LEAVING NEVERLAND Debate on legacy, a
separation of art from artist is needed
SEE OPINIONS, PAGE 6
CORPORATE CONSOLIDATION Massive companies merging leaves a weaker media landscape . SEE INSIDE BEAT, PAGE 8
MEN’S BASKETBALL Knights lose their chance at winning record as Baker puts up a zero on senior night
Weather Partly Cloudy High: 34 Low: 17
SEE SPORTS, BACK
Serving the Rutgers community since 1869. Independent since 1980.
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK
THURSDAY MARCH 7, 2019
ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM
Fruit fly wings have links to human hearts LEONARD TAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Flies are not the only things buzzing as a team of Rutgers researchers recently published a paper on the mechanisms of fruit flies’ wings, which could lead to more information about the organs of humans. Researchers Kenneth Ir vine, the principal investigator at Waksman
Institute of Microbiology and distinguished professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistr y, and Zhenru Zhou, a graduate student, are currently hoping to understand how the factors in a fruit fly’s wing shape can be applicable to humans as well. SEE HEARTS ON PAGE 4
Fruit flies and humans share many genetic similarities. Seventy-five percent of the genes in a fruit fly match with genes related to diseases in humans. These genes may also have the same effect on both fruit flies and human organs. FLICKR
Rutgers ranks 19th among top public US universities CATHERINE NGUYEN NEWS EDITOR
Learn.org has recently published its rankings for the top public universities in the country for 2019, ranking Rutgers University—New Brunswick 19th on the list. In order to come up with the list, data factors from the U.S. Department of Education such as graduation rates, tuition prices and student rankings were considered. These factors were then combined with extra offerings by the university, such as opportunities for studying abroad, extracurricular student activities, overall beauty of the campus and more, according to Learn.org. “To compile this list, we considered hundreds of public universities across the country and selected Rutgers University—New Brunswick based on academic and career resources, the quality of
Learn.org referenced Rutgers’ long history, which goes back to before the nation was founded. Old Queens, which is located on the College Avenue campus, represents this history since it is the oldest building in the University. MICA FINEHART education, faculty and more,” said Nicole Richards, a senior content generalist for Study.com, in an email to The Daily Targum. Specifically, Rutgers was part of a long history, especially since it was founded a decade before the United States even became a country, according to Learn.org. Throughout
U. has 2nd-most drug arrests for NJ colleges CATHERINE NGUYEN NEWS EDITOR
A list of New Jersey colleges revealed that Rutgers University— New Brunswick had the secondhighest number of drug arrests and referrals in the state, according to NJ Advance Media. Throughout all colleges in the state, statistics showed that the number of drug busts were increasing. In 2017, there were 1,746 drug arrests and referrals for campus discipline in fouryear college campuses, according to
an NJ Advance Media review of the latest crime reports from 27 schools. Drug referrals are when a student is directed to a treatment center or doctor for drug abuse. Compared to last year, that is a 6.5-percent increase and compared to the last two years, that is a 13-percent increase. Of the incidents that occurred this year, 792 of the drug-related arrests were on or near college campuses and 954 students were further referred to campus discipline committees for violating drug-
tradition that’s carried on today in the Big Ten,” according to the website. Since 2003, Learn.org has been working to help students when researching potential schools, degrees and careers. Richards said the list of the top public universities aimed to help users and students determine the best university offerings.
the years, notable alumni have included vice presidents, senators, governors, novelists and Nobel Prize winners. Turning to the present, the University currently has more than 350 programs and majors for approximately 50,000 undergraduates, according to Learn.org.
Rutgers also has a retention rate of 93 percent and a graduation rate of 80 percent, and is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Learn.org also acknowledged the athletic presence at the University. “It has the distinction of being the birthplace of college football, a rich
related school rules, according to the NJ Advance Media reports. While marijuana use is increasing nationally and other states have already legalized the recreational use of it, marijuana use is still illegal in New Jersey. On the list, Rutgers—Newark reported a total of 35 drug-related incidents in 2017, placing 13th of the 27 schools investigated. Rutgers—Camden had the 11thhighest number of drug arrests and referrals, with a total of 42. Rutgers—New Brunswick, on the other hand, reported a total of 337 drug-related incidents, with 271 drug arrests and 66 referrals for discipline in 2017. This is an increase from 2016, when the University had 172 drug arrests and 129 referrals for discipline.
The number of college students who use marijuana is increasing across the country, states such as California and Colorado have already legalized the recreational use of the drug. FLICKR
VOLUME 151, ISSUE 24 • UNIVERSITY ... 3 • OPINIONS ... 6 • INSIDE BEAT... 8• DIVERSIONS ... 9 • SPORTS ... BACK
Page 2
March 7, 2019
Weather Outlook
Source: Rutgers Meteorology Club
TODAY
High of 34, Partly Cloudy
TONIGHT
Low of 17, Partly Cloudy
Thur
Sat
Fri
THE DAILY TARGUM 204 NEILSON ST. NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901 PHONE: FAX: E-MAIL: WEB:
Hi 34 Lo 17
Hi 39 Lo 26
BUSINESS DIRECTORY:
(732) 932-7051 (732) 247-3670 business@dailytargum.com www.dailytargum.com
Business Manager Isabeau Touchard Marketing Director Jennifer Kim Advertising Classifieds Productions
x101 x102 x103 x104 x107
Hi 45 Lo 33 THE 151ST EDITORIAL BOARD
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT BUSINESS MANAGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ISABEAU TOUCHARD // BUSINESS@DAILYTARGUM.COM MARKETING DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JENNIFER KIM // MARKETING@DAILYTARGUM.COM OPERATIONS MANAGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ELIZABETH KATZ // LIZ@DAILYTARGUM.COM CONTROLLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SIMONE KRAMER // SIMONE@DAILYTARGUM.COM CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER AMANDA GIRELLO CLASSIFIEDS ASSISTANT SHANNON MCINTYRE, KALYN CARPIO
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REBECCA BRIGHT // EIC@DAILYTARGUM.COM • x 108 MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PRIYANKA BANSAL // MANAGED@DAILYTARGUM.COM • x 109 NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN // NEWS@DAILYTARGUM.COM NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CATHERINE NGUYEN // UNIVERSITY@DAILYTARGUM.COM OPINIONS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LUKE HINRICHS // OPED@DAILYTARGUM.COM SPORTS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JACKSON THOMPSON // SPORTS@DAILYTARGUM.COM COPY EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TAYLOR DUA // COPY@DAILYTARGUM.COM PHOTO EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DUSTIN NILES // PHOTO@DAILYTARGUM.COM VIDEO EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HENRY STREHLO // VIDEO@DAILYTARGUM.COM FEATURES EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JORDAN LEVY // INSIDEBEAT@DAILYTARGUM.COM
PRODUCTIONS DEPARTMENT
ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAKE SCHMIED // SPORTS@DAILYTARGUM.COM
PRODUCTIONS DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MICHELLE KLEJMONT // PRO@DAILYTARGUM.COM
ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GARRETT STEFFE // PHOTO@DAILYTARGUM.COM
ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RIA MALATESTA // COPY@DAILYTARGUM.COM ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANDREANA LOUKIDIS // VIDEO@DAILYTARGUM.COM
SENIOR PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MARIELLE SUMERGIDO PRODUCTION ASSISTANT DEXTER CHENG, ALEXANDRIA DOMINICK, KAYLIN VIRONE
©2019 TARGUM PUBLISHING CO. The Daily Targum is a student-written and student-managed, non-profit incorporated newspaper published by the Targum Publishing Company. Circulation is 10,000. The Daily Targum is published Monday through Friday in New Brunswick, New Jersey, while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters. No part thereof may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the consent of the business manager.
