WEATHER Snow High: 39 Nighttime Low: 32 Serving the Rutgers community since 1869. Independent since 1980. VOLUME 144, ISSUE 94 • UNIVERSITY ... 3 • OPINIONS ... 10 • DIVERSIONS ... 12 • CLASSIFIEDS ... 14 • SPORTS ... BACK RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013 BOY BAND LONG-DISTANCE TALKS Panelists were brought together from across the country through videoconferencing tech- nology to discuss issues faced by undocumented immi- grants. UNIVERSITY, PAGE 3 UNDER FIRE Students were outraged by a racist ad published in the Targum on Tuesday and demanded an apology. The Editor- in-Chief responds. OPINIONS, PAGE 8 Though some may consider them washed-up has-beens, ‘90s pop artists like Aaron Carter are attempting to stay relevant. Inside Beat looks at members of old boy bands who are attempting comebacks. INSIDE BEAT U. junior to run for seat on city’s Board of Education Rutgers-Newark, Rutgers-Camden law schools to merge Student recounts suicidal thoughts after academic dismissal Alumnus opens local pretzel store BY JUSTINA OTERO CORRESPONDENT After mentoring high school stu- dents in New Brunswick, University student Stephanie Rivera has decid- ed to help seal a strong future for them by running for a seat on the city’s Board of Education. Nominated by various members of Rutgers University Student Assembly and Rutgers Student Union, Rivera said she would begin her campaign in hopes to bring change to the city’s education sys- tem and give a voice to the students who are too often disregarded. “I feel like [they] aren’t being lis- tened to,” said Rivera, a School of Arts and Sciences junior. “There are so many other people telling them what they need to do and clearly not listening to what they need, what they are facing everyday, such as poverty or their home life.” She said these are some of the many elements affecting New Brunswick schools along with the increasing dropout rate, decreasing graduation rate, the city’s culture of violence and handling undocument- ed students. “We have to look at these factors to make sure these students believe they have a future and that they do deserve to go to college … that’s the main thing I want them to understand, and we have to provide the resources for them to do that,” Rivera said. Her motivation for running for the board stems from her experiences mentoring students at the New Brunswick High School through the Rutgers Future Scholars Program. “I [have] a firsthand view of what these students need and their concerns,” she said. “I really just know these students for so long — I know that they deserve better.” Rivera said if elected, she would aim to change the mindsets of not only the students, but the teachers as well. “One of the main concerns is definitely the expectation that [is] held for these students. I’ve heard some horrible things [about] these students, like what they think about themselves — especially the way that the society views them and things the teachers say,” she said. “That’s definitely a big issue.” Rivera is also running with for- mer board member Martin Arocho and University alumnus Sean Monahan to fill the three open seats BY HANNAH SCHROER CORRESPONDENT For the past three years, Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers- Camden have been cooperating on numerous fronts and now plan to merge law schools. Faculty voted on a resolution in January supporting the joining of the two law schools, said Rayman Solomon, dean of Rutgers School of Law-Camden. Now that the Board of Governors and University President Robert L. Barchi has given both schools an informal nod of approval, the faculty com- mittee will move ahead with merger plans, said Ronald Chen, vice dean of Rutgers-Newark School of Law. “What we got was in essence a green light to go ahead and plan,” he said. The University wanted to shut down its Camden campus in the 1940s because the campus was not growing, Solomon said. But instead of closing the campus, the University decided to split its law school in 1968 to give the campus room to grow. “We split off in order to create an equal law school in South Jersey,” Solomon said. The merger has the potential to place the University on level with the best, and the best-funded, public law schools in the Big Ten and across the country, said John Farmer Jr., dean of Rutgers-Newark School of Law. Farmer said another reason the schools separated was administra- tive difficulties operating a law school across two campuses. Technology has since bridged the gap between them, he said, SEE MERGE ON PAGE 8 SEE EDUCATION ON PAGE 4 Brian Bell opened a Philly Soft Pretzel Factory store at 1401 Stelton Rd. in Piscataway near the Livingston campus. Bell left his career to open the store because of his love for pretzels. SHAWN SMITH BY CHELSEA PINEDA CONTRIBUTING WRITER Brian Bell abandoned his 20- year career in the automobile industry to start a pretzel store for his love of pretzels — and his love of one particular woman. The new Philly Soft Pretzel Factory store is located on Stelton Road, one mile from Livingston campus and two miles from High Point Solutions Stadium on Busch campus, he said. It will accept RU Express to cater to University students. He said he moved to North Brunswick a few years ago to manage the Gateway Kia car dealership. Then on New Year’s Eve in 2010, one customer liked him and introduced him to her sister. Bell, a University alumnus, said he worked in car sales and man- agement but left because the woman he was pursuing refused to date someone who worked his long hours. The sister, Linda Bell, an East Brunswick High School physics teacher and University alumna, said she was the widow of a car salesman, so she knew that the long hours required in the indus- try would prevent a healthy relationship. “You can make really good money, but it really takes a lot of SEE STORE ON PAGE 7 BY SIMON GALPERIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sandwiched between the Livingston Campus Day Care Center and a parking lot spotted with solar panels, the only way to identify the Asian American Cultural Center is by the brown and red University sign stuck on the wall, to the left of the door. Inside, at one of several round tables in a large welcoming space sits Anna Phung, the special proj- ects intern for the center. She had staked a claim to the table as a stu- dent is expected to —laptop propped open with papers and books lining the boundaries of her generous study space. But her semester GPA, nearly a year ago, fell to a 1.3. Phung received an academic dismissal notice from the University, asking her to leave the school due to her poor academic performance. “I automatically thought about suicide at that moment,” she said. Her family’s pressure for her to succeed made her withdraw from academic life. Her family wanted her to excel in college and find a husband to marry. Her parents would call to ask if Phung had a boyfriend, and each time she used the same excuse — that she’s busy with schoolwork. But Phung was keeping a secret. She was a clos- eted lesbian. “It was a big burden on me to carry,” Phung said. “I think with all that coming together, I didn’t know how to express myself the best way, so I just kept it in and then I couldn’t focus on school.” She realized in the fall of 2012 that she needed to tell her parents the secret. “Either I ignored them and I hurt my parents more by ignoring them, or I lied and that meant that I was hurting myself,” Phung said. SEE DISMISSAL ON PAGE 9 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT METRO PERSON OF THE WEEK
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COMTHURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013
BOY BAND
LONG-DISTANCE TALKS Panelists were brought togetherfrom across the country through videoconferencing tech-nology to discuss issues faced by undocumented immi-grants. UNIVERSITY, PAGE 3
UNDER FIRE Students were outraged by a racist ad published inthe Targum on Tuesday and demanded an apology. The Editor-in-Chief responds. OPINIONS, PAGE 8
Though some may consider them washed-uphas-beens, ‘90s pop artists like Aaron Carter areattempting to stay relevant. Inside Beat looks atmembers of old boy bands who are attemptingcomebacks. INSIDE BEAT
U. junior to run for seat oncity’s Board of Education
Rutgers-Newark, Rutgers-Camden law schools to merge
Student recounts suicidal thoughts after academic dismissal
Alumnus opens local pretzel store
BY JUSTINA OTEROCORRESPONDENT
After mentoring high school stu-dents in New Brunswick, Universitystudent Stephanie Rivera has decid-ed to help seal a strong future forthem by running for a seat on thecity’s Board of Education.
Nominated by various membersof Rutgers University StudentAssembly and Rutgers StudentUnion, Rivera said she would beginher campaign in hopes to bringchange to the city’s education sys-tem and give a voice to the studentswho are too often disregarded.
“I feel like [they] aren’t being lis-tened to,” said Rivera, a School ofArts and Sciences junior. “There areso many other people telling themwhat they need to do and clearly notlistening to what they need, whatthey are facing everyday, such aspoverty or their home life.”
She said these are some of themany elements affecting NewBrunswick schools along with theincreasing dropout rate, decreasinggraduation rate, the city’s culture ofviolence and handling undocument-ed students.
“We have to look at these factors tomake sure these students believe they
have a future and that they do deserveto go to college … that’s the mainthing I want them to understand, andwe have to provide the resources forthem to do that,” Rivera said.
Her motivation for running for theboard stems from her experiencesmentoring students at the NewBrunswick High School through theRutgers Future Scholars Program.
“I [have] a firsthand view ofwhat these students need and theirconcerns,” she said. “I really justknow these students for so long —I know that they deserve better.”
Rivera said if elected, she wouldaim to change the mindsets of notonly the students, but the teachersas well.
“One of the main concerns isdefinitely the expectation that [is]held for these students. I’ve heardsome horrible things [about] thesestudents, like what they think aboutthemselves — especially the waythat the society views them andthings the teachers say,” she said.“That’s definitely a big issue.”
Rivera is also running with for-mer board member Martin Arochoand University alumnus SeanMonahan to fill the three open seats
BY HANNAH SCHROERCORRESPONDENT
For the past three years,Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden have been cooperating onnumerous fronts and now plan tomerge law schools.
Faculty voted on a resolution inJanuary supporting the joining of
the two law schools, said RaymanSolomon, dean of Rutgers School ofLaw-Camden.
Now that the Board ofGovernors and UniversityPresident Robert L. Barchi hasgiven both schools an informalnod of approval, the faculty com-mittee will move ahead withmerger plans, said Ronald Chen,
vice dean of Rutgers-NewarkSchool of Law.
“What we got was in essence agreen light to go ahead and plan,”he said.
The University wanted to shutdown its Camden campus in the1940s because the campus was notgrowing, Solomon said. But insteadof closing the campus, the
University decided to split its lawschool in 1968 to give the campusroom to grow.
“We split off in order to createan equal law school in SouthJersey,” Solomon said.
The merger has the potential toplace the University on level with thebest, and the best-funded, public lawschools in the Big Ten and across the
country, said John Farmer Jr., dean ofRutgers-Newark School of Law.
Farmer said another reason theschools separated was administra-tive difficulties operating a lawschool across two campuses.
