North Carolina State’s laws on sexual offenders are misplaced
Artificial Intelligence Synthetic neural networks aim to simulate human behavior
SEE opinions, page 6
see tech, page 8
MEN’S BASKETBALL Rutgers looks to play spoiler at home against Maryland
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New Hillel center holds housewarming Christian Zapata contributing writer
The Rutgers Jewish community celebrated “Hillel Housewarming” Sunday with warm food and music as students enjoyed themselves and explored the facility. Oven-baked chocolate chip cookies and a congregation of students from the community filled the newly-constructed Hillel Center on the College Avenue campus. Students from all denominations of Judaism and other religions were welcomed to the facility that is equipped with a cafe, student study areas, prayer rooms and many more amenities. Samantha Brandspiegel, School of Arts and Sciences senior and president of the Hillel Student Board, said that they have had a building on College Avenue for some time but a few years back they realized they needed a larger space. They then got the ball rolling on the development of the new building, she said.
Rutgers Hillel is a diverse Jewish community dedicated to exploring Judaism and ever ything it means to be Jewish. It ser ves as a branch of The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, which provides opportunities for Jewish students at more than 500 colleges worldwide, according to their website. The goal of Rutgers Hillel is to make the organization more available and accessible to students by providing a home-like atmosphere, Brandspiegel said. They want people to come in, use the cafe and interact with the daily activities so they can better reach out to the community. People were notified of the event two weeks ago and were very excited about it, she said. “Some of the events we have planned are Shabbat dinners that take place every Friday night for groups up to 350 people. With our many new offices we are able to expand leadership roles to new
Organizers marked the near-completion of the new Hillel Center on College Avenue with a housewarming celebration, which featured fresh-cooked food and music. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR heights and develop programs, speakers and activities like challah baking for Shabbat,” she said. Brandspiegel said that the Hillel has become her “home away from home.” “I was here a year ago and it was just walls — come about a week ago to see where we are now and I was sobbing tears,” Brandspiegel said.
The student board office was able to take part in the creative process to figure out what the students wanted. Brandspiegel said this facility has been made to their specifications and the needs of their students, staff and the greater community. All around the building they had different board members discussing
1st female mascot looks back on career Brian Fonseca correspondent
The Scarlet Knight sat on top of its horse at the entrance of the tunnel at the edge of the field at High Point Solutions Stadium, staring at the thousands of fans filing into their seats for a primetime matchup between the Rutgers football team and visiting Penn State. It was “Senior Night,” a tradition held in the final home game of the season to honor the players before their last battle on their home turf. But that rainy night in November had a rare send-off for the mascot as well. When it was all over, Janine Puhak held a smaller send-off away from the 51,366 people in the bleachers. She embraced her two coaches, the pair who guided her through her journey as the first female to ever don the metal uniform of the Scarlet Knight, putting the cherry on top of what she hailed to be her favorite gameday on the job. “My two coaches, they gave me such a big hug. My family was there. My family is from Pennsylvania so they’re big Penn State people. Lots of people came out to see me do it one last time and they were just so proud of me, you know what I mean?” Puhak said. “And I’m
SEE sports, back
proud myself that I can be the first girl to be the first horseman and I’m proud of a lot of things I’ve done in college, but that’s something that never changed. It’s really exciting.” Puhak’s career as the Scarlet Knight horseman began when she started attending the University in 2013, but her love of riding horses spans back a decade earlier when she started riding horses at 9 years old at the Watchung Stables near her hometown of Cranford, New Jersey. The School of Arts and Sciences senior became more involved in the sport when she entered middle school, dropping other activities she participated in, such as cheerleading and dance, to dedicate more time to horseback riding, she said. “The horse bug kind of bit me in middle school,” Puhak said. “Before I knew it, I was hooked. I was at the barn every single day.” She would spend a couple hours at the stables every day as a member of its Mounted Troops after school riding program, continuously participating, despite suffering from multiple injuries like minor concussions, bruised ribs and a broken left arm. She eventually worked her way up to the highest rank of first class trooper.