Campus Calendar THURSDAY 3/07 Rutgers University Libraries presents “Introduction to Mapping” from 10 a.m. to noon at Alexander Librar y on the College Avenue campus. This event is free and open to the public. FRIDAY 3/08 Depar tment of Human Ecology presents “Book Talk: Immigration, Diversity and Student Journeys to Higher Education” from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Cook Student Center on Cook campus. This event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Recreation Depar tment presents “Lemon Squeezer Hike” from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Cook Douglass Recreation Center on Cook campus. This event requires registration. Rutgers Gardens presents “Cooks’ Market — Winter Farm Market” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rutgers Gardens on Cook campus. This event is free and open to the public. SATURDAY 3/09 Mason Gross School of the Ar ts presents “Rutgers Symphony Orchestra”
at 7:30 p.m. at Nicholas Music Center on Douglass campus. This event is $5 for students. Rutgers Athletics presents “Men’s Lacrosse vs. Princeton” at 1 p.m. at HighPoint.com Stadium on Busch campus. This event is free for students, but requires a ticket. SUNDAY 3/10 Rutgers Recreation Depar tment presents “Bike at the Beach” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cook Douglass Recreation Center on Cook campus. This event requires registration. The Catholic Center presents “Roman Catholic Mass” from 11 a.m. to noon at Catholic Center on the College Avenue campus. This event is free and open to the public. MONDAY 3/11 Department of Genetics and Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey present “Genetic Seminar Series with speaker Dr. Mary Mullins” from noon to 1 p.m. at Life Sciences Building on Busch campus. This event is free and open to the public.
If you would like to submit an event for the Campus Calendar section, please email marketing@dailytargum.com. For more information please visit www.dailytargum.com. Due to space limitations there is no guarantee that your event will be listed.
CORRESPONDENTS MATTHEW HOWE, ALEXANDRA FABUGAIS-INABA, ROBERT SANCHEZ, COBY GREEN, CLARISSA GORDON, JAKE MCGOWAN, BREANA OMANA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS CASEY AMBROSIO, CURSTINE GUEVARRA, MICA FINEHART
CORRECTIONS The Daily Targum promptly corrects all errors of substance. If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, send an email to eic@dailytargum.com.
March 7, 2019
UNIVERSITY
Page 3
Rutgers student receives Gates scholarship award BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN NEWS EDITOR
Sridhar Sriram, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, has been named a recipient of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, according to an article by Rutgers Today. The award is given to students who demonstrate outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential and commitment to
“I explored all my options and strategized about what might be a good fit and fell in love with the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.” SRIDHAR SRIRAM School of Arts and Sciences Senior
improving the lives of others, according to the article. “This remarkably accomplished young man has the exact combination of academic achievement and social commitment that the Gates Cambridge Scholarship seeks to recognize,” said Arthur
Casciato, director of the Office of Distinguished Fellowships. Sriram, who has been studying as a double-major in public policy and computer science, wants to work towards eliminating the bias that creeps into algorithms and impacts results from online search engines and social media platforms, according to the article. He hopes to continue this work after he graduates, according to the article. “I explored all my options and strategized about what might be a good fit and fell in love with the Gates Cambridge Scholarship,” Sriram said. “It was the only program I ended up applying to.” While at Rutgers, Sriram has worked as a teaching assistant for a graduate-level data science course at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, according to the article. He is also a member of the Google Community Leaders Program and a member of the Cap and Skull Honor Society. “By pursuing a master of philosophy in technology policy, I hope to gain an understanding of how best to regulate algorithmic bias without hampering the innovation process, while also exploring the technical frameworks necessary to tackle such biases,” Sriram said.
Sridhar Sriram, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, said he hopes to eliminate bias that is evident in computer algorithms, impacting results from search engines and social media platforms in his future studies. RUTGERS.EDU
Copyright Infringement
Page 4
March 7, 2019
HEARTS Fruit flies’ normal organ shapes may be due to large systems of tissues CONTINUED FROM FRONT
What exactly do humans and flies have in common? Zhou said there were many similarities, as 75 percent of fruit flies’ genes match with known human diseasecausing genes. This similarity is even more clear when observing wings, which Irvine said are an organ in fruit flies.
“Even though people don’t have wings, the same genes that control the shape of the wing also control the normal shape of our organs,” Irvine said. He said flies with mutations in a specific gene, called dachsous, have shorter and wider wings than normal wings resembling circles more than ellipses. Humans have this same gene, and those with mutations in
their dachsous genes have organs, or parts of organs, that have the wrong shape. Furthermore, these genes may even have the same effect on humans as fruit flies. Irvine said one specific disease caused by mutations in the dachsous gene is called mitral valve prolapse, which is when one of the valves in the heart does not form properly. As a result, the heart is unable to pump blood as efficiently as a normal heart. “The defect in the valve occurs because it is shorter and wider than a normal heart valve — i.e., essentially the same change as we see in the fly wing,” he said.
The study also served to contradict previous ideas surrounding the development of
team manipulated the cells in fruit flies, they found that this was not the case.