Technology has since bridgedthe gap between them, he said,
SEE MERGE ON PAGE 8
SEE EDUCATION ON PAGE 4
Brian Bell opened a Philly Soft Pretzel Factory store at 1401 Stelton Rd. in Piscataway near the Livingston campus. Bell left his career to open the store because of his love for pretzels. SHAWN SMITH
BY CHELSEA PINEDACONTRIBUTING WRITER
Brian Bell abandoned his 20-year career in the automobileindustry to start a pretzel storefor his love of pretzels — and hislove of one particular woman.
The new Philly Soft PretzelFactor y store is located onStelton Road, one mile fromLivingston campus and two milesfrom High Point SolutionsStadium on Busch campus, he
said. It will accept RU Express to cater to University students.
He said he moved to NorthBrunswick a few years ago tomanage the Gateway Kia cardealership. Then on New Year’sEve in 2010, one customer likedhim and introduced him to her sister.
Bell, a University alumnus, saidhe worked in car sales and man-agement but left because thewoman he was pursuing refused
to date someone who worked hislong hours.
The sister, Linda Bell, an EastBrunswick High School physicsteacher and University alumna,said she was the widow of a carsalesman, so she knew that thelong hours required in the indus-tr y would prevent a healthy relationship.
“You can make really goodmoney, but it really takes a lot of
SEE STORE ON PAGE 7
BY SIMON GALPERINCONTRIBUTING WRITER
Sandwiched between theLivingston Campus Day CareCenter and a parking lot spottedwith solar panels, the only way toidentify the Asian AmericanCultural Center is by the brown andred University sign stuck on thewall, to the left of the door.
Inside, at one of several roundtables in a large welcoming spacesits Anna Phung, the special proj-ects intern for the center. She hadstaked a claim to the table as a stu-dent is expected to —laptoppropped open with papers andbooks lining the boundaries of hergenerous study space.
But her semester GPA, nearly ayear ago, fell to a 1.3. Phung
received an academic dismissalnotice from the University, askingher to leave the school due to herpoor academic performance.
“I automatically thought aboutsuicide at that moment,” she said.
Her family’s pressure for her tosucceed made her withdraw fromacademic life. Her family wantedher to excel in college and find ahusband to marry.
Her parents would call to askif Phung had a boyfriend, andeach time she used the sameexcuse — that she’s busy withschoolwork. But Phung waskeeping a secret. She was a clos-eted lesbian.
“It was a big burden on me tocarry,” Phung said. “I think with allthat coming together, I didn’t knowhow to express myself the best way, so
I just kept it in and then I couldn’tfocus on school.”
She realized in the fall of 2012that she needed to tell her parentsthe secret.
“Either I ignored them and Ihurt my parents more by ignoringthem, or I lied and that meant that Iwas hurting myself,” Phung said.
SEE DISMISSAL ON PAGE 9
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ABOUT THE DAILY TARGUM
The Daily Targum is a student-written and stu-dent-managed, nonprofit incorporated newspa-per published by the Targum Publishing Com-pany, circulation 18,000. The Daily Targum(USPS949240) is published Monday throughFriday in New Brunswick, N.J. while classes arein session during the fall and spring semesters.No part thereof may be reproduced in any form,in whole or in part, without consent of the man-aging editor.
OUR STORY
“Targum” is an Aramaic term for “interpreta-tion.” The name for the University’s daily papercame to be after one of its founding membersheard the term during a lecture by then-RutgersPresident William H. Campbell. On Jan. 29,1869, more than 140 years ago, the Targum —then a monthly publication — began to chroni-cle Rutgers history and has become a fixture inUniversity tradition. The Targum began pub-lishing daily in 1956 and gained independencefrom the University in 1980.
RECOGNITION
For years, the Targum has been among themost prestigious newspapers in the country.Last year, these awards included placing first inthe Associated Collegiate Press National Col-lege Newspaper Convention Best of Showaward category for four-year daily newspapers.
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SETTING THE RECORD
STRAIGHT
In yesterday’s article titled “Politicianencourages youth participation,” the authorincorrectly referenced John Weingart as thedirector of the Eagleton Institute of Politics.
In fact, Weingart is the associate director of the Institute. The Daily Targum apolo-
gizes for the mistake.
CAMPUS CALENDAR
Thursday, March 7The University’s Office of the President holds a strategic planningtown hall meeting at the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers-Camdenat 12:30 p.m. The event is part of a series of town hall meetings conducted by University President Robert L. Barchi.
Career Services hosts a workshop on resume writing in the Livingston Student Center at 12 p.m. Pre-registration is required.For more information, go to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu.
Saturday, March 9The Rutgers Jazz Ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. at the NicholasMusic Center on Douglass campus. David Miller will conduct.Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for alumni, employees and seniorsand $15 for the general public.
Sunday, March 10The Eagleton Program on Immigration and Democracy holds a citizenship application drive at 12:30 p.m. at the Rutgers StudentCenter on the College Avenue campus. The program will featurelawyers and immigration workers available to evaluate citizenshipapplications. The event is free but registration is required.
Thursday, March 7Actor and comedian Martin Short performs a variety show at 8p.m. at the New Jersey State Theatre at 15 Livingston Ave. inNew Brunswick. The event is open to everyone and ticketsrange from $35-75.
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco performs his stand-up special“What’s Wrong With People?” Thursday through Saturday at theStress Factory Comedy Club at 90 Church St in New Brunswick.The show runs at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. onFriday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $23.
Saturday, March 9Comedian Artie Lange performs at 8 p.m. the New Jersey StateTheatre at 15 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. Tickets cost $35.
Molenaar said during theforums, students typically askquestions such as why parking isrestricted to the campus indicat-ed on the permit, and the issue ofthe University having a shortageof buses. Students frequently askwhy the express buses stop oncertain places but not others.
“Students have asked why theREXB bus does not stop at BuschCampus Center, and the REXL doesnot stop at the Quads,” he said. “I’veanswered that express buses areonly supposed to make academicstops, and last time I checked, thesetwo stops are not academic.”
Molenaar also said studentscan only park on the campus writ-ten on their parking permits sotraveling between campuses issmoother.
“If we allowed students to parkanywhere they chose aroundcampus, there would be lots moretraffic, and it would be harder toget to class on time, since every-body would be moving every-where,” he said.
Raffi Mark, a School of Arts andSciences senior, said he attendedthe forum to address a concern hehad about commuting late at nightfrom Douglass campus.
“When you have classes thatdo not end until after 10 p.m., youare forced to take the EE busroute to the College Avenue cam-pus, since the F bus stops run-ning by then,” he said. “As aresult, it takes 30 to 40 minutes to
get from Cook/Douglass campusto College Avenue.”
Mark also said he hoped tofind out the Department ofTransportation’s logic behindthis policy.
“I’m pretty sure this wasthought through [when first putin place],” he said. “That said, Ialso want to know that students’concerns are being heard.
Claudia Medina, a School ofEngineering senior, said she wentto the forum to voice her con-cerns about the B bus route,which goes from Livingston toBusch campus.
Medina said she wanted tounderstand why the Universitydoes not provide more B buses.Medina said DOTS told heradding more B buses is too cost-ly, and instead students shouldbike between Livingston andBusch campuses.
Medina said this was good ingeneral, but that it would not bepractical all of the time.
“When it’s not winter, biking isa good solution — but not whenit’s freezing cold and/or snow-ing,” she said.
John Stevenson, the programcoordinator at DOTS who special-izes in biking routes, said bikingcan help improve the Universitytransportation system. Addingmore bike lanes to relieve traffic ischeaper than adding more buses.
Stevenson also said this solu-tion is better for the environment
and would be a healthier optionfor students.
“It’s a significant investment toadd more buses, so biking ismore cost-effective,” he said. “Italso takes the same amount oftime to get to class by riding abike as taking the bus.”
Jennifer Stuart, the managerof transportation planning atDOTS, said the forum helpsthem gauge the opinions andconcerns of University commu-nity members regarding thetransportation system so theycan then implement any recom-mended changes.
“We try to get feedback inlots of different ways, whetherthrough face-to-face meetings,online surveys or attending var-ious student meetings,” shesaid. “We take an all-of-the-above approach.”
Stuart also said students usu-ally ask questions about why thebus system operates the way itdoes. Some students ask forDOTS to add more bicycle lanes.
“I agree with these studentsthat we need more bike lanes,”she said.
Stuart said the UniversityTransportation Services Forumis a good program for studentsthat should be continued in thefuture. She preferred the forum’snew format to the old one.
“This year’s format helps usreach out to more students,”she said.
BY WILSON CONDECONTRIBUTING WRITER
University community mem-bers had the chance to voicetheir questions, thoughts andconcerns about the University’stransportation system yesterdayat its annual forum.
The forum, which took placein the Rutgers Student Center onthe College Avenue campus, cov-ered issues such as parking, bik-ing and bus routes.
MAGGIE MONAGHANCONTRIBUTING WRITER
Technology helped bringtogether organizers from theImmigrant Youth Justice Leaguein Chicago and two other profes-sors for a panel to stimulate pub-lic discourse on issues faced byundocumented immigrants.
Technology Without Bordersis a university-wide series hostedby Dr. Ariana Mangual Figueroa,assistant professor at theGraduate School of Education.This year, the series focuses oncitizenship and responsibility.
For the first time, the seriesused a hybrid panel with video-conferencing technology. Thisconnected the panelists in NewBrunswick to organizers fromthe Immigrant Youth JusticeLeague in Chicago, Professor Dr.Roberto G. Gonzales at theUniversity of Chicago andProfessor Carola Suárez-Orozcoat the University of California
Yesterday’s panel at theGraduate School of Educationbrought social science scholars,undocumented youth and activiststogether to discuss two key issues— the various definitions of citizen-ship circulating in social science
UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY PAGE 3MARCH 7, 2013
Panelists review rights of undocumented students
Department addresses transportation issues
Panelists came together from different parts of the country to stimulate public discourse on theissues faced by undocumented immigrants yesterday at the Graduate Student Lounge in theRutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus. SHAWN SMITH
U. group uses videoconferencingto connect with activists, scholars
The University’s Department of Transportation hosted a question-and-answer session last night at the Rutgers StudentCenter on the College Avenue campus, which allowed studentsto voice their concerns about the transportation system.NELSON MORALES, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER / FILE PHOTO APRIL 2012
All children, documented orundocumented, have the right toan education, she said, but accessto higher education exists in thisgrey area.