the upcoming programs along with different arts and crafts, said Paulee Manich, School of Arts and Sciences junior and student board vice president. Along with other groups like the Russian-Jewish Club, everyone was there to welcome their own specific communities, she said. By having different denominations of Judaism integrated into the separate areas of the building grants each group their own space, Manich said. Each room opens into the same common area so that people can still reconvene for Shabbat dinner after individual activities are done. “It allows us to have multiple different programs at the same time and let students have the opportunity to balance between different things in order to gain new perspective,” she said. Similar to the lounge located in many dorms, the Hillel Center’s common rooms function as social circles allowing people to step in to greet friends and other members of the community, Manich said. All of the amenities that come with the building only help us to further the sense of community. In See center on Page 4
N.J. climatologist explains recent temperature hike Nikhilesh De correspondent
rode for a couple of hours and they were like ‘we like the way you ride.’” Puhak won the job, an unprecedented accomplishment for a woman. But that came with some consequences. The costume was designed with the average build of the men who wore it in the past — too big for a 5-foot-5-inch first-year woman. So a custom suit was made for her with “smaller gloves and smaller parts for the (leg) covers,” she said.
New Brunswick reached a record-high temperature for February on Friday after the city soared to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, marking the warmest day in the month in 124 years. The last week has also been among the warmest for New Jersey in February in recorded history, said David Robinson, a Rutgers professor in the Department of Geography. “With observations at New Brunswick dating back to 1893, the 77-degree (Fahrenheit) maximum temperature last Friday was the warmest on record for the month,” the New Jersey State Climatologist said in an email. “It exceeded the previous 76-degree (Fahrenheit) maximum on February 25, 1930. New Brunswick also set a record for consecutive days of 70 degrees (Fahrenheit) or higher last Thursday (71), Friday (77) and Saturday (74).” A warm current of air flowed up from the south, which was partially responsible for these warmer temperatures, he said. This current and the several sunny days New Jersey saw under cloudless skies contributed to the high temperatures.
See career on Page 4
See Temperature on Page 4
At “Senior Night,” Janine Puhak ended her four-year career as the first female Scarlet Knight in history. During her time at Rutgers, she kept her identity a secret, living a double life. JEFFREY GOMEZ / PHOTO EDITOR When she found out she could use her talents to represent her university on gameday, she jumped at the chance. “It was the summer before (my freshman year), I had just kind of heard through the grapevine,” Puhak said. “It was through the Rutgers cheerleading and dance program. They were the ones that put out something online and it was like ‘If you’re interested in becoming the Scarlet Knight for the Fall 2013 football season, reach out to this contact. I went and I horseback rode and horseback rode and horseback
VOLUME 149, ISSUE 17 • University ... 3 • opinions ... 6 • TECH... 8 • Diversions ... 9 • SPORTS ... BACK
February 28, 2017
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Campus Calendar TUESDAY 2/28 Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) presents “Mindfulness Meditation” from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Busch Student Center on Busch campus. The event is free and open to the public. The Office of Summer & Winter Sessions presents “Summer Session Info Table!” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Douglass Student Center on Douglass campus. The event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Athletics presents “Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse vs. Wagner” at 3 p.m. at the Rutgers Stadium Complex on Busch campus. The event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Athletics presents “Rutgers Men’s Baseball vs. Wagner” at 3 p.m. at the Softball Complex on Livingston campus. The event is free and open to the public. The South Asian Studies Program presents “Pathos and Protest: A Saga of Draupadi” from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Rutgers Academic Building
on the College Avenue campus. The event is free and open to the public. Centers for Global Advancement and International Affairs (GAIA Centers) presents “Fulbright Scholar Program Info Session” from 4 to 6 p.m. at 30 College Ave. on the College Avenue campus. The event is free and open to the public. University Career Services presents “Industry Connect: Education And Public & Human Services (Networking Roundtable)” from 4 to 6 p.m. at 126 College Ave. on the College Avenue campus. The event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Athletics presents “Rutgers Men’s Basketball vs. Maryland” at 6:30 p.m. at the Rutgers Athletic Center on Livingston campus. The event is free and open to the public. The Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life presents “Post-Holocaust Ultra Orthodox Theology: A New Perspective” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Douglass Student Center on Douglass campus. The event is free and open to the public.