“Even though people don’t have wings, the same genes that control the shape of the wing also control the normal shape of our organs.” KENNETH IRVINE Distinguished Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
wing shape in flies. It was previously thought that wings are elongated because when they are first being developed, how the wing cell divides affects the length. But when Irvine’s
Kenneth Irvine, the principal investigator at Waksman Institute and a distinguished professor in the Department of Microbiology, said the team will continue to investigate other ideas about how the wing shape of fruit flies are controlled. RUTGERS.EDU
Instead, no matter how the division of the wing cells were oriented, the adult wing shape was still shaped longer than it was wide. “We found in mutant flies, adult wing shape is still elongated, while division orientation of the cells are random, which is different than a few previous papers’ claims,” Zhou said. Going forward, Irvine said the team was investigating other ideas about how wing shape is controlled, as well as the role of the dachsous gene in the process. There are some ideas that researchers have in mind though, Zhou said. The shape of a fly could be due to a combination of characters and behaviors in the cells. A normal organ shape may not be due to individual cell behaviors, but instead a larger system of tissues that dictate the overall arrangement of the cells. This could ultimately further pinpoint the mechanisms that control organ shape in humans, Zhou said. “I will focus on mutant flies that have wings with different shape and study how they change their wing shape … studying on the mechanism of organ shape control could help find the mechanism of these diseases,” Zhou said.
OPINIONS
Page 6
March 7, 2019
We must curb outrage, keep it in perspective
E
veryone was in shock. I looked around the classroom and saw people’s confused expressions. Nobody JOSH VALDEZ could believe what was happening. A student was standing on the table screaming. That is right, a college student was yelling at the top of her lungs during the middle of class. We had been Skyping with an author during creative writing class. One of his talking points was about how he thought authors should be able to write about any type of character or situation, as long as they are educated on the matter. For example, he spoke about how he had written a novel from the perspective of a Black slave, even though he is white. This spawned the most unexpected occurrence that I have ever seen inside of a classroom. During the Q&A session, a girl stood on the table with her hands on her hips and yelled, “I have been very offended with some of the things that you have said!” I put my face in my hands and thought, “Oh boy, here we go.” “How could you have the nerve to write about an oppression that is not yours? That is incredibly disrespectful,” she screamed at his bewildered face. She took it a step further, bringing it to a personal level. “You are Jewish, how would you feel if someone of a different religion wrote about the Holocaust? You are profiting from white guilt!” Initially, I found it hilarious. I had to hold in my laughter. It reminded of a scene you would find in a low-budget comedy film. I had so many questions. Was I suddenly transferred to a parallel universe, where it was acceptable for students to yell at someone during class? Was the author really an ignorant monster, or was the girl just overreacting? After giving it some thought, I am leaning toward the latter. It would have been one thing if he had somehow twisted history or downplayed the slave’s struggle, but that was not the case. Several times, he noted that he did his research before starting the book. He acknowledged that not everyone would think a white man would be qualified to speak about the struggles of a Black person. This is why he made sure that the story was historically accurate. He simply told the reality of the time period — the slave was at a disadvantaged position, and a victim of institutional racism.
THE POWER OF AN OPEN MIND
“If you are the type of person that gets easily offended when someone disagrees with you, I urge you to remember one word: Gratitude. Counting my blessings always helps me maintain a calm attitude and an open mind.” I talked to a classmate about it, and she said, “It was like the real-life version of people arguing about social issues online.” She hit the nail on the head. We live in a time where people argue on social media about an infinite amount of topics including politics, race relations and which Kardashian is more attractive. More often than not, it becomes a contest to see who can get the most attention. These arguments rarely result in intellectual growth, or anything productive for that matter. I could say the same for what happened that day in class. What exactly did that girl accomplish by standing on the table and making a spectacle? Sure, she had the right to express her opinion. But there is a difference between respectfully disagreeing with someone, and completely losing your temper over their opinion. At the end of the day, she created a memorable moment for everyone in the room. But judging by their annoyed facial expressions, I doubt she affected anyone’s personal views. Whether it is online or real-life shouting matches, it is important to keep things in perspective. While there are people like the girl from class screaming at an author over his book, Venezuela is currently going through a socioeconomic and political crisis. Many of its citizens have to search through garbage for food because of shortages. In fact, according to dosomething. org, roughly 805 million people worldwide are malnourished on a daily basis. Personally, I could never get myself worked up over someone’s creative expression when there are hundreds of millions of people that do not even have access to basic needs. I am blessed enough to be a college student in a developed country, with access to food and water at all times. Whenever I see someone get offended over something that is not worth the energy, I wonder what those people in need would think. They would probably say something like, “How lucky are they to be in the position to worry about being offended, while I have to worry about starving to death?” If you are the type of person that gets easily offended when someone disagrees with you, I urge you to remember one word: Gratitude. Counting my blessings always helps me maintain a calm attitude and an open mind. I hope you remember to do the same. Josh Valdez is a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore majoring in journalism and media studies and minoring in creative writing. His column, “The Power of an Open Mind,” runs on alternate Thursdays.
UNIVERSAL UCLICK
Rutgers will have to meet high Big Ten Tournament expectations after last year
N
ext Wednesday, March 13, the 22nd rendition of the Big Ten Conference Men’s BasT.J. HITCHINGS ketball Tournament will tip off at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Rutgers will be there, as all teams in the conference qualify, but this year is different. This year is an opportunity more than ever to prove, on a national stage, that the Scarlet Knights not only belong in the Big Ten, but also have the talent to make a splash in the college basketball world. Rutgers has spent its entire history in the conference as the lowest seed in the bracket, failing to best even a single team in conference wins from 2015 to 2018. The small hints of progress were there, including a first-round upset over 11-seed Ohio State in 2017, but basketball media continued to ignore the existence of the Scarlet Knights in this tournament. It was not until last year, nearly four years since joining the conference, that Rutgers was able to establish an impact in the tournament. Just 30 miles away from New Brunswick, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Scarlet Knights made an impact. In the first round, perennial 14-seed Rutgers matched up with 11-seed Minnesota, and for the second year in a row the Scarlet Knights pulled off an upset, defeating the Golden Gophers 6554, led by 23 points from standout Corey Sanders, a School of Arts and Sciences junior. Sanders’s scoring will become a theme. This marked the first time Rutgers had won conference tournament games in backto-back seasons since 2005-2006, also at Madison Square Garden, as a member of the Big East. So, it had reached the same point they had a year earlier. But now an unforeseen challenge waited in front of the Scarlet Knights. The structure of the Big Ten Tournament classifies teams into three brackets. The bottom four teams — where Rutgers has spent its entire conference history — rank 5 through 10 and receive one bye game, while teams ranked 1 through 4 receive two bye games. In what is traditionally a five-day event, the Big Ten Tournament teams having fresh players are at a dramatic advantage. Facing a lower seed is also a tremendous advantage. Sixth-seeded Indiana had both advantages over Rutgers. Even more Scarlet Knights fans took the trip into the city to watch their team take on the Hoosiers. Apparently, that support did not wake Rutgers up, as Indiana quickly jumped out to a 24-8 lead early. That momentum quickly turned around, as the Scarlet