When applying to college,undocumented students do nothave access to federal or state aid,Suárez-Orozco said. They areclassified as international stu-dents, and must pay three toseven more for tuition comparedto legal residents.
Gonzales said even with adegree, people’s legal statusescan prevent employers from hir-ing them.
He said legislation needs tochange so more people can haveaccess to educational resources,but the pressure on the statefrom undocumented studentsand activists brings this visioncloser to reality.
Giancarlo Tello, an undocu-mented University student fromRutgers-Newark, also spoke atthe event.
He is a member of NewJersey DREAM Act Coalition, astatewide organization run byyouths who advocate for issuesaf fecting immigrants in NewJersey and organize groups and
individuals to help pass theDevelopment, Relief, andEducation for Alien Minors Actand its in-state counterparts.
In New Jersey, undocument-ed students cannot receive in-state tuition, but with the help and persistence of the New Jersey Dream ActCoalition, they hope to pass two bills regarding in-statetuition, said Marisol Conte-Hernandez, cofounder of the coalition.
Hernandez said change musthappen at a state level first beforereaching a national level.
research and in public discourseand the impact of educational andimmigration policies on undocu-mented youth and their families.
“The speakers [discussed] thesignificance of citizenship and howthey advocate for the rights ofmixed-status families and undocu-mented youth,” Figueroa said.
Figueroa said during herresearch on children of undocu-mented immigrants inPennsylvania, she learned citizen-ship represents a legal status toundocumented families with chil-dren born in the United States.
Some children’s report cardsgraded students for citizenship,based on their participation andbehavior. But their undocument-ed parents did not understandwhy the word citizenship wasused in that context
Out of fear, the undocumentedparents did not form relationshipswith their children’s teachers andbecame disinterested in their chil-dren’s life at school, Figueroa said.
Living as an undocumentedcitizen does not have the sameimplications portrayed in themedia and political rhetoric,Suárez-Orozco said.
“Not just simple black andwhite, legal and illegal” she said.
Jack Molenaar, the directorof the Department ofTransportation Services, saidthis year’s forum was the mostsuccessful because of its loca-tion in the Rutgers StudentCenter’s atrium, where manystudents congregate.
“Now we have lots more peo-ple participating — and it’s moreinteractive,” he said. “It’s a suc-cess that I’m very happy about,since the goal was to reach out tomore people.”
MARCH 7, 2013UNIVERSITY PAGE 4
as a united front. Their actionswould effectively provoke changein the New Brunswick communi-ty, said John Aspray, an assistantfor Rivera’s campaign.
Aspray said they seek to goagainst the injustices of city politicsand a one party government, asNew Brunswick Mayor JamesCahill has — up until this term —been able to appoint all board mem-bers without residents’ consent.
“There’s been a lack of trans-parency, a lack of any sort of fair-ness in the way that these seats havebeen appointed, and NewBrunswick schools have suffered,”he said. “When the mayor canappoint people with absolutely nooversight, it [leads] to a system [of]political cronyism.”
Aspray, a University alumnus,said this campaign also hopes toclose the gap between theUniversity and city of NewBrunswick to form one united, col-lective community and reform theissues at hand.
“What we want to do is workwith the community [and] bring theinfluence and resources Rutgershas together … to improve NewBrunswick schools in a way thatMayor Cahill and his appointeeshave not been able to do,” he said.
Six candidates are running forthe three open seats, but if Rivera’s
team wants to see changes made inthe city, Rivera said Arocho,Monahan, and she must fill all threeseats, she said.
“Me and my running mateshave been … thinking of ideas ofhow we can get out to the commu-nity, get out to Rutgers students andlet people know that we are run-ning,” she said.
Aside from her activism, Riverasaid she aspires to become ateacher in the near future.
“One of my passions comes fromwanting to teach in urban districts
… they’ve endured the pit of injus-tices in our country,” she said. “Ialways thought I wanted to bringjustice to our country — but if I can’tdo that to our community, then Ican’t expect to do that nationally.”
Rivera said the board wouldallow her to incorporate her workinto the education system.
“I definitely think this is oneof the best, first steps to take,especially as I go on to be ateacher … being involved in theboard and looking on the outsidegives me a great position and anexperience of a lifetime to really
bring change to a community,”she said.
Rivera also manages a blog,Teacher Under Construction, whichcaught the attention of Julia SassRubin, assistant professor in theEdward J. Bloustein School ofPlanning and Public Policy.
“I know her originally from justreading her tweets and her blogs,”Rubin said. “I reached out to herbecause … I was just veryimpressed with what she was doingand wanted to meet her.”
She said she personally knowsRivera can contribute to the city ifelected onto the board because ofher closeness with NewBrunswick students and herunderstanding of what they aregoing through.
“She brings intelligence and alot of knowledge of what’s happen-ing both from her reading … andalso from her volunteer activities,”Rubin said. “She’s motivated by allthe right reasons, she really caresand has an incredible energy levelto be able to balance a lot of thingsat once.”
Rivera said although she maybe younger than the other candi-dates, she plans to use this as alearning opportunity.
“Maybe they have gonethrough more experience, as I amstill new to politics … but I amalways willing to learn more,always trying to learn more andget more into the community andmake sure I am the best candidateas possible,” she said.
The city will hold electionsApril 16, when all registered NewBrunswick residents will be ableto vote.
Six candidates arerunning for threeopen seats
EDUCATION
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“I wanted to bringjustice to our
country but if I can’tdo that [here] then I
can’t expect to dothat nationally.” STEPHANIE RIVERA
School of Arts and SciencesJunior
MARCH 7, 2013UNIVERSITY PAGE 6
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UNIVERSITY PAGE 7MARCH 7, 2013
your time, and it’s not real family-friendly,” Linda Bell said.
Brian Bell said he and Lindasaw this career transition at 48years old as an opportunity toreinvent themselves and take charge of their own destinies.
“It’s been an incredible jour-ney. It’s a dream come true forher and for myself to reinventyourself mid-life,” Brian Bellsaid. “To do something that youreally love and to be in chargeof your own destiny, so tospeak. It’s finally happened.”
Bell said after months ofresearch, the two decided toget involved in the pretzel business.
They invested in Philly SoftPretzel Factory, a 15-year-oldcompany from Bell’s native cityof Philadelphia, devoted to sell-ing a wide variety of pretzel products to consumers, he said.
Linda Bell, who marriedBrian Bell this past summer,said she was happy her twoteenage children and Brian’s10-year-old daughter could get involved.
“We like the whole notion ofa family business where they
can participate as well, and wecould all work together and bewith each other,” Linda Bell said.
Brian Bell said he had grownup with a love of pretzels. Hesold pretzels at events and tothousands of people on thestreets of Philadelphia since hewas a teenager.
“It was a natural progressionfor me. It was something that I’vebeen doing since I was just ayoung guy,” Brian Bell said.
Linda Bell said she had alsoalways been interested in theentrepreneurial aspect of the foodservice industry.
Her father had been a smallbusinessman and she hadworked as a waitress in college,she said.
It took nearly two years todecide to exit the car business,buy into Philly Soft PretzelFactory and open their store,Brian Bell said.
Brian Bell said he and hiswife chose Philly Soft PretzelFactory because of its brandrecognition, and the company’spreset plans for its franchiseeshelped them smoothly transi-tion into the business.
“The chances of you beingsuccessful are greater than ifyou were to do it all by your-self, because it’s quite aninvestment of time and money,”Brian Bell said.
Dan DiZio, the CEO andfounder of the Philly Soft
Brian Bell says hesold pretzels when hewas younger
STORE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
SEE STORE ON PAGE 8
Pretzel Factory, said his careerchange, similar to Brian Bell’s,resulted in his current positionas the founder of a major company.
DiZio said he grew up sell-ing pretzels, but was a stock-broker for a year and a halfafter college — a job he hated.
He said he opened the firstPhilly Soft Pretzel Factory bak-ery May 2, 1998, with his col-lege roommate, Len Lehman.
DiZio said he hears similarstories from potential fran-chisees that want to segue outof their jobs and into a careerin the pretzel business.
While it is nerve-racking forDiZio and his business partnerto hear about people takingthis chance, he said Brian andLinda Bell inspire them.
“We have about 130 stores,and he’s got to be the most pas-sionate and excited franchisewe’ve ever had,” DiZio said.
The Philly Soft PretzelFactory assisted the Bells infinding the right location fortheir new store, and the loca-tion could not be better forthem, Brian Bell said.
Linda Bell said one of themain reasons why they pickedthis location is her strong con-nection with the University.
She said she is a Douglassalumna, and her sister, fatherand grandmother all graduatedfrom the University.
They are working to reachout to 16 schools in the district,spor ts stadiums, industrialcomplexes and various busi-nesses, to let them know thatthe store is there to ser vice their needs, Brian Bell said.
Brian Bell said he hadencountered a lot of good willand was eager to work in the positive and creative environment.
“It’s about giving back anddoing something good for thecommunity,” he said.
Despite the bad economy,Brian Bell said he had com-plete faith in this endeavor,since he had support for get-ting out of car sales and findinglove and happiness with his wife.
DiZio said there is no greattime to star t a business, so entrepreneurs have to be both reckless and strategic planners.
“You’ve got to finally just jumpin the pool and sort of learn toswim,” DiZio said.
Brian Bell said the bestadvice for those who want toswitch careers or are not sureabout what career to begin is tofollow their dreams and work hard.
“There’s nothing in lifethat’s worthwhile that you dothat there isn’t some kind of arisk involved,” Brian Bell said.‘Ever ything in life that’s wor thwhile takes hard work.”
Brian and Linda Bell saidthey hope to open more storesonce their first becomes suc-cessful. The store is open tothe public, but a grand opening will occur later this month.