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February 28, 2017
University
Page 3
NJPIRG pushes Unilever to disclose use of toxic ingredients
The Rutgers chapter of the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) created a campaign to encourage Unilever to be transparent about its use of potentially harmful ingredients. Unilever is the umbrella organization behind Dove, Axe and Vaseline. Ana Couto
Maxwell Marcus contributing writer
The Rutgers chapter of the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) latest success has been their campaign to push the personal care company, Unilever, to disclose potentially harmful ingredients used in their products. Unilever is the parent corporation of brands such as Dove, Axe and Vaseline. April Nicklaus, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences sophomore, is the chair of the Rutgers New Brunswick chapter of NJPIRG, and the secretary of NJPRIG’s statewide executive board. She said that for this campaign, they joined a coalition of organizations mainly comprised of other states’ public interest research groups, as well as the national U.S. PIRG. “We don’t just work on student issues,” Nicklaus said. “Students are students, but we’re also human beings and citizens of the country. It’s not just that we work on issues like textbooks. We also recognize that students care about things that are beyond the limits of our campus.”
Nicklaus said that previously, the list of ingredients on Unilever products was not comprehensive. Instead, the labels would list an item called “fragrance” that is itself a mix of unspecified chemicals. Now, according to a press release from Unilever, comprehensive lists of product ingredients will be accessible through an online service called SmartLabel.
them to the consumer,” Nicklaus said. “A lot of chemicals that are frequently used as components of fragrance in personal care products are things that have been identified as carcinogens. The common thing that people may say is that there’s not a lot of fragrance in the product, it’s in very small amounts. But if you’re putting on lotion every single
industry. Other personal care manufacturers like Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal should follow Unilever’s lead and provide greater fragrance transparency.” Unilever was initially resistant to working with the coalition, Nicklaus said. But when NJPIRG threatened to bring 25,000 petitions from across the country to Unilever’s headquarters in New
“A lot of people are shocked at the lack of regulation for testing these chemicals or disclosing them to the consumer.” april nicklaus School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Sophomore and Chair of New Brunswick NJPIRG
Unilever’s goal is to complete the SmartLabel updates by the end of 2018. Products with SmartLabel have a Quick Response (QR) code on the package that can be scanned with any generic QR code reader in order to access the SmartLabel information. The information can also be accessed by searching for the product on the SmartLabel website. “A lot of people are shocked at the lack of regulation for testing these chemicals or disclosing
day, maybe for your entire life, it adds up.” In a press release, Dev Gowda, a U.S. PIRG toxics advocate, said that Unilever’s efforts to make comprehensive ingredients lists available through the SmartLabel app are “a good first step,” but said that Unilever should provide full disclosure of ingredients on their products’ packaging. Even so, Gowda said, “This is a victory for consumer product transparency and a game changer for the personal care product
Jersey, the company agreed to begin negotiations. “A petition drop attracts a lot of attention from media outlets, and it makes them look bad,” Nicklaus said. “We’re not trying to make them look bad. We just want them to do good things for the consumers.” Nicklaus said that NJPIRG often campaigns for issues that have been neglected or ignored by the general public. NJPIRG’s other current campaigns include encouraging Rutgers to sign the American College
and University Presidents Climate Change Commitment, which would get the University to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, the open and affordable textbooks campaign and a tire recycling campaign, for which they are working with Middlesex County officials to implement tire amnesty days so that people would not have to pay to recycle old tires, she said. Nicklaus said NJPIRG chooses what issues to pursue based off of feedback from students. At the end of each semester, NJPIRG surveys students on what issues are important to them and what they would like the organization to work on. “When we choose the campaigns that we work on, we don’t just go based off of what’s sexy,” Nicklaus said. “We analyze what problems are in the world. Do people know about them? Is this in the public interest? Is anyone else working on these things? What’s our specific angle for this? I would like to encourage anyone who has an issue they feel passionate about and that they think would be in line with the mission of NJPIRG to reach out to us. We do listen.”