FROM THE NOSEBLEEDS
Knights fought back to take a one-point lead at halftime. This lead held true to the end of the game, as Rutgers, again led by Sanders, this time with 28 points, knocked off the sixth-seeded Hoosiers 76-69. For the first time since 1998, before Geo Baker, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore, was born, the Scarlet Knights had won two conference tournament games. The 1998 Big East Tournament was also held at Madison Square Garden. The next day saw an unprecedented third-round matchup between Rutgers and third-seeded Purdue, inarguably one of the best teams in the country. Twenty-five points from Baker and 23 from Sanders fed into a three-point lead at halftime, but the clock struck midnight on the Scarlet Knights, as the March-Madness bound Boilermakers steamed to an 82-75 win. The loss marked the end of an historic run, along with the end of a career at Rutgers for Sanders, who would eventually declare for the NBA Draft, voiding his last year of eligibility. Sanders would later rap about the tournament under the moniker “1KPG,” saying: “74 points in three days, made that ... look easy … Indiana game dropped 28.” It was a parting gift to remember the tournament performance by. This season, the Scarlet Knights are situated better than ever to make an impact on the tournament. Ahead of a game Wednesday night against Penn State, Rutgers has seven conference wins, their high in the Big Ten and a 14-14 record. One more win would be their most in conference since the 2005-2006 season, and would set them up for their first winning season in over a decade. With two regular season games left, the odds are in the Scarlet Knights’ favor to not only get away from the expected 14 seed, but also secure a first-round bye in the tournament. Head coach Steve Pikiell has brought an energy back to the program that experienced the taste of success. It is in Chicago next week where he will be able to display his team’s hard work in front of the nation. While NCAA Tournament dreams are still out of reach, barring a conference tournament win, the progress Rutgers made is as clear as day. Making it back to the third round of the conference tournament, and competing beyond, will be crucial to the continued rebuilding of the Scarlet Knights’ basketball reputation. T.J. Hitchings is a School of Arts and Sciences senior majoring in journalism and media studies, with a concentration in sports media. His column, “From the Nosebleeds,” runs on alternate Thursdays.
March 7, 2019
Opinions Page 7
Debut of ‘Leaving Neverland’ forces us to question values AN OPTIMIST’S OPINION ANUSHA KEMBURU
H
e was dubbed the “King of Pop.” He joined The Jackson 5 at the mere age of 5 years old but emerged as the group’s lead singer. He made musical history time and time again, winning the Grammy Living Legend Award, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and having his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is Michael Jackson. And Jackson, according to the recently released documentary “Leaving Neverland,” was a sexual predator and a pedophile. Directed by Dan Reed, “Leaving Neverland” focuses on the story of two boys (now men), James Safechuck and Wade Robson, and follows them back in time to when Jackson allegedly sexually abused the pair. The documentary details how Safechuck and Robson met Jackson at a very young age, and how they were sexually abused by him when they were 10 and 7, respectively. The film focused on not only how much the two idolized Jackson, but also on how Jackson built relationships with the families of the two boys, and how he subsequently exploited all of those relationships. Some of the most horrifying parts of the documentary are those in which Safechuck and Robson describe their time alone with Jackson, and the details of the sexual abuse itself.
Safechuck said Jackson would hold mock wedding ceremonies with the two, with a ring and everything. “We would pretend my small hand fit whatever female we were buying it for. I was really into jewelry and he would reward me with jewelry for doing sexual acts for him,” he said. But that was not even the worst of it. Jackson allegedly watched pornography with them, performed oral sex on them (and vice versa) and masturbated while watching them. After watching “Leaving Neverland,” viewers are sure to feel haunted and disturbed. The truthfulness of the documentary and of Safechuck and Robson has been
rappers and so many other integral figures in the entertainment industry have been accused of sexual harassment and abuse, and this creates a sort of moral dilemma for the viewer. Are we meant to separate the ar t from the ar tist, and continue to consume their ar t? And if that is the case, are we in a way suppor ting the abuse by paying for it? Or are we meant to stop consuming all their ar t, period? Even if it was a huge par t of our childhood or a substantial par t of who we became? And even if there were hundreds or thousands of other people who played a
“... Something important that I think needs to be acknowledged in this conversation is the fact that the abuser was likely able to abuse because of their position of power and because they had been supported and encouraged for so long. ” at the core of the discussion surrounding not only this specific instance, but in many allegations of sexual abuse in general. But another aspect of these situations that I think garners just as much debate is the question of how one should consume the art of a sexual predator or someone alleged to be a sexual predator. There have been numerous instances in which directors, producers, actors, singers,
par t in its creation that are innocent in all this? The industry itself seems to have created its own solution. The streaming service Spotify has made the decision to stop promoting the music of R. Kelly, someone who has been accused of sexual abuse for years now. Other sexual predators, like Louis C.K. and Kevin Spacey have been fired from their jobs (and those are just a
couple of examples). From the way that I see it, something important that I think needs to be acknowledged in this conversation is the fact that the abuser was likely able to abuse because of their position of power and because they had been supported and encouraged for so long. And although it is not easy, we need to help take away that power, and make the entertainment industry aware that this type of behavior will not be condoned, not now and not in the future. But, the past is something that is definitely more complicated, seeing how someone like Jackson is not necessarily benefiting in any way from people listening to him. And for the first time, I, an 18-year-old, do not have the answer to a question that is abstract and complex and deeply intimate. Maybe we need to stop using the word “we,” and look at it on a more individual basis. I know for one that I have not exactly ever been Jackson’s biggest fan, and I know that ever since watching “Leaving Neverland,” I could never listen to his music without thinking of the graphic details expressed by Safechuck and Robson. So, I know that I will not and that I cannot. But what about you? Will you? Can you? Anusha Kemburu is a School of Arts and Sciences first-year majoring in political science. Her column, “An Optimist’s Opinion,” runs on alternate Thursdays.
YOUR VOICE The Daily Targum welcomes submissions from all readers. Due to space limitations, letters to the editor must not exceed 500 words. Guest columns and commentaries should be between 700 and 850 words. All authors must include name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Anonymous letters will not be considered. All submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity. A submission does not guarantee publication. Please submit via email to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication.