MARCH 7, 2013UNIVERSITY PAGE 8
making it possible for law firms tobe administered globally.
“[We could] administer the lawschool in Newark and Camden,while expanding curricular choic-es and faculty scholarship,”Farmer said.
He said current merger discus-sions began because officials fromboth law schools realized the ben-efits of merging the two schoolsoutweighed the original decisionsto split.
“Having two competing state lawschools within Rutgers is self-defeat-ing,” he said.
The joint faculty committee hasbeen looking at the potential merg-er for more than a year, Chen said.
Farmer said the two law schoolsformed the Institute forProfessional Education to offerstatewide legal education under theUniversity’s law brand and workedtogether on juvenile justice andcongressional redistricting issues.
“The success of these efforts ledboth schools to see the value ofcooperating across manyfronts, and perhaps ultimately com-bining into a single state lawschool,” he said.
Solomon said the law schoolsbegan discussing the merger twoyears ago in a conversationbetween the deans. One year ago,the deans talked to then-UniversityPresident Richard L. McCormickand began a faculty committee topush the plans forward.
The two schools were draftinga proposal outline when the gov-ernor announced a proposedmerger between the Camdencampus and Rowan College, hesaid, but Gov. Chris Christie’splan was rejected.
Solomon said by that time, thetwo schools had already progressedfar enough with faculty to knowthere was interest in a merger.
Chen said the schools mustfirst approach the American BarAssociation, which accredits alllaw schools in the United States,to be reaccredited as one school.
“In this situation, no one reallyknows [how to proceed with theaccreditation process], includingthe ABA, because no one’s triedthis before,” Chen said.
Chen said most merging lawschools involve a takeover, but theUniversity’s situation is uniquebecause it is a single institution withtwo law schools.
The University’s Board ofGovernors has not made an officialannouncement yet, Chen said.However, the board did approve ofthe merger because it would benefitthe University as a whole.
The faculty committee is look-ing into merging the schools’ cur-ricula and working out mergerlogistics, Solomon said, similar towhat is being done with theUniversity’s integration withUniversity of Medicine andDentistry of New Jersey.
Solomon said the two law schools’ programs are similar, buteach has different graduationrequirements. Some equivalentclasses are worth different numbersof credits depending on the school.
“The goal is to have one lawschool with two campuses,” hesaid. “We want students to [beable to] move back and forthbetween campuses.”
A merged law school wouldprovide better academic qualityand experience, he said.
Additionally, legal servicesoffered by Newark and Camden law
schools would be unified to offerbroader services to a larger clientbase, he said.
Chen said a uniformly brandedlaw school would deliver better legaleducation to University studentsand help keep the school accessibleand affordable in the future.
Solomon said though thereis an undergraduate legal stud-ies degree on the NewBrunswick campus, both gradu-ate law schools are embeddedin their communities and willnot be cutting back faculty ormoving locations.
They both have strong ties toeither the Philadelphia or New YorkCity metropolitan areas, Chen said.
“Our location is part of whatdefines the legal education we giveour students, and I’m sure Camdenfeels the same way,” Chen said.
The merger also allows theUniversity’s law school to become alarger presence in New Brunswick,offering a minor in legal studies,continuing education and clinicalprograms, Farmer said.
“We hope that, by making thelaw school unification a strategic pri-ority of the University, we willbecome a paradigm of what a pow-erhouse Rutgers University can be,”Farmer said.
Farmer says havingtwo law schools isself-defeating
MERGE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
DiZio says his franchise includesaround 130 stores
STORE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
UNIVERSITY PAGE 9MARCH 7, 2013
Growing up near Atlantic City,N.J., Phung said she saw friendslabeled as queer, whether they wereor not, and getting bullied for it.
“[My mom] would have theseideas like ‘Ellen DeGeneres — she’sreally funny, but the only issue withher is that she’s gay,’” she said.
The national discourse on homo-sexuality made Phung believe thatidentifying herself as heterosexualwas the easier path for her to take.
“That idea — if I could choosethat [heterosexual] lifestyle, whichreally, you can’t choose it, in thatsense,” she said. “That was reallyhard struggling with that growingup,” Phung said.
Coming out was a difficultprocess, she said.
“I was really scared actually,just because my parents havealways indicated that being queerwasn’t okay,” Phung said.
But her mother accepted herhonesty, even though she did notunderstand what it meant to bequeer, and her father followedher mother’s lead.
“She reinforced the fact that,no matter what, she still lovedme,” Phung said.
Receiving the academic dis-missal notice was the propellingforce that motivated Phung toturn her life around.
Phung worked her way lastsemester to a 3.8 GPA. Her role as
special projects intern at the AACCis paired with her role as officemanager in the University’s Centerfor Social Justice Education andLGBT Communities.
Zaneta Rago, assistant direc-tor at the Center for Social JusticeEducation and LGBTCommunities works with Phung.
“Often times, because of themodel minority myth thataf fects Asian Americans andPacific Islander[s], it makes ithard for [them] to find a com-munity and people-of-colorspaces,” Rago said.
She said the model minoritymyth stereotypes Asian Americansand Pacific Islanders to be per-ceived as achieving a higher degreeof success compared to others.
“Because they are not viewedas having any issues, there’s notmuch discussion or resources forthe AAPI community,” Rago said.
As a special projects internfor AACC, Phung leadsBuilding Real IntergroupDialogue for Greater Equality,or B.R.I.D.G.E., a safe-spacegroup for lesbian, gay, bisexu-al, transgender and questioningAsian and Asian American stu-dents on campus.
“I’m so incredibly proud ofher,” said Ji Lee, director of theAACC. “It’s been a work inprocess for her just to accept thatshe is a good, beautiful personwho does really good things.”
Today, Phung finally feelshappy and relieved — like aburden has been lifted of f her shoulders.
“It feels like I’m walking, I’mnot as depressed anymore …[I’m] gliding,” Phung said.
Phung worked herway to a 3.8 GPA lastsemester
DISMISSAL
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
OPINIONSPAGE 10 MARCH 7, 2013
Do you still want to be an organdonor knowing that your face is
considered an organ available for transplant?
THIS WEEK’SPENDULUMQUESTION
VOTE ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COMUNTIL TUESDAY, MARCH 12 AT 4 P.M.IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL THOUGHTSON THE TOPIC, SEND A LETTER TO THEEDITOR AT [email protected]
The Daily Targum’s editorials represent the views of the majority of the 145th editorial board. Columns, cartoons and letters donot necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
26 Mine Street New Brunswick, N.J. 08901(732) 932-2012
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS SHANICE O’BRIEN, KEVIN NICOTERA
I n my first column as editor-in-chief of this publication twoweeks ago, I tried to explain
how, whether it be an individual’splace in relation to the world aroundhim, or a newspaper’s place in rela-tion to the community of which it’s apart of, self-reflection can be used asa tool for self-improvement. Self-reflection, I noted, allows us to recon-sider our roles in our various capaci-ties, and forces us to rethink the waywe interact with others. This, in turn,allows us to keep doing whateverwe’re doing right, stop doing whatev-er we’re doing wrong and figure outwhere we want to go next. For TheDaily Targum, this is important —few relationships in this world com-pare to that of a local newspaper andits readers.
Managers and editors at theoffices of The Daily Targum onTuesday were given the chance torevisit this philosophy. A full-pageadvertisement on page 8 of theMarch 5 issue titled “Faces of IslamicApartheid” prompted an outpouringof responses from the Universitycommunity, all of which — and right-ly so — were overwhelmingly criticalin nature. The ad was paid for by theDavid Horowitz Freedom Center —a far-right organization headed byconservative pundit David Horowitzand collaborator Peter Collier — andfeatured several instances of violentacts all loosely tied together by virtueof the title. It also included the URLfor a website that, when visited,proved more bigoted and biasedthan the ad itself.
There’s no getting around it —the ad was distasteful, offensive andobviously irrational. It was sponsoredby an organization that, having pub-lished similar ads garnering similarresponses in college newspapersthroughout the country in the past,boasts a long history of purposelyprovocative practices. In fact, in thesame week that the Daily Targum ranthe ad, it was also run in several othercollege dailies across the country,including Tufts Daily of TuftsUniversity and the Daily Texan of theUniversity of Texas. And in each case,it received a similar reaction to theone it’s received on our own campus— only here, it’s more significant.Not every college campus can claimthat it’s home to one of the mostdiverse student bodies in the country.
Following numerous phone callsand visits from concerned mem-bers of the University communitythroughout the day, managers andeditors of the Targum convened todiscuss the ad’s selection, approvaland ultimate publication. Opinions
Ad raises questions on editorial process
FROM THEEDITOR’S
DESKCHASE BRUSH
were split as we debated whether itspublication was necessary and towhat extent steps should be taken toprevent similarly offensive contentfrom being published in the future.Some maintained that such contentfalls safely within the realm of freespeech and that paid advertise-ments should not be vetted basedon the messages — however con-troversial — they convey. Otherscountered that the origins and sub-stance of the ad landed it far belowthe line of decency, and as such, hadno place in a publication home to acommunity that holds tolerance anddiversity as its cornerstones.
But the underlying issue through-out these discussions, I think it’simportant to note, did not relate tothe content of the ad itself — I’d beutterly shocked to find anyone whofound its insinuations agreeable, andas is the case with all advertisementspublished in the Targum, its mes-sage reflects neither the views of thepaper itself, nor the paper’s staff.Rather, the discussion centered onprecisely what role we — as studentjournalists — play in supervisingcontent from paying advertisers.
As an independent publication,the Targum receives support neitherfrom the University administrationnor from its student government.Any and all funding for the paperderives from one of two places:through a semesterly opt-out feeincluded on the undergraduate stu-dent term bill — approved everythree years through a referendumprocess — and revenue raised byselling advertisement space. Thisindependence has, for over 30 yearsnow, allowed both the Targum’s con-tent and its staff to remain unimped-ed by the interests of outside groups,resulting in the rich and varied con-tent that make up the pages of thenewspaper each day. And when itcomes to editorial content, staffers atthe Targum work hard to ensure thatthe paper contributes something ofreal value to the level of discourse oncampus, day in and day out.
