GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS Ensuring that the
SEASONAL DEPRESSION Late sunsets are
back, and serotonin is coming back with them
GYMNASTICS Seniors finish their final regular season in the first double weekend
nation’s promises are kept does not negate our charity SEE OPINIONS, PAGE 6
SEE INSIDE BEAT, PAGE 8
Weather Cloudy High: 44 Low: 26
SEE SPORTS, BACK
Serving the Rutgers community since 1869. Independent since 1980.
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK
TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2019
ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM
U. alumnus, political consultant gives Democratic primary insight YARA ASSADI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Targum, John Wisniewski, a Rutgers alumni, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former New Jersey assemblyman, discussed progressive politics, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and advice for students interested in running for office. Wisniewski previously served as the New Jersey chairman for
Sanders’s campaign during the Democratic primaries. He is also known for pushing to hold former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) accountable during the “Bridgegate” scandal when he worked as chairman of the Assembly’s Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, according to NJ Advance Media. He said in New Jersey, registered voters can either be affiliated with a party or unaffiliated. Traditionally, affiliated voters either align with
the Democrat or Republican Party. Those who affiliate with a party can only vote in that party’s primary election. Those who do not affiliate with a party will be identified as affiliated if they vote in the primaries. Those who register as Independent, on the other hand, do not vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. Though Sanders is an Independent himself, SEE INSIGHT ON PAGE 4
John Wisniewski, a Rutgers alumnus and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said the only county he was able to win was the one that did not have a party line in the primary election. VIMEO
Rutgers hosts self love, body positivity event CATHERINE NGUYEN NEWS EDITOR
As part of the Body Positivity and Self Love Project hosted by the Center for Social Justice Education, renowned sexuality educator Ericka Hart came to Rutgers to discuss her experience with cancer, sexuality and social justice. The project, which has been in place for several years at the University, involves several different programs and lectures to encourage students to take
care of themselves, said Lindsay Jeffers, the assistant director of programming at the Center for Social Justice Education. “It’s all about bringing a lens of taking care of yourself, loving yourself and embracing all parts of who you are,” she said. The event started off with an introduction of Hart by showing a video of her interview on the Public Broadcasting Station (PBS). In the interview, Hart discussed her SEE EVENT ON PAGE 4
Alleged details emerge in student athlete’s 7 charges BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN NEWS EDITOR
Zaneta Rago-Craft, who is the director of the Center for Social Justice Education, facilitated a conversation with Ericka Hart of Columbia School of Social Work. RUTGERS.EDU
Study strives to locate environmental hazards GOPNA SHEKARAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A new study by Rutgers researchers titled “Highly Efficient Luminescent Metal–Organic Framework for the Simultaneous Detection and Removal of Heavy Metals from Water” is looking to develop new materials to detect environmental hazards that can be toxic and can be present in substances, such as our water supply. Heavy metals include substances such as arsenic, mercury and lead, which have become more prevalent in the atmosphere due to industrialization over the past few years, said Jing Li, a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry. The research team described the method of heavy metal detecting as “sensing and capturing.” Li said the sensing aspect involves detecting the trace amounts of heavy metal in a sample of water.
“This is possible because the materials’ fluorescence properties change in the presence of heavy metals. When illuminated by a black light (UV light), our materials usually glow a bright color, like blue or green. However, if lead or mercury are present, the ‘glow’ fades or can disappear entirely,” Li said. The capturing process involves using materials in order to extract the heavy metals out in an efficient and safe manner. Li said that the researchers have also been working on creating a mercury test strip that is able to detect mercury in contaminated substances. One such material the team has created is a porous substance they have referred to as LMOF-263. “One gram of our LMOF-263 material has a volume of about 2 to 3 cubed centimeters , but a surface area of over 1,000 squared meters — approximately 2.5 times SEE HAZARDS ON PAGE 4
Jing Li, a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry, said her research hopes to create cheaper materials than the current ones needed for heavy metal extraction. RUTGERS.EDU
VOLUME 151, ISSUE 27 • UNIVERSITY ... 3 • OPINIONS ... 6 • INSIDE BEAT... 8• DIVERSIONS ... 9 • SPORTS ... BACK
Issa Thiam, a School of Ar ts and Sciences junior and Rutgers men’s basketball player, who The Daily Targum repor ted yesterday was charged with seven counts of crimes, has been accused of slapping a woman in the face a half-dozen times and swinging a kitchen knife at her when she refused to give up her cell phone, according to an ar ticle by NJ Advance Media. The incident, that involves charges of simple assault, criminal mischief, false imprisonment, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, theft by unlawful taking and terroristic threats, occurred on Friday when Thiam tried to take the unidentified woman’s cell phone in his Piscataway apartment, according to the article. The woman refused and held the phone to her chest, according to the article. Thiam then allegedly went to the kitchen, got a knife and threatened to kill her. Thiam also slapped the woman 6 to 8 times, according to the article. He allegedly got the phone and pushed her back into the apartment when she tried to leave, according to the article. Thiam also denies anything with a knife or threats, Thiam’s attorney said. He has also been suspended indefinitely from the team, according to the article. Head coach Steve Pikiell, at an unrelated press conference on Monday, said, “We’ve had many obstacles this season and this is just another one we have to fight through.”