How to Place an Ad: 1. Come to 204 Neilson St. 2. Email your ad to classifieds@ dailytargum.com 3. CHARGE IT! Use your credit card over the phone or by coming to our business office 204 Neilson St. Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
HELP WANTED Stage Left Steak & Catherine Lombardi are looking for a few hard-working people. We don’t require experience. We do require hard work, intelligence and a passion for food and wine. A minimum of four days of availability with one or two days during the week. If you are going to work, you may as well be at the best. www.stageleft.com/employment/ Cook Douglass Area. Apartments available June 1st. Call 732-4941914 or text 732-407-0052
CLASSIFIEDS
Rates:
1 day
3 days
5 days
10 days
DEADLINE: 12:00 p.m. one (1) business day prior to publication
$8.00 $7.50/day Student rate– $4.00 per day
$7.00/day
$6.00/day
$21.00 $19.00/day Student rate– $10.00 per day
$16.00/day
$14.00/day
Small classified: up to 20 words, each additional word 30¢ per day Large classified: up to 25 words, $8.50 each additional inch (11 words) DEADLINE: 12:00 p.m. one (1) business day prior to publication
Display classified: Typeset with border; contains graphics, logos, etc. Cash Rate–$10.15/column inch • Billed Rate–$12.15/column inch DEADLINE: 3:00 p.m. three (3) business days prior to publication
THE DAILY TARGUM 204 Neilson St. New Brunswick, NJ 08903 732-932-7051, x104
Page 8
March 7, 2019
Consolidation of media companies elicit business, artistic concerns MANNAL BABAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
This past Tuesday, the federal government lost another effort to unravel AT&T’s billion-dollar merger with Time Warner that was officially announced in June of 2018. Merger mania has plagued the telecommunications industry as service providers are seeking to heavily expand their consumer bases and put out quality content at the same time. This historic merger between AT&T and Time Warner is already on its way to reshaping the media industry from the inside out. The U.S. media industry has witnessed – and has been widely affected by – consolidation over the years. The influence of big-name companies like Facebook and Google stretches to nearly all four corners of the world and this latest merger is nothing new. But not every aspect of this merger is positive, as questions like, “Is this merger going to raise the prices for consumers?” and the potential risk of excluding content from independent platforms are coming to the surface. In the past few years, AT&T has developed into the country’s second-largest telecommunications company. Time Warner is the storytelling media giant that owns HBO, CNN and TBS and is strictly a content-producing business. There is growth and power at stake for AT&T in this blockbuster deal, but anti-trust critics and politicians are speaking out against this massive consolidation of power and entertainment.
The Department of Justice ar- it would be moving to acquire 21st out by these media giants who merging companies like Disney is gued that the merger completely Century Fox for $52 billion and consider their narrative to be out- that now we have more choices on cable and streaming services. But, ignores basic economic principles. the merger is expected to be com- side the mainstream. The Justice Department argued that pleted this March. For many small and independent what they fail to highlight is that AT&T “would Big media media outlets, this merger and more channels don’t really mean have both the consolidation media consolidation, in general, more choices. Rather, the argument incentive and poses a threat could mean being pushed out of is keen on selling us the illusion of “There is growth and the ability to not only to the competition and leaving many having more content to pick from. In reality, we have shifted drastiraise its rivals’ power at stake for AT&T market com- workers unemployed. In her testicost and stifle petition but to mony, author, television writer and cally in the past 15 years from origin this blockbuster deal, free speech. As former president of the Writers inal and diverse content being progrowth of innovative, next-genbut anti-trust critics and massive me- Guild of America, Victoria Riskin, duced by small and medium-size eration entrants dia companies said, "I can tell you that over the networks to the media industry politicians are that offer attracmerge into past decade, diversity of produc- monopolizing and being obsessed tive alternatives p o w e r h o u s e s tion sources in the marketplace has with making sure everything has speaking out ...” to AT&T/Diin the way that been eroded to the point of near high ratings. Independent netrectTV’s legacy AT&T and Dis- extinction ... The opportunity for ac- works, creatives and consumers in pay-tv model ney have done, cess for a broad range of voices has the upcoming years have to make sure that they aren’t being fooled — all to the detriment of American alternative viewpoints in the me- been cut dramatically.” consumers,” according to an article dia and voices of different people As media consolidation is on the into a better deal but actually getin CNN Business. face the threat of being drowned rise, the argument made by big ting their money and time’s worth. For millions of Americans, the merger means that AT&T will not only control the pipeline of distribution of content but also the content itself. AT&T can go as far as offering a great deal on its service while also pitching that its new-andimproved phone plan comes with access to CNN, HBO and other platforms under Time Warner at a cheaper price than its competitors. AT&T’s decision to buy Time Warner is tied to the way our phones have changed the future of media. Thanks to Netflix and widespread streaming services readily available on any number of our devices, there is a lot of money to be made in the AT&T-Time Warner merger. And this merger won’t be the first time we’ve witnessed a media conglomerate forming before our eyes. In 2017, The Walt Critics of the major mergers in the works, like AT&T–Time Warner and Disney–21st Century Fox, Disney Company announced that say that these deals will allow for content to vary widely in price and availability. TWITTER
Perfect playlists: How to match music with activity, mood RHEA SWAIN STAFF WRITER
Whether you’re sitting on a crowded LX bus or relishing a slice of pizza alone at Brower Commons on the College Avenue
campus, a playlist that caters to your personality and quotidian activities can help you tune out the world and experience things more fully. Music that aligns with your thoughts, feelings and energies can alter and improve your focus
The streaming era allows for a "record collection" that would've been impossible a few decades ago. With whole record shops at your fingertips, a diverse playlist is nearly guaranteed. UNSPLASH
as you go about life. Your mood — good or bad — can be changed or enriched by a well-curated playlist. Some quality Taylor Swift can get you through a breakup, and Broadway musical hits can lift your spirits while you walk to class. Accessible streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music actively craft hundreds of playlists that are organized on the basis of popularity, genre, artist, era and activity. There truly is something for everyone: insomniacs have sleep playlists, aspiring pop stars have throwback songs to sing in the car and shower and amazing parties no longer warrant active DJs. In accordance with your taste, streaming services’ algorithms customize and update playlists of songs for you to discover, thereby expanding your musical palate. Myah Rios, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences first-year, likes exploring new music on Spotify and revising her playlists. “The way I make my playlists is, I find all the songs that I really like and group them together based on genre. So, all my chill songs are together in one playlist. But, I do have one huge playlist of every song I
like, regardless of genre, compiled in one place,” she said. Recently, research has suggested that instrumental and classical music helps deepen students’ concentration and betters their work ethic. Now, Spotify and Apple Music have a variety of study playlists consisting of calming sounds. They range from lo-fi and chill tracks, acoustic piano pieces, variations of white noise and nature sounds. Alternative, pop and soft rock songs — think Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Lorde and Khalid — that are familiar to the ear and not distracting can also be great accompaniments to a productive day. The phenomenal thing about making your own playlists is that you have the creative freedom to be as random and spontaneous, or as planned and meticulous, as possible. Factoring in the sequence of songs when creating your perfect playlist matters, depending on your personal preferences and the different activities you engage in. While the slow and gentle sounds of an archetypal study playlist can be played on shuffle and not affect your performance, the pace and order of songs on a workout playlist often directly sync with your motivation and strength.