Yet when it comes to paid contentlike yesterday’s ad, the approach isquite different. The Daily Targumreserves the right to sell space in thepaper to any advertiser willing to paythe posted fee, usually with littlethought given to the advertiser’sbackground or association. Such apractice is implemented with thenotion in mind that each should betreated equally, and often proveseffective — the majority of the adsthat appear in the paper are spon-sored by local business andUniversity organizations, and requirelittle attention outside of routine finan-cial processes. All advertisinginquiries are ultimately handled andprocessed by the Daily Targum’sbusiness department, and are keptseparate and apart from the editorialdepartment to keep both unbiased.
The ad from Tuesday wasprocessed in much the same way, andperhaps this is the problem. In aneffort to remain consistent in thetreatment of our advertisers, we failedto properly vet not just the content ofthe ad itself, but also the organizationwith which it was associated and thehistory of provocative, exploitativetactics that organization employs inpromoting its message. On a campusas diverse and vibrant as our own, thead did little to elevate the level of dis-course, and that’s disappointing.
What was clear from our in officemeetings Tuesday, however, wasthat the process the Targumemploys while handling ads of thisnature — both what it is and what itought to be — is murky, even to our-selves as editors. As journalists,we’re inclined to defend the publica-tion of controversial content — paidor produced — through argumentsrelating to the importance of freespeech in both the community andat society at large. But as membersof the University community, wealso can’t help but protest the per-petuation of hurtful and deliberatelyoffensive messages such as the onecontained in Tuesday’s ad.
The two are not easily reconciled,but it’s clear that greater scrutinymust be employed on our part whenit comes to the handling and publica-tion of potentially controversial adsgoing forward. The Targum willrevisit its advertising policy in thecoming weeks to better stipulate theconditions under which an ad isaccepted and published. It’s clearthat not enough attention has beengiven to this process in the past, andfor a publication that prides itself onits service within the community,that’s unacceptable.
In the beginning of this column, Iargued that self-reflection can be auseful tool for self-improvement. Forus, it’s probably the most importanttool. As the University’s paper ofrecord, self-reflection that’s closelyinformed by input from our readersis the only way to make sure we’redoing our job and doing it right. Eachstudent that has ever come into oneof the Targum’s offices with a con-cern or suggestion has lent a hand inmaking us a better publication, andthose who came to voice their con-cerns this week about Tuesday’s addeserve a huge thank you. As theUniversity’s only campus paper,we’re committed to providing a prod-uct that reflects not just on us, but onthe community as a whole — andthis can only be accomplishedthrough your continued input. Ourdoors are always open.
Chase Brush is a School of Artsand Sciences junior majoring ineconomics and philosophy. He is theeditor-in-chief of The DailyTargum, and welcomes all feedbackat [email protected].
justify both the ongoing colonization ofMuslims abroad, as well as their height-ening subjugation here at home.
It came as a response to IsraeliApartheid Week. The real IAW is a nation-al campaign to draw awareness to theinternationally illegal transgressions ofthe Israeli government — a political con-flict that has nothing to do with religion.
That 9 a.m. phone call was followed bymany other calls, messages and conversa-tions throughout the day from peers thatwere wildly offended and rightfully dis-traught. Muslim and non-Muslim studentsalike felt that their college paper allowed adivisive and vicious attack on their stu-dent body. As a Muslim working in thepaper’s editorial office — autonomousfrom the processes of placing ads in thepaper — I felt indefensible.
A number of students from theMuslim community and I had a meetinglater on that afternoon with the Rev.Douglas Shepler of the Second ReformedChurch on College Avenue. After ourfriend Jack brought it to the church’sattention that Muslim University studentshad no place to pray on campus, Shepleropened his doors to us. He welcomed usto use the church for our worship andoffered to accommodate our religious
needs in whatever way he could. He alsoinvited us to host our religious services intheir space. For the first time, we willfinally have a place to hold Friday prayerson College Avenue.
A good friend of mine once pointed outto me that Christianity is love and Islam ispeace — and it’s moments like these thatremind me of how formidable a combina-tion they can be.
He told us about the history of thechurch and the deep Jewish ties it hasthreaded throughout its surfaces. As Iwalked through the halls, I felt surround-ed by the love that flowed mutuallybetween our parties that, in their veryessence, were one. The three Abrahamicreligions, after all, all came from the samesource. Sometimes, due to personal inter-ests, we forget that.
If we all truly abided by the tenets ofour faiths, there would be countless morehouses of worship around the world withtheir doors wide open, ready to be leadingexamples of coexistence for the rest of us.
The ad on Tuesday, however, wasanother timeless example of using reli-gion as fodder for political purposes andpersonal gain. It did nothing to excuseIsraeli transgressions like an illegal occu-pation, an apartheid wall and now even a
new segregated bussing system thatforces Palestinians to take designatedbuses. It’s disappointing to see that nodefense of such political crimes can comewithout stooping to the level of attacking areligion, which has nothing to do with thepolitical conflict in question.
While the blow of the ad still stings, Iam at least comforted to know that thereare people on this campus, and in thisworld, with hearts and minds wide open.Hatred like the kind we experienced thisweek has no place on our campuses, inour country or in our humanity. We provethat will not tolerate it so long as we con-tinue to speak and act against it. Everyperson has the potential to create thischange, whether it’s by calling an office,sending in a letter to the editor or evensimply opening your doors to anotherhuman being.
You can take all the darkness in theworld and place it in one room, but evenjust one light is enough to diminish it all.
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh is a School ofArts and Sciences junior majoring in polit-ical science and Middle Eastern studies.She is the opinions editor of The DailyTargum, and welcomes all submissions [email protected].
MARCH 7, 2013 OPINIONS PAGE 11
YOUR VOICE The Daily Targum welcomes submissions from all readers. Due to space limitations, letters to the editor must not exceed 400 words. Guest columns and commentariesshould be between 500 and 700 words. All authors must include name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Anonymous let-ters will not be considered. All submissions are subject to ediing for length and clarity. A submission does not guarantee publication. Please submit via email to [email protected] 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication.
A mid the latest onslaught of tragicimages and videos from war-tornSyria, the steady beating of
Washington’s war drums has begun tosound. Reports of increased fighting andviolence continue to pour out of Syria, andthe establishment media pundits are jump-ing at the chance to uncritically promoteU.S. involvement in yet another internal con-flict in the Mediterranean. Don’t fall for it.
See, they’ve tried this before — and I’mnot just talking about Libya. Back in thelate 1950s, the United States and theUnited Kingdom teamed up with an entiregroup of shady characters to overthrowthe Syrian government. The plan wascalled Operation Straggle, and it involvedarming and supporting rebel and opposi-tion forces from Syria, Iraq, Turkey andLebanon in their quest for regime change
Rethink stance on Syrian crisisSWIMMINGUPSTREAM
JOE AMDITIS
Ad uses politics totarget religion
The Daily Targum published ad titled“Faces of Islamic Apartheid,” paid for byDavid Horowitz, is not only racist propa-ganda but also the epitome of demagogyand Islamophobia. To add insult to injury,it also makes a mockery out the true hor-ror that is apartheid. In the ad, the termthrown around does not make any sense incontext, as cherry-picked photos of victimsof violence and abuse from all nations,backgrounds and genders are used to dec-orate a page of hate. Had the people whoplaced this ad read the first thing aboutIslam, they would know that it condemns
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I was woken up at 9 a.m. on Tuesdayby a phone call from a friend.
“Amani, did you see the ad in theTargum today?”
I was still in that space between sleepand reality, rubbing my eyes and trying toreel my mind back in from whateverdream cloud it was floating on. “What areyou talking about?” I muttered.
I soon knew very well what she wastalking about. It was plastered every-where on my Facebook newsfeed, friend-s’ Instagram accounts and even on theonline PDF of the newspaper. TheTargum published a sensationalist addefacing Islam. It was the very type ofmedia attention that I, as president of theUniversity chapter of MuslimGirl, dedi-cated myself to righting — and it was nowbeing perpetuated by a publication that Iwork for and dedicate myself toward.
The ad from Tuesday slandered anentire religion for a political purpose — to
Religion will not be collateral damageFROM THE
OPINIONS DESKAMANI AL-KHATAHTBEH
in order to “swing Syria on to the rightpath,” as described by the UnitedKingdom’s then-ambassador in Baghdad,Michael Wright. The idea was to use oppo-sition groups like the Syrian MuslimBrotherhood to provoke confusion andunrest in Syria and the Middle East. Alsoincluded in the plot was the goal to “attachSyria to the Iraqi state,” and to preventEgypt and Syria from forming an alliance.
Officials in both the United States andthe United Kingdom soon realized that thetime was not right to go ahead with the plan.Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd suggested,“[W]e may want to go further at a laterstage in connection with the development ofthe fertile crescent.” They knew that directU.S. and U.K. support for radical move-ments like the Syrian Brotherhood orWestern military action would be far toorisky, “because of Arab nationalist reactions,international repercussions and the possi-ble strengthening in Syria of those elementswho are against us.” The Brotherhood hadrecently gained serious ground against theregime. But Operation Straggle was neverimplemented, mainly because the Syrian
government caught wind of the plot. Theyeven chased the Central IntelligenceAgency out of Syria. But did that stop us?Not a chance, America.
We were back in action by 1957 with thePreferred Plan and Operation Wappen.Syria had just signed a deal with the SovietUnion for technical aid and training, andwe all know what that means. The samerule applies today as it did back then: If wecan’t have it, nobody can. But where, youmight ask, do you turn when you need tostir up more trouble in Damascus? Youguessed it — the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood was to play a criticalrole in starting an internal revolt to get theball rolling for the overthrow of the Syriangovernment. The plan called for collabora-tion between Western, Iraqi, Lebanese andJordanian intelligence agencies to sendarms and aid to “political factions with para-military or other actionist capabilities.” Iteven called for assassinations and deadlyfalse-flag operations to be conducted inSyria and blamed on political enemies —like we did with Mossadegh in Iran — andused to justify military intervention.