February 28, 2017
Page 4
200 attend Douglass Career Conference Stephen Weiss associate news editor
The Douglass Residential College held their annual “Career Conference” on Saturday at the Douglass Student Center. Included in the day’s events were a gourmet lunch, a talk by the event’s keynote speaker Candace Straight, executive producer of the Sony production “Equity” and a professional conversation about diversity and inclusion. Leslie Danehy, the assistant dean and executive director of the Building Opportunities for Leadership and Development (BOLD) Center and organizer of the event, said that the conference was specifically designed to prepare students for their professional lives. “Whether their path leads to graduate school, public service or the world of work, our annual career development day marks a key step,” she said. “We want the
students to get a glimpse into various careers, ask questions and gain clarity about professional roles. They get to network and gain confidence as well.” Danehy said this year’s event was successful because they had about 200 attendees, the speakers were great and the food was too. The event allows students to receive professional advice, learn from others experiences and practice networking, she said. “The BOLD Center at Douglass wants to help position students for success in work and life. This event inspires students and educates them on various career options,” Danehy said. She said that she hopes students walked away from the event with new found confidence in themselves. “I want them to have fun … it is Saturday after all,” Danehy said. “That’s why we had great raffles, great food and interesting speakers.”
career Puhak starting riding horses at 9 years old, she assumed role of Scarlet Knight mascot in 2013 “I broke the internet,” Puhak said. “I was getting calls and texts After spending her long weeks from people I had class with. I stretched between class, journal- was an orientation leader a couple ism internships in New York City, of years ago and orientation leadevents organized by her sorority er people calling me and I would and a multitude of other extra- go out and ‘oh my god, what!’ curricular activities — includ- Everybody was calling me Haning riding a horse around Cook nah Montana … the best of both campus as a Community Service worlds. That was my nickname ... Officer — Puhak would strap on I wasn’t expecting that.” It marked the those gloves end of Puhak’s and leg covers “That’s something I’ve time as the bright and early on Saturday been proud of, to be the Scarlet Knight but she hopes mornings. girl in the armor, the it will not be the She would sword, the helmet, riding last of her inget into High out into the stadium in volvement with Point Solutions Stadium front of so many people.” the program. With the by 8 a.m. on search for her game days janine puhak replacement set with a noon School of Arts and Sciences Senior to begin over kickoff, an earthe summer, ly wake-up call that had a positive twist, allowing Puhak said she would like to return her to keep her identity a secret. and coach whoever earns the job. The senior, in the midst of her “I was kind of brought into this with the agreement that I wouldn’t final semester as an undergradumake a big deal about it, I wouldn’t ate, reminisced on the time since tell people who didn’t need to know she first tried out after seeing the about it,” Puhak said. “My family al- interest from high school seniors ways knew, I’ve had the same best over the fall. Looking back on her tenure friend since freshman year who I met at Rutgers and she always as the Scarlet Knight — one that knew. But being in a sorority with lasted four years, spanned two 130 girls, it’s always expanding and athletic conferences and just as many head coaching administraeverything, they didn’t know.” Gamedays are weekly holidays tions, with exhilarating wins and for college students, perhaps even crushing losses, beautiful aftermore so for members of greek noons and rainy nights — she life, so Puhak said her sorority sis- would not change a thing. “To serve as the equestrian ters would grow suspicious of her Scarlet Knight mascot when I constant absence. Her excuse was always that she came to college has kinda been had work, a little white lie that the icing on the cake of my horsespanned for four years and ended back riding career,” Puhak said. “That’s something I’ve been proud soon after her grand finale. She revealed her identity in a of, to be the girl in the armor, the Facebook post the day after the sword, the helmet, riding out into Penn State game, pulling back the the stadium in front of so many curtain on a well-kept secret and people. It’s been an honor and a setting off a level of reaction Pu- privilege, something I’ll always be thankful for.” hak was not expecting. continued from front