Workout playlists are extremely popular on streaming services, with pop, rock, EDM and hip-hop being the go-to genres to get one’s heart rate up. Currently, Spotify’s most popular workout playlist — appropriately titled "Beast Mode" — has more than 5.4 million followers and features fierce hits by Cardi B, Imagine Dragons and Diplo. James Ariemma, a School of Engineering first-year, enjoys metal as a unique and neglected genre for the gym. “My favorite song to workout currently is from the year 1999: ‘Hail to the King’ by Avenged Sevenfold. It’s a really high-energy song,” he said. Deepti Rao, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year, has a favorites playlist frequented by artists like Troye Sivan, Lauv and Travis Scott. Rao believes playlists are a wonderful way to diversify and expand one’s artistic horizons. “I feel obligated to add the songs I loved as a kid to my current playlist because of nostalgia, but I also think it’s important to branch out and explore new kinds of music. After all, music is a form of growth not only for the artist, but also for the listener,” she said.
DIVERSIONS
March 7, 2019
Mark Tatulli Horoscopes
Lio
Page 9 Eugenia Last
Happy Birthday: Keep life simple, and live within your means. Refuse to let temptation take hold of you and lead you into something you cannot afford to be a part of mentally, physically or financially. Choose what’s safe and secure and will bring you peace of mind. Be a leader, not a follower, and set your own pace and goals. Your numbers are 3, 11, 14, 25, 33, 36, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Review your plans carefully before you make a move. A risk will turn into a regret. Talk to someone with more experience to see if you can find a way to get what you want by taking a safer route. 3 stars
Over The Hedge
T. Lewis and M. Fry
Non Sequitur
Wiley
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Moderation and common sense will work wonders when you are trying to flesh out an idea. How you present what you are trying to achieve will make a difference. Intelligence and charm will drum up interest and support. 4 stars GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Choose your playmates carefully. If you are susceptible to compliments and the power of persuasion, you will end up getting involved in something that will lead to emotional or financial loss. Avoid indulgent behavior and people who are poor influences. 2 stars CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t shy away if there is something you want. Your memory will serve you well when talking to someone who is exaggerating or trying to convince you of something. Trust your judgment, and follow your instincts. A partnership looks promising. 5 stars
Pearls Before Swine
Stephan Pastis
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t take a chance with your health, love life or relationships with your peers or business partners. Keep your life simple; concentrate on personal improvements and sticking to a budget. Do your best to keep the peace. 3 stars VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You can make worthwhile changes without going overboard. Channel your energy into the changes you want to make or into something you want to learn. Greater involvement in social activities or networking will lead to new opportunities. 3 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Bypass drama and head toward people and events that are happy and more interested in intellectual discussions than heated debates. Physical improvements can be made that will make your life better and encourage romance. 3 stars SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look at options, and consider the best way to proceed. Dig in, but if you overdo it, injury or getting worn out is likely to prevail. Consider how best to manage your time and energy before heading down a difficult path. 3 stars SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll face opposition if you exaggerate, use emotional tactics or pressure others to do things your way. Physical improvements or inner growth will lead to greater self-awareness and personal realization that will help you move forward without interference. 2 stars CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Interacting with friends, relatives and people who can help you make positive changes will lead to new beginnings. Make sure you get your facts straight and you don’t reveal information that could make you or someone close to you look bad. 4 stars AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take it easy; if you try to fit too much into your day, mishaps will occur. A steady, even pace and a well-thought-out plan will allow you to make adjustments along the way. Leave nothing to chance. 3 stars PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An emotional matter will surface. Consider your options and choose the one that will cost you the least. Being smart will lead to peace of mind. Don’t allow anyone to tamper with your heart, your money or your future. 3 stars
©2018 By Eugenia Last distributed by Universal Uclick
Universal Crossword ACROSS
60 Pelosi’s allies, briefly
1 “I ___ thought of that”
61 Common V.A. malady
6 Yukon and Sierra
62 Some have 366 days
10 Antlered deer 14 Notable book club maven
DOWN
15 Cut with a beam
1 “Weird!”
16 Road worker?
2 Of a language impairment
17 *Benevolent spellcasting
3 Start falling asleep
19 Thor’s father
4 ___ King Cole
20 Bumbling person
5 From that point on
21 Taboo action
6 Quick peek
22 A, B, C, D or F
7 Myopic cartoon Mr.
23 Clock change abbr.
8 Longtime CBS drama
24 *Chocolate ingredient
9 “Hold on a ___”
27 Bishop’s district
10 Like a one-day forecast
29 Hold in, as an emotion
11 Thus far
30 $$$ manager
12 Tolerates
31 General ___ Anna
13 Lost causes
32 Energetic, or what the
18 Heifer sounds 22 TV doctor Sanjay
46 Female oracles
37 Groovy
25 Omani, e.g.
48 Senses
38 Argon, e.g.
26 The “b” of n.b.
54 Macroeconomic stat.
40 Be tantalizingly close to victory
28 Get an edge at blackjack, say
55 Frustrating groove
43 Onsets
31 Bay Area airport code
56 Before, to a bard
47 *Basic Starbucks order
33 Scallionlike vegetables
49 “Agnus ___”
34 Not of the clergy
50 Earthen pots
35 Bart’s bus driver
51 Dublin’s poetic land
36 Beach biter
52 ___ Four (Beatles)
39 Scene-___ (outshining actor)
53 Not far
40 Crashed into at 90 degrees
54 *”Three Little Pigs” comedy
41 Claim
starred answers are
rock band
42 Low bow
57 “My stars!”
43 Off course
58 Blunt
44 Bruce of “The Hateful Eight”
59 Staggering
45 MTV personality
Yesterday’s Solution
Yesterday’s Solution
Page 10
March 7, 2019 FOOTBALL KNIGHTS STARTS SPRING PRACTICE TOMORROW
Rutgers’ conditions ahead of 1st spring practice JACKSON THOMPSON & JAKE SCHMIED SPORTS EDITORS
How different will Rutgers football look when spring practice starts tomorrow? Three months removed from concluding a 1-11 season, head coach Chris Ash will be leading the 150th Rutgers football team and the sixth as part of the Big Ten. All three phases will be molding a new identity over the spring, adjusting to newcomers, departures, coaching changes and the pressure of following up a failed season in a conference with a potentially different landscape than a year ago. For the first time in six-year Ohio State, the perennial overlord of the Big Ten will not be led by Urban Meyer. Meyer’s retirement this past season also meant the departure of defensive coordinator and former Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano. Michigan is coming off their fourth consecutive season of failing to fulfill Jim Harbaugh’s promise of delivering a national championship to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Harbaugh’s fifth year at the helm will be uncharted territory for the the longest tenure he’s had as a head coach after four-year stints at Stanford and the San Francisco 49ers.