Like Operation Straggle, the PreferredPlan was never put into action. This wasmostly because of the fact that Syria’spesky neighbors wouldn’t agree to goalong with the plot. Instead, the West set-tled on a policy of “containment plus,”involving the use of exiles, rebels, opposi-tion groups and pro-Western Arab leadersto keep Syria under constant political pres-sure and turmoil.
The moral of the story: Just becauseCNN and company have decided to shame-lessly promote John Kerry’s plan to give$60 million in “non-lethal assistance” to theSyrians, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Wehave our own problems to deal with, hereat home. So before we send another for-tune to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group,the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or the AlNusra Front, maybe we should think aboutsending some “non-lethal assistance” intoour own domestic warzones.
Joe Amditis is a School of Arts andSciences senior majoring in criminal jus-tice and political science with minors inpsychology and criminology.
such acts of violence and that theseinstances stem from cultural, not religious,beliefs. Furthermore, it truly upsets methat the Targum would publish such an adwithout realizing the hate speech it pro-motes. It essentially generalizes an entiregroup of nearly 2 billion — and counting —people, as being participants in apartheid.
Let’s first look at apartheid and what itmeans. Apartheid, as defined by MerriamWebster, is segregation — culturalapartheid, gender apartheid. While thesephotos do depict disgusting practices thatresult from cultural backwardness in dif-ferent societies, they do not depictapartheid. This ad could be paralleled topicking the victims in random high-profilecases in America in the last few decades,such as OJ Simpson, Scott Peterson, Drew
Peterson, Andrea Yates or Casey Anthony,slapping them on an ad and titling it“Faces of American Apartheid.” Wouldthat make any sense? Evidently someonethought it would.
What makes this all the more grotesqueis the fact that all of this was done under thebanner of Islam. It is famously known thatthe last words of the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) before he died were:“… an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor does a non-Arab have superiorityover an Arab; also a white has no superiori-ty over a black nor does a black have supe-riority over a white …” As Muslims, ourcivil rights movement took place more than1,400 years ago, and it is something wehold sacred. To suggest otherwise is a trav-esty to everything we stand for.
As a student in a university where Ionce thought academic standards wereheld to the highest degree, I am horrified.Never would I have expected the Targumto allow such racist nonsense to be pub-lished. As a Muslim, it hurts to see my reli-gion being trampled in the name of dema-goguery. Finally, as a human being, I amutterly disgusted at the portrayal of victimsof abuse and violence that were used toincite Islamophobic sentiments, make amockery out of apartheid and spread fur-ther hate on campus, making these inno-cent lives victims once more.
Souad Haddara is a School of Arts andSciences junior majoring in political scienceand Middle Eastern studies and is the secre-tary of Muslims Without Borders
DIVERSIONS MARCH 7, 2013PAGE 12
Doonesbury GARRY TRUDEAU
Horoscopes / LINDA C. BLACK Pearls Before Swine STEPHAN PASTIS
Happy Hour JIM AND PHIL
Today's Birthday (03/07/13). Home life keeps you joyfully grounded forthe first half of the year, with positive changes like new space or an addi-tion to the family. Stick to the budget as you indulge. Learning, travel,friends, creativity and fun are regular themes. Explore. To get the advan-tage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Todayis an 8 — Let your partner take thelead. Push your crew to participate.Affection grows in a difficult situa-tion. Women offer their help,including some startling insights.Listen with intention. Distant com-munications bring positive news.Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Todayis a 9 — Discover a treasure youdidn't know you had. You can bor-row money you need; keep track ofspending. Get into action. Acknowl-edgement comes from far away. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Todayis an 8 — In a lucky break, a crazyidea works. Collect as much as youcan. Listen more than speaking.Your discipline's admirable; use itto increase efficiency. Quiet medi-tation lifts your spirits.Cancer (June 21-July 22) —Today is a 9 — There's a luckysurprise. Still, more study isrequired. True love plays by therules. Press your agenda verbally.By now, your choice should beobvious. Invest in your business.Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today isa 9 — Get a sexy new outfit, andbe prepared for some good news.Discuss the potential privately.Keep your resources confidential.Share a moment of sweet nostal-gia with someone who was there.Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Todayis an 8 — Make long-range plans toimprove your living conditions. Askfamily to help, and get pleasantlyobsessed with details. Insist uponwhat works best for you. Romanceenters the picture unbidden.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today isa 7 — Personal magnetism worksin your favor. Gather information,and share it. Let your partner takethe lead; your team has faith inyour success. You love the peopleyou meet now. Romance beckons.Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Todayis an 8 — Give thanks for a wind-fall. Invest in your own success first.You can afford it. Creative planningresolves a practical issue. Speakhealing words. Complete a homeproject. Provide excellent service.Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) —Today is a 9 — You're irresistible,and they love you. Make a plan forthe future that includes your part-ner's dream. A secret tip leads toprofits. Call the shot.Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) —Today is a 9 — Pleasant memoriesabound. Gather practical data.Your dedication to service is com-mendable. Reveal your ideas in pri-vate. Accept encouragement, thengo ahead and make a commitmentfor those you love.Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) —Today is a 7 — There's more workcoming in. Make sure it works foryour family. Look for clues behindthe scenes. Visit an influentialfemale. Keep your team on track,and upgrade equipment.Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Todayis an 8 — What would you love tolearn next? You can afford to takeon future expenses now. In adelightful turn of events, there'smore creative work coming in, anda bonus. Invest in your business.
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MARCH 7, 2013 SPORTS PAGE 15
Kalata stopped five shots inthe game, with four of her savescoming in the second half.
Rutgers took a second-halflead when freshman attackHalley Barnes scored midwaythrough the period. Her goal was
the second of three straight forthe Knights in the period.
Junior attack Megan Clementsconverted two free positionattempts and the Knights capital-ized on four as a team.
“We knew coming into thisthat Penn is another high-per-centage team off the 8-meter
Knights make four free position shots,including two goals from Clements
PENN
CONTINUED FROM BACK
[shot], so one of our plans wasto tr y and keep them of f[that],” Brand-Sias said. “So itwas huge that we were able tostop some of their 8-metershots and were able to capital-ize on our own.”
The Quakers were only scoredon one of three of their free posi-tion opportunities in the game.
Kalata made a save on a Pennfree position attempt in the sec-ond half. Clements scored herfirst goal of the game on the fol-lowing possession to tie thegame 3-3.
“That was really big because itjust stopped their momentum andgave us all the more momentum,”Kalata said. “Then we scored andit just fired us up.”
Rutgers entered halftimewith a 2-1 advantage after juniormidfielder Katrina Martinelliscored both first period goals forthe Knights.
“The best part about scoring alot in the first half is that goinginto halftime, [you’re] fired up. Itwas awesome,” Martinelli said.“We were so pumped at halftime,it was a great feeling.”
Both teams tied in turnoversand groundballs in a cold gamewith strong winds.
The Knights found an advan-tage in fouls, only committing 11in the game to Penn’s 26.
Brand-Sias said she was happythe team could control the ball formost of the game and keepmomentum on its side.
“It’s huge,” she said. “It’sprobably some of the best com-petition we’ve had yet this sea-son, so it was a good test for a team that has had some close games.”
to hit, and he’s not really chasinganything out of the zone. He’sjust worked on his swing in theoffseason, and you’re just gettinga lot of line drives out of himinstead of fly balls.”
Rutgers needs production inthe middle of the lineup, espe-cially with its most recent offen-sive struggles.
The Knights’ three throughfive hitters went a combined 8-for-31 against the YellowJackets as the of fense pro-
duced only threeruns in the threegame series.
But Hillbelieves theoffense will turnaround, and it isa safe bet Zarrillowill have a lot todo with it thisseason as long ashe continues his production.
“He’s makingmore contact than he was lastyear,” Hill said. “He’s in a posi-tion now to drive in a coupleruns too, and he’s been able todo that. We just hope he can con-tinue to do that and continue toput the ball in play, and that’s thebig thing.”
For updates on the Rutgersbaseball team, follow BradlyDerechailo on Twitter@BradlyDTargum.
MARCH 7, 2013SPORTS PAGE 16
He made 26 starts in the 40appearances as he was put in andout of Hill’s starting lineup. ForZarrillo, that meant making themost out of the limited opportu-nities he was handed.
So the added pressure to pro-duce in those limited at bats isunderstandable. But he does nothave to worry about that anymore.
“It keeps you more relaxed,”Zarrillo said. “If you cloud yourmind with thoughtssaying ‘I have to geta hit here, I have toget a hit there,’ itdefinitely putsmore pressure onyou and makesthings harder thanit has to be.”
Hill believeshis improvementextends from atthe plate as well.
Zarrillo replaced JoeD’Annunzio in left field, afterD’Annunzio led the team with a.991 fielding percentage — thehighest on the team last seasonamong everyday players.
Zarrillo holds a .938 percent-age in left field this season. Buthis bat has been his most obvi-ous improvement.
“He’s definitely a lot morepatient at the plate,” said juniorshortstop Pat Sweeney. “He isgetting a lot more better pitches
T he NCAA has lifted itsban on tournamentgames and champi-
onships being held in New Jersey, according to TheStar Ledger.
The lift comes after U.S. DistrictJudge Michael Shipp issued a per-manent injunction last Thursday inTrenton, making sports betting inNew Jersey illegal.
Previously, N.J. colleges wereunable to host NCAATournament games because ofthe ruling.
NEW YORK YANKEES FIRSTbaseman Mark Teixeira willmiss eight to 10 weeks with astrained right wrist, according toCBS Sports.
Yankees manager Joe Girardiyesterday announced the injuryto reporters.
Although it is a minor injurywith no tears, Teixeira will needfour weeks off and at least fourweeks to recover.
First baseman Eric Hosmerreplaced Teixeira, who waspar ticipating in the WorldBaseball Classic for TeamUSA, on its roster.
The injury is just another set-back for an aging Yankees roster,which recently lost centerfielderCurtis Granderson with a brokenarm along with the announce-ment that third baseman AlexRodriguez will be out with injuryuntil July.
In 123 games last season,Teixeira batted .251 with 24homeruns and 84 RBIs.