The day-long Douglass Residential College Career Conference took place on Sunday in the Douglass Student Center. The annual event included speakers, facilitated conversations and free food. HENRY FOWLER
temperature
center
Friday’s 77 degree weather marks hottest Feb. day Rutgers has 2nd largest Jewish undergraduate in 124 years population in U.S. There is no guarantee that winters will definitely be warmer, or Daily weather is also likely im- even noticeably warmer than prepacted by global climate change. vious years, but it is more likely Last year was the third consecu- than not that upcoming winters tive “warmest year on record” for will see more warm spells than the planet, according to a National colder ones. On Sunday, the National WeathAeronautics and Space Adminiser Service’s Chicago branch tweettration (NASA) press release. “It also must be remem- ed that for the first time in 146 bered that as a result of hu- years, the Windy City was going to go through man-induced all of January warming, our “... our day-to-day and February day-to-day without seeing weather is weather is subtly snow on subtly influinfluenced by conditions any the ground. enced by conthat have a warmer Robinson ditions that baseline than in said this was have a warmer not necessarbaseline than years past.” ily noteworin years past,” thy, though Robinson david robinson this said. “That Professor in the Department of Geography having type of snow doesn’t mean drought is that ever y day and ever y year is warmer than “highly uncommon.” “While they’ve only had 17 days the last, however, this does improve our odds of reaching this winter with an inch or more record or near-record warmth snow cover — all in December — just three years ago they exmore often.” Looking five to 10 years into perienced 84 days with an inch or the future, it is likely that the state more of cover, the most since the will face warmer winters, he said. winter of 1978 and 1979,” he said. continued from front
On Friday, New Brunswick experienced its hottest February day on record in more than a century. The temperature reached 77 degrees Fahrenheit. JEFFREY GOMEZ / PHOTO EDITOR
continued from front Hillel’s old kitchen, it would often be difficult for more than four people to be there all at once, but now they can all collaborate and make chicken soup for hospice patients, she said. “In planning this event it was good to know that while us upperclassman might not be around for very long the upcoming freshman will be able to have a real home for four years. Your dorm changes, your roommate changes, but Hillel can always be your home,” Manich said. Rabbi Esther Reed, senior associate director of the Hillel Center, said student input was at the forefront of planning for this project. Before any plans were drawn, a survey was used to gather popular student opinion and determine the needs of the center, she said. “We are an organization devoted to the students here at Rutgers University,” Reed said. “Even though we serve Jewish students we encourage that all Rutgers students come and take part in the activities we do.” Rutgers has the second largest Jewish undergraduate population in the countr y, what they estimate to be over 6,400 students, she said. The organization tries to provide opportunities for students in ways that are meaningful to them regardless of the degree to which they practice their faith. “We see ourselves as a place for students of all different backgrounds to come and engage in Jewish life here,” Reed said. “Events like our interfaith programs really integrate the religious community in times like this and promote student learning from one another through religion.”
