] beat them up too muchbecause we just played a double header,”he said. “We’re just going to stay sharp. Bythis time of the year … they should knowwhat they’re doing.”

Nelson is not the only one excitedabout the return home.

The players are especially looking for-ward to having the crowd on their side —something they have not experienced inany of the 28 games this season.

“Being at home, you have your homefans. When we were away, the teams hadtheir fans,” said freshman outfielderChandler Howard. “I’m excited to be ableto perform and show people what we dobest in front of the people that care aboutus.”

Howard is one four rookies set to maketheir home debuts.

Ashley Alden, Jackie Bates and AlyssaLandrith also play in their first game atRutgers.

“[We’re] extremely excited, especiallythe freshmen — this being our first real in-season home game,” Howard said.

Based on records, the Hoyas (14-17)should not present any tougher of a chal-lenge than Seton Hall did.

In addition, thanks to a postponedseries against Notre Dame, Georgetownhas not played a Big East team and is notscheduled to face a ranked team until April6 against DePaul.

But that does not mean Rutgers isgoing to let up off the gas pedal. The teamplans to keep its play consistent.

“We know we have to come after itagainst Georgetown and just think aboutthose wins [against Seton Hall],” Howardsaid. “We know what we need to do andwe’re just going to keep doing it.”

GEORGETOWN ATRUTGERS,TOMORROW, NOON

SOFTBALL

BY VINNIE MANCUSOCORRESPONDENT

Two games into the Rutgers men’slacrosse team’s four-game Big East stretch,the Scarlet Knights have seen their first two

chances at a confer-ence win slipthrough their fin-gers.

St. John’s com-pleted a comebacktwo weeks ago to

steal a win from the Knights in the last twoseconds of the game. The Knights failed tofinish a comeback of their own a week lateragainst No. 6 Notre Dame, which got off to afive-goal lead in the first five minutes of thecontest.

Providence (1-6, 0-2), at the bottom of theconference, presents the Knights’ bestchance tomorrow at notching their first BigEast win of the year — on paper.

But head coach Brian Brecht, who facedProvidence while serving as head coach atSiena, knows what it says on paper does notguarantee a win.

“I’m expecting Providence to be a much

better team than their record shows,” Brechtsaid. “I have played Providence the last twoyears in a row [at Siena]. I know they arewell coached, and I know they have talentedplayers. Their record is a bit misleading.”

Records aside, the Providence matchup ispivotal for the Knights on the road to the BigEast Championships at the conclusion of theseason. With only four more Big East gamesleft in their season, the Knights (4-5, 0-2)need to win three to qualify for the postsea-son.

Brecht has instilled into the minds of hisplayers how important the Providencematchup is, no matter what the Friars’record is.

“This game against Providence is huge,”said freshman midfielder Brian Goss.“Coach [Brecht] was telling us all week dur-ing practice that we absolutely need to winthese conference games.”

For Goss, the difference between theirlast two conference matchups and theupcoming one weekend has to be capitaliz-ing on missed opportunities. When a team is0-2 in the Big East because of two gamesdecided by three goals or less, those oppor-tunities are key, he said.

“Our biggest problem is execution. Wedon’t execute well enough when we need to,”Goss said. “Just looking back on these lasttwo games, we are not taking advantage of allthe opportunities we are given.”

But the Knights have more than enoughvictories and experience under their belts tohave confidence going into the matchupagainst last-place Providence. Rutgers beganits schedule against No. 2 Duke and ownsone-goal victories against both Marist andArmy. In both of their losses in the Big East,the Knights had their opponents on theirheels.

The problem for the Knights is all of thevictories came out of conference, and all ofthe valuable experiences within it. To com-plete his goal of making it to the Big EastChampionships in his first year on theBanks, Brecht knows the wins have to startcoming, beginning at Providence.

“I think if we go into it prepared the sameway we have been prepared against teamslike Duke, … Notre Dame and St. John’s,then I think we have a great opportunity for60 minutes to see who the better team isgoing to be on a Saturday night,” Brechtsaid.

RUTGERS AT PROVIDENCE,TOMORROW, 7 P.M.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Friars present challenge despite record

BY JOSH BAKANASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

Pat Kivlehan is not completely sure howRutgers head baseball coach Fred Hill feelsabout him.

The senior thirdbaseman thinksHill might be grate-ful to get him in abaseball uniform.But consideringKivlehan’s produc-

tion, Hill might be frustrated Kivlehan didnot choose baseball in the first place.

“We haven’t really talked about it,”Kivlehan said before pausing, “yet.”

Hill knows his football. He coached the

sport at Montclair State from 1976-1982.Hill also watched Kivlehan play defensiveback for the Scarlet Knights for three years.

In a month with his new team, Kivlehanleads the team in almost every batting sta-tistic. But as another person with experi-ence in football and baseball, Hill knowswhat it is like to not have both in his life.