THE NEW YORK METS AREaiming for pitcher Johan Santana
IN BRIEF
Zarrillo finds comfort at plate with lesspressure because of consistent play
OUTFIELDER
CONTINUED FROM BACK
“He’s just worked onhis swing in
the offseason, andyou’re just getting alot of line drives. ”
PAT SWEENEYJunior Shortstop
to make his spring trainingdebut, according to ESPN.
The ideal would likely comeagainst the Detroit Tigers onMarch 14, giving the lefthanderthree appearances beforeOpening Day.
“We’re not worried aboutApril 1,” Collins said in a report.“We’re worried about 30 starts.”
The former Cy Young Awardwinner has thrown two bullpensessions so far this spring train-ing and will likely throw one moresession, along with batting prac-tice before he is put into a game.
Santana was kept off themound because of lack of shoul-der strength.
Santana went 6-9 last seasonin limited action for the Mets,tossing a 4.85 ERA along with11 strikeouts.
WIDE RECEIVER WESWelker will test the free-agentmarket, according to ESPN’sAdam Schefter.
It was reported the former NewEngland Patriots receiver wasclose to re-signing with the team,but now the 32-year-old will seewhat other offers are out there.
Teams can start negotiatingcontracts beginning Saturday,but cannot start signing playersuntil next Tuesday.
The Patriots refused to place afranchise tag on the receiver,who earned $9.5 million last sea-son under the tag.
Welker played in all 16games last season for thePatriots, hauling in 118 recep-tions for 1,354 yards and 6touchdowns. It was his fifth sea-son with at least 110 receptions.
MARCH 7, 2013 SPORTS PAGE 17
BY AARON FARRARCORRESPONDENT
The Rutgers women’s basket-ball team closed a regular seasonunpredictable by fans and eventhe team itself.
There were moments whenthe Scarlet Knights showedpromise on the hardwood cou-pled with performances in which
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL KNIGHTS FACE TOP-SEEDED NOTRE DAME WITH WIN IN NEXT GAME
Rutgers holds hope for tournament bid despite oddsFlorida]. Right now, that prom-ises to be a great game.”
It also promises to be a vitalone. A loss will probably extin-guish any lingering hopes ofthe Knights clinching their11th-consecutive NCAATournament berth.
Rutgers will be the No. 9 seedin its rematch with No. 8 seedSouth Florida
Senior guard Erica Wheelernailed six 3-pointers on 50 per-cent shooting from behind thearc in its last meeting with theBulls — a 68-56 win.
“The feeling is great [head-ing into the Big EastTournament],” said Wheeler,who scored a season-high 24points against the Bulls. “Wehave a good feeling going intothe second part of the season.”
The Knights advanced to thequarterfinals of the tournamentlast season after defeatingMarquette, 52-43. They ulti-mately lost to Connecticut, 49-34, but their season continuedafter securing a spot in theNCAA Tournament.
Rutgers faces different cir-cumstances this year. With thepossibility of hearing its nameannounced Selection Mondaydiminishing, all the squad can dois play its best basketball eachtime it takes to the court fromthis point forward.
Stringer does not have ananswer as to how or even if the
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer was encouraged by how the Knights’ regular season ended inMonday’s win against Pittsburgh. NELSON MORALES, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Knights’ season will last past theBig East Tournament.
“I do not know,” she said.“Your guess is as good as mine.All I can control right now is thehere and now.”
Rutgers looks to continueits of fensive ef ficiency againstthe Bulls. It shot a season-best56.5 percent from the floor in its blowout victor y against Pittsburgh.
The key for the Knightsagainst South Florida is to con-tain their composure. They did agood job of exposing the Bulls’frustration after a scrappy battlethe entire night.
The tournament is not inRutgers’ favor and, ever y outing will be a challenge. If it can make it past South Florida,it will have the daunting task of facing No. 1 seed Notre Dame.
The Irish captured the BigEast title and a No. 1 seed in theNCAA Tournament last year.
Stringer knows how dif fi-cult the postseason will be forthe Knights, but she is con-cerned with them taking onegame at a time.
“Better days are ahead,” shesaid. “We will look to make thatopportunity for ourselves.”
For updates on the Rutgerswomen’s basketball team, followAaron Farrar on Twitter@AFarrarTargum.
they looked absolutely confused.The team remembers that his-
toric night when it captured headcoach C. Vivian Stringer’s 900thcareer victory. Yet it also remem-bers Jan. 27, when it fell to in-state rival Seton Hall on the road,a team it never lost to in 12games prior.
But with a comfortable winagainst Pittsburgh on Monday,
Rutgers (16-13, 7-9) put its pastbehind it with an emphasis nowon the Big East Tournament thisweekend in Hartford, Conn.
“It is positive [to end theregular season with a win]because hopefully, we knowhow it feels,” Stringer saidMonday. “We will get some restand look forward to doing ourdamage against [South
MARCH 7, 2013SPORTS PAGE 18
BY GREG JOHNSONSTAFF WRITER
For all of its history-makingaccomplishments at the LivingstonRecreation Center, the Rutgersgymnastics team understands noneof that means anything right now.
The Scarlet Knights’ days ofcompetition at home for this sea-son are over, and they must travelagain for two more meets to pushfor a berth in the NCAA Regionals.
That starts when Rutgers willcompete in a dual meet tomor-row night with former confer-ence foe Towson.
The Knights are peaking, hav-ing produced two scores more than195 in the last three weeks, whilethe Tigers eclipsed a 194 Saturdayfor just the first time this season.
But in order to make theNCAA Regionals, Rutgers mustincrease its Regional QualifyingScore of 194.315 — ranked 39thnationally — into the top 36. IowaState currently holds the last spotwith an RQS of 194.715.
The statistic is calculatedthrough a team’s six best regularseason scores, three of whichmust be away. The highest scoreis eliminated and the remainingfive scores are averaged.
“I feel like if we do exactly whatwe did on Saturday for the nexttwo meets, our RQS will bump usup higher to the spot that we needto be to make it to regionals,” saidfreshman Jenna Williams.
That much is likely, but theproblem for Rutgers has beenmaintaining its routines — notelevating them.
The Knights no longer pos-sess the emotions and adrenalinetheir packed home crowd evokedon Senior Day, when they scoreda school-record 195.975.
Rutgers has been far less con-sistent on the road, averaging a193.740 score in away meets incontrast with a 194.450 averageat home.
For the Knights, it boils downto a mental game — one in whichthey must stay within themselvesand hone their potential.
“We just need to carry themomentum from Saturday, andwe need to realize that the crowdwasn’t the one who got us the[195.975],” Williams said. “Wegot ourselves the 195, so we need
GYMNASTICS
Knights shift focus toNCAA qualification
TENNIS RUTGERS 7, CONNECTICUT 0
RU extends winning streak to fourBY JIM MOONEYCONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Rutgers tennis teamnotched its third shutout of theseason thanks to a 7-0 effortTuesday against Connecticut.
The victory extended theScarlet Knights’ (6-2, 3-0) currentwinning streak to four.
“This was a strong win againsta Connecticut team that is a lot bet-ter than their record shows,” saidhead coach Ben Bucca. “The chal-lenge in this match was to bringthe energy and focus that we havebrought to our past few matches,and the girls really stepped up tothe plate and got the job done.”
The Knights clinched the dou-bles point after freshmen MariamZein and Lindsey Kayati defeated
Maxene Weinberg and SrnaStosljevic, 8-4. The third doublesmatch did not finish.
Rutgers began with momentumby taking the doubles point for theearly 1-0 lead. Junior Vanessa Petriniand freshman Gina Li continuedtheir dominate performances indoubles, defeating Abby McKeonand Lucy Nutting in the No. 1 posi-tion. Petrini and Li improved to 5-1together with the victory.
All four of Rutgers’ doubles par-ticipants represented the team in itsNo. 1 through 4 singles positions, aroster move that proved effectiveagainst the Huskies top four.
Petrini kept the momentumgoing for the Knights with victoryagainst Weinberg in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Li needed a third set to get hervictory against Stosljevic, resulting
in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win. Her victoryimproved her record to a team-best7-1 this season, extending her win-ning streak to four in singles action.
One of the big highlights ofthe day came in the No. 3 singlesmatch between Zein and Nutting,as it came down to a first-to-eleven tiebreak set.
Zein came back from a 9-7deficit to defeat Nutting, 11-9, andsealed the victory for the Knights.
Rutgers dominated in its’ lastthree sets, with all three victoriescoming in straight-set decisions.Sophmores Noor Judeh andLindsay Balsamo defeated NatalieRobson and Marie Gargiulo,respectively. With the win, Balsamois now on a four-match winningstreak. Kayati defeated McKeon toimprove her record to 6-1.
to keep thinking in our mindsthat we can do this — with orwithout a big crowd. The capabil-ity is there.”
Much of that will start withleadership from junior co-captainAlexis Gunzelman, who pro-duced a career-high Saturday inthe all-around competition.
Early in the season she stresseda more focused mindset in practice,and the Knights have since cleanedup some of the little things in theirroutines. But Gunzelman knowsthey must continue to push.
“I think it’s important to staywithin the meet,” Gunzelman said.“Don’t get sidetracked by every-thing else that’s going on and real-ly focus on our team and cheeringfor everybody — and everybodystaying cohesive and as a grouplike we did this past weekend.”
Head coach Louis Levinebelieves the motivational factorhas not wavered, despite Rutgersalready stamping its name in therecord books.
An appearance in the NCAARegionals remains the only satis-fying prize.
“It’s going to take just goingback and continuing to do whatwe’ve been doing and not beingsatisfied, and this team hasn’tbeen satisfied,” Levine said. “Theycould’ve been satisfied when wescored a 195 [for the first time]. …They have goals, and obviouslytheir goals aren’t met yet, and so Ifully expect them to just comeback in and continue to attack.”
Since the beginning ofFebruary, Levine has seen hisgymnasts become progressivelymore comfortable with their rou-tines, even if it has not alwaysbeen visible in the scores.
He insists now is simplyRutgers’ time.