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OPInions
February 28, 2017
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery
M
any of us like to believe that slavCALL FOR CHANGE ery is over and that is a thing of the past. We’re trained to think of PRIYANKA BANSAL slavery as a shocking onetime occurrence, something that once existed in the Americas and then disappeared after former President Abraham Lincoln saved us. But in this mindset, there is a huge piece of information about the past that we are missing. Because of the lack of attention that is given to problems in non-Western countries, most of us do not know or do not care about the problems that people face in Thailand, India or Mauritania, among other countries. However, what is even more shocking is the modern day slavery that occurs in our country. Otherwise known as human trafficking, slavery in the United States is a major issue that goes unaddressed and is repeatedly ignored in the minds of many Americans. It’s usually perceived as an issue that is out of our control, and only effects disadvantaged countries, when in reality, over 161 countries, meaning more than 30 million victims are impacted by human trafficking. The United States is host to around 60,000 of those victims. Contrary to the belief that slavery is solely defined as white plantation owners abusing and controlling black families as property — slavery comes in many forms. One of the most pronounced forms of slavery is sex trafficking, in which 98 percent of the victims are women and girls. The underlying theme of these kinds of slavery are the same: An exploitation of a human being and the stripping of their basic needs and rights. Victims of human sex trafficking are subject to violent forms of force, coercion, isolation, starvation, serious health problems such as HIV/AIDS and inescapable situations. They are promised homes and given false stories and given falsehoods into believing they will be given a “better life” by the sex traffickers that hold them hostage. As stated by Michelle Bachelet, UN Women director & former president of Chile, “An estimated 80 percent of all trafficked persons are used and abused as sexual slaves. This human
“Rather than be sent to a rehabilitation service clinic to treat the trauma that they have been put through for years, sextrafficking victims are too often arrested or prosecuted for prostitution.” rights violation is driven by demand for sexual services and the profit that is generated. The commodification of human beings as sexual objects, poverty, gender inequality and subordinate positions of women and girls provide fertile ground for human trafficking.” This kind of slavery exists in every corner of our world. On every street corner, every hotel, every club, are women and children exploited in a helpless situation, living the same nightmare repeatedly for years at a time, often with no end in sight. One of the countless misfortunes that human trafficking victims face actually happens after authority forces have rescued them. Rather than be sent to a rehabilitation service clinic to treat the trauma that they have been put through for years, sex-trafficking victims are too often arrested or prosecuted for prostitution. Many of these are young girls have been forced into the system against their will by criminals exploiting their gender, social status and given situation. These children don’t know a better life and have no escape. Their false criminal charges follow them when they attempt to find jobs and create a life for themselves. Their role as victims in the slave system of mass criminal rape should not be used against them by our justice department. The real offenders should solely face the charges, but in New Jersey, a state that is relatively more active when it comes to human trafficking laws, sex traffickers are not even required to register as sex offenders. Other states are even worse with their human trafficking laws. Girls as young as 9 years old, too young to be aware of what is happening to them, are manipulated by traffickers three times their age and are sent out to the streets with the false condition of safety and love in their minds. While this is all they ask for, why is it so easy for us a country to brush their situation off as something out of our reach? Why are we not more active in taking strides to help the situation? Modern day slavery does not only exist in undeveloped countries. Slavery did not end hundreds of years ago. It’s time for us to take action. Priyanka Bansal is a Rutgers Business School first-year double majoring in business and journalism and media studies. Her column, “Call for Change,” runs on alternate Tuesdays.
UNIVERSAL UCLICK
EDITORIAL
Regulating Facebook for sex offenders? North Carolina law targets sexual predators in misguided methods
A
bout 98 percent of adults who are in their raped a child. North Carolina has even stricter laws “college age” — 18 to 24 years old — regarding sexual offenders, making it required for are using social media apps or sites in a them to wear a GPS for the rest of their lives and typical month. Ever ywhere you go, you can see even banning them from areas where are frequentpeople using Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and ed by minors. While taking actions against regisTwitter, amongst other things. It seems like ev- tered sex offenders is extremely important, is North er yone’s doing it. But in North Carolina, this is Carolina’s ruling going to benefit their cause? And is the U.S. Supreme Court right in their assertion that not the case. The Old North State has a law that has been pre- this law impedes on the First Amendment rights of sented to the Supreme Court that does not allow for these people? Yes, this law does interfere with the First Amendregistered sex offenders to use social media. The details around the law stemmed from the 2010 case ment rights of people, even if they are sex offenders. of Lester Packingham who was convicted for — yes And while