Spring practice will give us the first glimpse as to where Rutgers will fit into this year’s Big Ten, and if it can escape the basement.
OFFENSE
True freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski will return to the Knights’ lineup after starting 11 games behind center. The former IMG Academy product edged out fifth-year senior Giovanni Rescigno and sophomore Johnathan Lewis for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. In his first game donning a Scarlet jersey, Sitkowski completed 20 of 30 passes to eight different wideouts against Texas State on Sept. 1. Since that game against the Bobcats, Sitkowski led all quarterbacks with interceptions, at one point during the season. He finished the season with a 12.7 QBR, the lowest rating of any FBS quarterback in the nation. But, there is room for optimism for the new season. Offensive coordinator John McNulty returns nine starters on offense, including all but one offensive lineman. Rutgers’ running game will be without graduate student tailback Jonathan Hilliman, who started five games while playing in 11. Hilliman, who arrived on the Banks after graduating at
Head coach Chris Ash will coach in his fourth season at the helm of the Rutgers football program. He is reuniting with Andy Buh as his DC . GARRETT STEFFE / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / NOVEMBER 2018
THRILLER Rutgers can’t come back from 20-point deficit, loses final home game affected by the shooting woes in the first half. The co-captain also added seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Aside from Omoruyi, Rutgers received contributions from a trio of freshmen in Johnson and guards Ron Harper Jr. — fresh of f being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week — and McConnell. The three of them finished with a combined 36 points. “I was proud of our guys, responded at halftime and (if) we play like that we’ll be fine, but you gotta play like that for 40 minutes,” Pikiell said. And despite playing a teamhigh 35 minutes, Baker never
got it going in this game and shot 0-10 from the field, the first time he’s been held scoreless this season and the second time in his career. Nevertheless, Baker did have five rebounds, two assists and three steals. In his last home game as a Knight, Doorson finished with 2 points, five rebounds and a block in 17 minutes of action. After the game, the other co-captain reflected on his time at Rutgers. “I’ve seen a lot of transformation at Rutgers,” he said. “The energy the students bring to our team is really contagious so I really love how the students keep supporting us ever y day and I
Boston College, tallied 337 rushing yards while averaging 30.6 yards per game. The running game will be in the hands of two underclassmen: sophomore Raheem Blackshear and true freshman Isaih Pacheco, who were inserted more into McNulty’s offensive scheme throughout the season. They can fill the Plainfield, New Jersey native’s shoes this coming season. Blackshear and Pacheco ranked first and second on the team’s all-purpose yards list, respectively. Blackshear was a dual-threat runner and receiver, leading the Knights in both categories’ total yards. While Blackshear finished with 586 total rushing yards, Pacheco was right behind him with 551 yards. In his first season on the Banks, Pacheco finished with 3 touchdowns, the same as Blackshear. Although Pacheco hauled in two receptions for 11 yards, he may be inserted more under McNulty’s offense. On the receivers’ side, Rutgers returns its starters in sophomores Bo Melton and Hunter Hayek and freshman Shameen Jones. Last season, the Knights ranked 126th in the nation for receiving yards, averaging 131.3 yards per game.
DEFENSE
The defense will see a change at leadership with former Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh making the move up I-95 North to take over a Rutgers defense that ranked 67th in the country last year. Ash and Buh were part of a championship-winning Wisconsin staff back in 2012. Buh coached the linebackers on a defense coordinated by Ash, as they will now both be taking over in superior roles together again for the Knights. A secondary that was, last year’s team greatest strength after finishing 17th in pass defense, will be losing its two best defensive backs to the NFL and a captain to graduation. Buh and defensive quality coach Jay Valai will be forced to find starters to fill the holes by the departures of fifth-year senior safety Saquan Hampton, and cornerbacks senior
True freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski averaged 105.3 yards per game in his first season. He led the Big Ten in interceptions with 18. GARRETT STEFFE / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / NOVEMBER 2018 Blessuan Austin and fifth-year senior Isaiah Wharton. Defensive backs freshman Avery Young, sophomore Tre Avery and junior Damon Hayes will all have one more year of Rutgers football under their belt when they take the practice field on Friday as the frontrunners in the battle for time in the secondary. Other challengers for those spots include incoming freshmen Darius Gooden from West Side High School and Donald Williams from Camden High School. Generating pass-rush pressure is a category that can seemingly only go up for the Knights this year, after finishing with 16 total team sacks in 2018. Sophomore defensive line Elorm Lumor led the team in sacks last season with 3.5, and will be in the mix to create pressure in 2019, but will need company in the front seven to create a legitimate pass rushing unit. Joining Lumor in the trenches in 2019 will be incoming freshman Malachi Burby, who committed early back in December as a three-star recruit from Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. The arrival of sophomore linebacker Drew Singleton from Michigan is the biggest acquisition for Rutgers defense this offseason, as the former four-star recruit and Union City native will look to record his first collegiate sack in scarlet and black if he’s granted eligibility to play in 2019.