“Everything is so specialized now. Frommy standpoint, it’s a mistake,” Hill said.“This kid is enjoying this, I’m sure. Not tobe able to play more than one sport for meis a mistake, but that’s the way the coachesoperate nowadays.”

Like Hill, Kivlehan is more likely to beremembered for his baseball accolades.

The West Nyack, N.Y., native now hitscleanup, bats .429, has a .493 on-base per-

centage, slugs .656 and has hit three homeruns and stolen nine bases. All at least tiefor the team lead.

After one month of baseball, Kivlehanhas no regrets about switching teams.

“I’m done with football,” he said. “If base-ball works out, it works out.”

Kivlehan had never heard the story ofWally Pipp. The former New York Yankeesfirst baseman sat out of a game June 2, 1925.

Lou Gehrig replaced Pipp off the bench.Gehrig went on to play 2,130 consecutivegames in his Hall of Fame career.

But Kivlehan may have never had thechance to be successful had it not been forsenior third baseman Russ Hopkins.

RUTGERS AT GEORGETOWN, TODAY, 3 P.M.

BASEBALL

SEE SAFETY ON PAGE 6

KEITH FREEMAN / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior third baseman Pat Kivlehan leads the lineup in several offensive categories in his first year with the Knights. Kivlehanplayed in the football team’s secondary for four years before suiting up for head coach Fred Hill this season.

Former safety leads Rutgers offense

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M SPORTS M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 2 6

After former KnightsMichael Lang and D.J.Anderson graduated, Hopkinswas one of the few certaintiesentering this year’s Rutgers line-up.

Hopkins injured his knee,and that left the Knights (12-10,2-1) without their starting thirdbaseman. Now the spot isKivlehan’s, and that might leadhim to a professional career.

“He can run, and he’s gotsome pop in his bat,” Hill said.“He might have a chance [at thepros] at the end of the year,especially if he keeps hittingthem out of the park.”

Hill knew the quickness andinstincts required for theKnights secondary would trans-late to the diamond. But oneskill is curious Hill.

“I’m a little bit surprised byhis power at this stage,” he said.

Kivlehan hit his first homerun March 21 against Rider. Hehit two more in one week. Butresuming this weekend againstGeorgetown (11-14, 0-3),Kivlehan will never be satisfied.

“You never get used to hit-ting home runs,” he said. “Youcan always hit one more.”

Kivlehan has until the end ofnext year to establish himselfprofessionally. For every homerun, multi-hit game and divingcatch that keep appearing moreoften, Kivlehan helps his case.

But he is not worried aboutit. He succeeded so quicklyeven he is uncertain about thefuture. Perhaps it comes fromworking as a number in a rosterclose to 100 on the gridiron, butKivlehan does not let the hypeget to his head.

“I understand it’s a long sea-son,” he said. “There are goingto be hot streaks and coldstreaks. Now I’m hot, maybesomeone else will be hot.”

SAFETY: Third baseman’s

injury opens up chance to start

continued from back

BY JOSH BAKANASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

During last year’s springpractices, Rutgers football safe-ty Duron Harmon was only afirst-time starter in a secondaryof uncertainty.

But a lot changed in a yearwhen the Scarlet Knightsdefense allowed only 18.3 pointsper game — eighth in thenation.

Harmon started all 12 gamesas a strong safety last year, andnow the senior is motivated foranother year of change, whenhe moves to free safety.

“I wouldn’t really say I solidi-fied my role because at any timeI can lose to anybody if I don’tplay to my potential,” Harmonsaid.

Harmon broke out for ateam-leading five interceptionsin his junior season, and themove to free safety should allowthe Caesar Rodney High School(Del.) product to continue tocapitalize on picks.

But Harmon plays in a sec-ondary with others who can dothe same. Among them is juniorcornerback Logan Ryan, whopicked off three passes last sea-son.

Ryan played alongside then-junior Brandon Jones, who ulti-mately solidified the other start-ing cornerback spot. Mason

Robinson, now in his sixth sea-son, missed most of 2011because of knee surgery, andRyan is happy to have him back.

“Mason Robinson is probablyone of the best leaders I’ve everbeen around,” Ryan said.

Harmon was one of thebreakout players in last year’ssecondary, and he said sopho-more safety Lorenzo Waterscould have similar impact.

“He’s trying to be a big-timeplayer,” Harmon said. “He’svery athletic, he’s fast, he’ll hityou, he plays the ball well, hisrange is outstanding. With him,it was just getting comfortablewith the defensive scheme.”

HEAD COACH KYLEFlood was impressed yesterdaywith what he saw out of senioroffensive tackle R.J. Dill.

“He moves like a guy whostarted over 30 games at theDivision I level,” Flood said. “Helooks like a good player.”