“Look, we’ve had really goodmeets three out of the last four,other than some mistakes at KentState on balance beam,” Levinesaid. “I think we’ve been prettyconsistent over the last fewweeks. Obviously the scores havebeen a little up and down, but theperformances have really contin-ued to get better and better.”
For updates on the Rutgersgymnastics team, follow GregJohnson on Twitter@GJohnsonTargum.
tougher teams can be scoredon, but it has closed out onlyone upset, a five-point defeat ofthen No. 24 Pittsburgh.
“I look at them in the face …and I ask them, ‘did you think itwas going to be easy?’” said headcoach Mike Rice after Tuesdaynight’s loss to Marquette.
The contest with the GoldenEagles was the Scarlet Knights’latest lesson on how difficult lifein this conference can be.
Marquette entered the gamewith a No. 15 ranking, but founditself down 10 points at halftime toa Rutgers team that began thenight with eight more conferencelosses than it.
“That Rutgers is 4-12 enteringthe day and that we’re 12-4 and ahalf a game out of first place [had]no bearing on the outcome,” saidMarquette head coach Buzz
Williams after Tuesday night’sgame. “You have to earn the rightto win, whether it’s at home or onthe road, and I think on a nightlybasis, this league is as good as it is.”
The Knights have been on theless fortunate end of the Big
East’s talent in recent memory,and this loss was no different.
Each team Rutgers faced hasthrown a different dominant player
into the mix, whether it wasGeorgetown’s Otto Porter,Marquette’s Vander Blue,Louisville’s Russ Smith or any ofthe other NBA prospects that callthe Big East home.
So regardless of the Knights’level of execution, some of itshardships can be chalked up to aleague that possesses an abun-dance of star power.
Twenty percent of the top 20picks in last year’s NBA Draftcame out of the Big East and atotal of eight conference play-ers were selected in the firsttwo rounds.
To find further proof, onewould only need to compareRutgers’ conference and out-of-conference records.
Against nonconference oppo-nents, the Knights lost just twoout of 12 games, only one of
which was by more than fourpoints — a 13 point loss to Ole Miss.
But when pitted up against theBig East, Rutgers has won onlyfour of 17 games and just two ofits last 14.
The Big East is easily one ofthe most competitive leagues topto bottom, evident by its talent andclose games between opponentswith vastly different records.
“I think a lot of people will saythat there’s a huge differencebetween being 13-4 and 4-13,”Williams said. “But I think whenyou are inside of that, you realizehow fragile this is and small thedifference is.”
For updates on the Rutgersmen’s basketball team, follow JoeyGregory on Twitter@JGregoryTargum.
MARCH 7, 2013 SPORTS PAGE 19
MEN’S BASKETBALL BIG EAST BOASTS DEPTH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
The Rutgers swimming and div-ing team solidified its goal this sea-son with its fifth-place finish at lastweek’s Big East Championships.
With a 9-2 regular seasonrecord, the Scarlet Knightsproved to be a well-balanced team.
One aspect the Knights couldcount on consistently was fromrelay relay squads.
That unit peaked at the righttime with school records in the400-meter medley relay at theBig East Championships.
Freshman Joanna Wu, soph-omore Greta Leberfinger and
Relay team highlights Big East Championships
Conference proves to be one of nation’s hardest
Sophomore guard Myles Mack has generally been Rutgers’ statistical leader since sophomore guard Eli Carter went down with a fractured right fibula. But otherBig East teams have won with greater star power, which has led to several Knights losses. NELSON MORALES, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BY JOEY GREGORYCORRESPONDENT
This college basketball sea-son has, if nothing else, shownthat there are no automatic winsin the power conferences.
If Penn State, a team whoseRPI once sat at 194, can beat atop-five team in Michigan, andIndiana can lose three times asthe nation’s No. 1, each win mustbe earned.
The Big East is a clear indica-tion of this.
Georgetown, which leads theconference, fell to SouthFlorida, which is tied for last inthe conference.
Louisville went on a three-gamelosing streak in the league, itslongest in more than three years.
And the Rutgers men’s bas-ketball team has shown
“I think a lot of people will say that
there’s a huge difference between
13-4 and 4-13.” BUZZ WILLIAMS
Marquette Head Coach
juniors Mary Moser andBrittany Guinee were featuredon that unit, a combination headcoach Phil Spiniello was proudof at the end of the race.
“There were some greatsplits from the women on thatrelay,” Spiniello said. “Theywere big points and everyonestepped up on the relays, whichhas been a goal on mine for thepast few years.”
Rutgers grabbed early pointsin the first two days of competi-tion at the Big EastChampionships with help from itsother relay teams.
The Knights took a pair of fourth-place finishes in the
200-meter medley relay and 200-meter freestyle relay events.
With the exception of Moser,who competed in both races, eachteam consisted entirely of differ-ent athletes in both races.
The relays emphasized thedepth of the Knights’ roster, asthe squads consisted of athleteswho also placed well in their indi-vidual events.
Wu scored as high as fourth inone of her individual races, whileLeberfinger led the Knights inthe 200-meter breaststroke.
Moser placed ninth in the 50-meter freestyle events and wasthe only Rutgers swimmer tobreak the top 10 in that event.
The relays played a majorrole in meets during the regularseason, as they would oftenbegin a day’s competition andprovided the first opportunityfor scoring.
In a quad meet Feb. 9,Rutgers grabbed an early leadwith a victory in the 200-meterfreestyle relay againstGeorgetown, Villanova andSeton Hall.
A second squad followed upwith a third-place finish in thesame event to help the Knightstake two podium spots.
Rutgers nearly mounted alarge comeback with a second-place finish in the 400-meter
freestyle relay to finish justmore than a second behind the Wildcats.
The per formance ledSpiniello to believe the teamwas ready for the Big East Championships.
In three of the Knights’ finalfour meets leading up to thechampionships, a relay squadbegan the competition with a first-place finish.
In its most dominant per-formance of the season,Rutgers had a 1-2 finish from itstwo squads in the 200-metermedley relay on Dec. 1 against George Washingtonand Old Dominion.
CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS The Rutgers men’sbasketball team has struggled in Big East play,but the Knights can at least say they play in oneof the best leagues in the country. PAGE 19
COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES EXTRA POINT RUTGERS SPORTS CALENDAR
SPORTS
JOURNEY CONTINUES With three spots separating theRutgers gymnastics team from qualification for theNCAA Tournament, the Knights will continue to preparefor a possible postseason appearence. PAGE 18
ALWAYS A CHANCE C. Vivian Stringerand the Rutgers women’s basketballteam still hold faith for an NCAATournament bid. PAGE 17
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“All I can control right now is the here and now.”— Rutgers head women’s basketball coach C. VivianStringer on her team’s fate for the rest of the season
SCOTT KLIMCHAK scoredfour goals in the Rutgersmen’s lacrosse team’s 9-8loss Tuesday against HolyCross. The junior attackleads Rutgers with 18goals this season.
SOFTBALL
vs. Sacramento State
Tomorrow, 2:30 p.m. San Luis Obispo,Calif.
BASEBALL
at William & Mary
Tomorrow, 4 p.m.Williamsburg, Pa.
GYMNASTICS
at Towson
Tomorrow, 7 p.m.Towson, Md.
WRESTLING
EIWA Championships
Tomorrow, 12 p.m.RAC
DePaulNo. 17 Syracuse
No. 5 GTownVillanova
No. 7 MichiganPurdue
5778
5767
8075
No. 13 Ok. StateIowa St.
RichmondNo. 21 VCU
North CarolinaMaryland
7687
8293
7968
WOMEN’S LACROSSE RUTGERS 6, NO. 20 PENN 5
Senior goalkeeper Lilly Kalata recorded five saves, including four in the second half, in yesterday’s 6-5 win against No. 20 Penn.Her effort between the pipes helped preserve Rutgers’ undefeated streak at home. LIANNE NG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER / FEBRUARY 2013
Knights down No. 20 PennBY IAN ERHARD
STAFF WRITER
The home portion of the sidelines erupt-ed as the clock hit zero as the Rutgerswomen’s lacrosse team held on for a 6-5 winagainst No. 20 Penn.
The Scarlet Knights (4-1) extendedtheir winning streak to three games withthe upset and remained undefeated at home.
BASEBALL
Outfielderimproves batin second year
BY BRADLY DERECHAILOASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
For Rutgers head baseball coach FredHill, the responsibility of the five-hole hitterinvolves making contact more than any otheroffensive statistic.
“He doesn’t have to hit homeruns, but hehas to put the ball in play,” Hill said of thatspot in the lineup.
So, barring an offensive letdown fromthe top four spots, the five hole usually pro-vides several opportunities not just to driverunners in, but see pitches that are easierto hit.
Sophomore leftfielder Vinny Zarrillo hastaken advantage of the later thus far this sea-son, leading the Scarlet Knights with a .364average in their first nine games.
His plate production is a far cry from thenumbers he put up in his first season withthe team.
Zarrillo batted .226 during his rookie cam-paign, the lowest average from a player with40 or more appearances.
He credits his commitment to the weightroom as well as the batting cage during theoffseason for his improvement, but a mentalburden has allowed for the biggest differ-ence in the way the Forked River, N.J., nativehas approached the plate.
SEE OUTFIELDER ON PAGE 16SEE PENN ON PAGE 15
GRAPHIC BY SHAODI HUANG
Sophomore defender Jenny Vlahoscaused a turnover in the final seconds of reg-ulation to seal the game and end theQuakers’ attempt at a late comeback.
Head coach Laura Brand-Sias said thedefense maintained its composure in the lat-ter stages of the second half.
“[Penn is] a fast, big, strong team. So whenthey’re coming down the field full speed, it’scertainly something that’s tough to maintain,”Brand-Sias said. “I think the defense did a good
job adjusting, and we rode the ball much bettertoday, so that slowed them down a little bit.”
The Quakers brought the game to withinone goal when midfielder Iris Williamsonscored unassisted with one minute remain-ing in the game.
Penn grabbed possession after the drawand forced goalkeeper Lily Kalata to makeone final save.