The NCAA has yet to conclude if Singleton will be eligible for the upcoming season, or if he would have to sit a year. If Singleton is granted eligibility for 2019, he would automatically be one of the most talented players, and one of the only four-star recruits on the roster.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams will be the most preserved unit from a year ago, with the two key players from last year’s squad returning off a season in which they were each bright spots on an underachieving roster with a pair of trivial yet nifty stats in two conference losses. Junior kicker Justin Davidovicz was an All Big Ten honorable and tied the conference’s longest field goal of 2018 with a 52-yarder against Indiana. Freshman punter Adam Korsak was also an All Big Ten honorable mention, and set the school record for the longest punt with a 79-yarder against Northwestern. The kickoff and punt teams will be a playing field for newcomers and potential starters on the bubble over the course of spring practices, as the special teams will be a critical podium for auditions in a spring bound to see a number of position battles. For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
hope they continue to do that over the years to come.” For this year, though, as of right now, the Knights remain in 10th place in the conference rankings and are one spot ahead of Indiana who they face on Sunday in their regular season finale. A win would secure a firstround bye for Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament, but if the Knights lose, depending on what happens around the conference, they run the serious risk of playing in the first round. “Seeing the growth of this team has been really exciting. We’ve gotten better and better as the season has gone on,” Pikiell said. “I’m excited about my team going forward. We have a lot of basketball left to play.” For updates on the Rutgers men's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
Graduate student center Shaquielle Doorson consoles redshirt freshman center Myles Johnson after the buzzer in the team’s 1-point loss at the RAC. CURSTINE GUEVARRA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Page 11
March 7, 2019 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BIG TEN TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS, TOMORROW
RU wraps up 3 straight wins as Big Tens await SAM MARSDALE STAFF WRITER
After ending the regular season on a three-game winning streak, the Rutgers women’s basketball team heads into the Big Ten Tournament with a double bye, meaning that it will not take the court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana until the third round. The No. 3 Scarlet Knights (218, 13-5) earned the third seed in the tournament, and will play either 11th-seeded Purdue or eighth-seeded Nebraska in the quarterfinals. The Boilermakers defeated 14th-seeded Illinois 7260 on Tuesday. Rutgers has defeated both of these teams this year, and it came in back-to-back games. On Jan. 13, it defeated the Cornhuskers 62-56 in Lincoln, Nebraska. In the following game on Jan. 16, it defeated Purdue at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) 65-63 in overtime. If the Knights win their game tomorrow night, they will play 1 of 3 teams on Saturday. Either 10th-seeded Indiana, who the team beat twice, seventh-seeded Minnesota, who they split against, or second-seeded Iowa, who they lost to in a thrilling matchup in Iowa City, Iowa by a score of 72-66 on Jan. 23. Even though they are the 11th seed, the Boilermakers could be
the most troublesome matchup for Rutgers on Friday evening, even though they enter the tournament on a three-game losing streak. Purdue gave the Knights quite the sum of trouble in Piscataway, and the tournament is played only about 60 miles from their campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.
For what it’s worth, in last year’s second round, Rutgers escaped with a 62-60 win over the Boilermakers. If the Knights win on Friday, their likely matchup will be the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s Megan Gustafson may be the best players in the entire nation. At 6 feet 2
inches, she is the nation’s leading scorer and is fifth in rebounds. The Hawkeyes’ Hannah Stewart also could give Rutgers issues, as she did in the first matchup. The most notable change under acting head coach Tim Eatman is that the Knights almost always use the full court press.
Acting head coach Tim Eatman is 3-0 in place of head coach C. Vivian Stringer. Two of those victories saw the team overcome a late deficit. DUSTIN NILES / PHOTO EDITOR / FEBRUARY 2019
On Friday, Rutgers will play a team that has played the previous day, and even maybe the previous two days. It will be extremely interesting to see how the opponent of the Knights handle trying to break a full court press for most of the game when they played the previous day or two days. On the top of the bracket, top-seeded Mar yland is the heavy favorite to advance to the championship. Rutgers went 1-1 against the Terrapins this year, with the road team winning each game. Mar yland’s Kaila Charles is a matchup nightmare for the Knights, should Rutgers and the Terrapins both advance to the championship. This past week, fifth-year senior forward Stasha Carey was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, with sophomore guard Arella Guirantes being named an honorable mention. Those two, along with sophomore guard Tekia Mack are the three players to watch coming into the tournament. Mack has continued to build off her strong performance in Indiana two weeks ago, which is enormous given that the team dismissed junior guard Ciani Cr yor last week. For updates on the Rutgers women’s basketball team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
TWITTER: @TargumSports WEBSITE: DailyTargum.com/section/sports
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK
SPORTS
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We got down 20 points in a basketball game in the Big Ten so (it) was hard to come back.” — Men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell
THURSDAY MARCH 7, 2019
ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM
MEN’S BASKETBALL PENN STATE 66, RUTGERS 65
RU SCREWED Sophomore guard Geo Baker walked off the court after not scoring a point for the first time this season. He had five rebounds, three steals and two assists against Penn State last night and remains the team’s second leading scorer behind junior forward Eugene Omoruyi. GARRETT STEFFE / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Knights can’t finish at rim in final seconds of senior night thriller ROBERT SANCHEZ CORRESPONDENT
Down by 18 at halftime against Penn State, the Rutgers men’s basketball team looked dead in the water. Its offense was sputtering, its defense was sloppy and the energy inside the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) was sucked right out as the Scarlet Knights (14-15, 7-12) were in danger of having done to them what they did to Iowa just four days prior — suffer a blowout loss on senior night. And if Rutgers had made just a single shot more, it likely could’ve come away with an astonishing comeback win over the Nittany Lions (13-17, 6-13) in front of a sold-out crowd in its final home game of the season.
But not all stories have fairy tale endings and the Knights couldn’t capture the win for their fans or their lone senior in graduate student center Shaquille Doorson, even though they had their fair share of chances. Instead, they fall to their cross-state rival, 66-65. “Give Penn State credit, (it) played really well and were one point better than us,” said head coach Steve Pikiell. With 9 seconds remaining in the game and Rutgers down by 1 point, sophomore guard Geo Baker, who had been 0-6 from deep, took a chance with a 3-pointer but couldn’t drain it. Luckily, true freshman guard Caleb McConnell came up with the offensive rebound, went to a crowded rim and tried to lay it in but it didn’t fall.
EXTRA POINT
Junior for ward Eugene Omoruyi and redshirt freshman for ward Myles Johnson then both went up for the board with neither able to fully secure it. Once Johnson came down with it and with time running out, he quickly put up a shot but it was blocked, giving Penn State the win over the Knights. “I saw a lot of good looks,” Pikiell said when asked about the final few shots. “But it wasn’t that. We got down 20 points in a basketball game in the Big Ten so (it) was hard to come back.” After a half to forget that featured just 19 points on a 7-28 shooting performance including 0-10 from deep as well as 4 of the starting 5 not recording a single point, Rutgers came
out of the locker room with what appeared to be a different mindset. The Knights started the second half on a 7-2 run that turned into a 17-8 run that turned into a 36-23 run that eventually finished as a 46-29 half — a complete reversal of the first half. “(It was) just us not playing hard enough and just coming out with more purpose and I feel like that’s what we did in the second half,” said junior forward Eugene Omoruyi on the team’s second half resurgence. Omoruyi led all scorers with 23 points on the night going 7-14 from the field and 9-11 from the line and was the only player not
KNIGHTS SCHEDULE
NBA SCORES
ASHLEIGH GREENHAM, graduate student on the women’s golf team and UK native, was named Big Ten Women’s golfer of the Week after scoring one-under par 71 for second place at the River Landing Classic in Wallace N.C.
SEE THRILLER ON PAGE 10
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals
Tomorrow, TBD, Indianapolis, Ind.
Miami Charlotte
91 84
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
NCAA Championships
Tomorrow, All Day, Birmingham, Ala.
Dallas Washington
123 132
SOFTBALL
Buccaneer Classic
Tomorrow, 11 a.m., Johnson City, Tenn.
Minnesota Detroit
114 131