Dill started 33 games atMaryland. While Floodexpressed confidence in theMechanicsburg, Pa., native, heis still part of the offensive linecompetition.

Flood wants to narrow thedepth on the offensive line tofive to seven “solid” players.

“They have to show me thatthey are those guys, and theyhave to perform consistently,”

Flood said. “I would love to havefive. I’ve seen it work withseven. When you get beyondseven, you generally do thatbecause you’re having issues.”

Flood signed four offensiveline commits in 2012, but theveterans have a chance to provethemselves in spring practice.

There are at least two wide-open positions at the moment.

“We have to find a centerwho is going to be our centergoing forward,” Flood said. “Wehave a competition at right tack-le. We’re trying to put the piecesin the right place.”

FOR THE FIRST TIMEin four years, the Knights have ablank slate at kicker. San San Tekicked for four years, and theneed for a new starting kickeropens the competition rightaway.

Te made 20-of-31 field goalslast season. He missed at leasttwo field goals in three games.

Flood has attempted to avoidfuture inconsistency in tense sit-uations by trying to replicatingthem in practice.

“What I’m trying to do …without having that one truestarter is put them under pres-sure situations as much as youcan do that in spring,” Floodsaid. “It’s hard to do that withoutan opposing crowd or a homecrowd.”

SPRING PRACTICE NOTEBOOK KNIGHTS SECONDARY BOASTS DEPTH , EXPERIENCE

KEITH FREEMAN / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Duron Harmon moves to free safety after a breakoutyear at strong safety when he recorded five interceptions.

Freshmentake notesin sprints

BY BEN CAINSTAFF WRITER

Freshmen Kadeem Douse,D’Andre Jordan and KevinCondal know they have theirwork cut out for them. Their sen-

ior coun-t e r p a r t s

on the Rutgers men’s track andfield team constantly remindthem about the rich tradition ofScarlet Knights sprinting and theexpectations.

Sprinters coach LouTomlinson — a sprinter himselffor the Knights from 1980-1984— reminds them as he shoutsout split times and instructions tothem every practice.

They know that when decorat-ed seniors Kevin Brown, SteveWerner and Aaron Younger grad-uate this spring, it will be up tothem to carry on the tradition ofsprinting success at Rutgers.

“We came in highly recruited,all three of us,” Condal said. “Wehad a lot of colleges after us. …We have a lot of potential withour sprints, and that’s why theybrought all of us here, becauseRutgers has a tradition of being agood sprint school.”

All three freshmen qualifiedfor the Big East Championshipsin February but had disappoint-ing results. Jordan and Condalfailed to make it out of the pre-liminary heats in their respectiveevents, and Douse had to sit outwith a hamstring injury.

But the group is fortunate tohave the guidance of the veter-ans, who have been more thanwilling to get the freshmen set-tled.

MEN’S TRACK

BY BRADLY DERECHAILOCORRESPONDENT

The Rutgers women’slacrosse team takes the RU TurfField today with four straightwins and a Big East Honor Roll

s e l e c -tion atits dis-posal.

T h a ts t i l lm i g h t

not be enough for the ScarletKnights to win their Big Eastopener, as the they host NotreDame at 4 p.m. in the FightingIrish’s first-ever visit toPiscataway.

Notre Dame (7-0) enters thematchup with one Big East victo-ry already under its belt from

when the team beat Louisvillelast Saturday, 13-11. In that con-test, attack Maggie Tamasitis ledthe Irish with a two-goal, four-assist performance.

For her performance,Tamasitis earned Big East HonorRoll recognition — the secondtime she earned such honors.

But Rutgers (5-3) has a playerof its own that made the leaguehonor roll in junior StephanieAnderson, who led the Knightswith four goals in their overtimevictory last Saturday at Fairfield.

Anderson picked the righttime to hit her stride with NotreDame serving as Rutgers’ confer-ence home-opening opponent.

The No. 6 Irish average morethan 15 goals a game. And com-pared with the Knights’ eightgoals per contest, it will be up to

Anderson and the rest of theattack to jump-start the offense.

But their match against theStags showed the Knights arecapable of succeeding with theiryoung roster. While Andersonled the team in goals, it was soph-omore Lauren Sbrilli who foundthe back of the net in the secondovertime to secure Rutgers’fourth straight victory.

“We do have some youth andsome inexperience on the field,”Brand-Sias said. “So with everygame, they’re getting more andmore experience and getting bet-ter.”

With only 16 spots available inthe NCAA Tournament, each BigEast game is important for theposition Rutgers wants to end upin at the end of the regular sea-son.

NOTRE DAME ATRUTGERS,TODAY, 4 P.M.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

NOAH WHITTENBURG / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Sophomore midfielder Lauren Sbrilli scored the game-winning goal last Saturday at Fairfield,where the Rutgers offense stalled early on before earning a double-overtime victory.

RU strives for quicker start