in theory, it seems possible that limiting the social media use of sexual predators may de— owning a Facebook account. Packingham was put on trial several years back crease incidents of sexual assault, this may not necwhen he was 21 years old because he was found essarily be the case. Many people who oppose North to have had sexual relations with a 13-year-old girl. Carolina’s law have stated that barring sex offenders from social media The sex was reportmakes it harder for edly consensual, them to assimilate the two were dating “And is the U.S. Supreme Court right in back into regular soand Packingham their assertion that this law impedes on the ciety. But is this what had stated that he First Amendment rights of these people?” we want anyway? had no prior knowlRegistered sex edge of the girl’s offenders may have age. Packingham was convicted and registered as a sex offender. And to go through a series of steps that ensures that eventually, he was brought in front of a court again their information is available to the public, however, jail time and a registr y do not always do much because of his Facebook account. The United States Supreme Court brought this to help the issue at hand. Sexual offenders who case to attention again on Monday because of their have these urges to cause sexual harm to others concerns around the legality of this law, especially in need more than a cell and warning signs to help regards to the First Amendment, which constitutes them, they need help from professionals and proper treatment before we can even think to bring the freedom of speech. North Carolina had implemented this law because them back into society. Sexual offenders being on the state government believed that barring regis- Facebook and Snapchat should be the least of the tered sex offenders from social media would help to state’s worries. The issue at hand here is much larger than detertake “what is often the critical first step in the sexual mining who can and can’t use social media. Although assault of a child.” The argument surrounding Packingham as well as North Carolina’s intentions may be in the right all other registered sex offenders brings up a rather place, the execution is poor. Rather than focusing on difficult conversation. There are about 850,000 reg- what social media registered sex offenders have, we istered sex offenders in the United States. Someone should be focusing on how to get to the core of the who is registered as a sex offender could have done problem — the sex offenders themselves, not what anything from having urinated in public to having apps they frequent. The Daily Targum’s editorials represent the views of the majority of the 149th editorial board. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
February 28, 2017
Opinions Page 7
Fanbases need to stop referring to rappers as ‘gods’ FROM BREAKS TO BARS JHANVI VIRANI
L
ast week, Hollywood Boulevard became the home of a new life-size golden statue of Kanye West depicted to look like a crucified Jesus Christ. The artwork was created by the street artist Plastic Jesus, who stated that the piece was a social commentary on how we idolize celebrities. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he explained: “(West is) a genius at writing and producing but he’s not a God, and that’s where we put him … Until there’s an issue in his life or a hiccup in his career, then we crucify him.” This problem does not just stop with West. All music genres have fans that revere their artists like gods, but the main source of this image tends to start from the fanbase. But hip-hop as a genre is different. Their fans do consider rappers gods, but rappers also contribute to this idea by building a reputation of calling themselves gods, something that is unique to the industry. Gucci Mane titled his 2012 mixtape “Trap God,” and Nas’ 2002 album is called “God’s Son.” Drake is the 6 God, and Jay-Z’s nickname Hov is a play on Jehovah (Jay-Hova). The list goes on and on. This trend of rappers aligning themselves with divinity is nothing new. It has
its roots in the old-school hip-hop culture, one of the most prominent sources being the Five-Percent Nation, a cultural movement that had strong ties with hip-hop in the 1980s and 1990s. A breakaway sect of the Nation of Islam, Five-Percenters believed that 10 percent of the world’s population knew the truths of the world but kept them a secret to assert control over 85 percent of the world. The Five-Percenters represented the remaining 5 percent, those who knew and taught these universal
Rappers calling themselves gods was a way of reclaiming authority in their space, both as MC’s and as people of color. But that’s not really the case today. The very idea of a rap god has morphed from a form of cultural empowerment into the epitome of vanity. The rap industry’s god complex is now a marketing scheme, a way to build a reputation for rappers by exploiting fans who gravitate toward their music. After people develop their admiration for artists work, rappers try to sell them on the idea
“When an artist like Kanye West or Drake establishes themselves as Yeezus or 6-God, it’s a form of pre-emptively selling their future work even before it’s made, or by that logic, before it’s even made well.” truths to educate and empower those in the 85 percent. One of the most prominent ideologies of the Five-Percent Nation is that God is a black man, and through education and enlightenment, black people can unlock their inner godliness and overcome prejudice and discrimination. And since many old-school rappers subscribed to their philosophies, this idea of aligning oneself with God spread in hip-hop. Famous Five-Percenters include Jay-Z, Nas, Jay Electronica and Busta Rhymes.
that they are gods, worthy of praise outside the scope of their discography and backed by nothing but their personal brands. Eventually, it removes the element of doubt or skepticism when judging their new work, because it’s hard to question or dethrone a rap god. When an artist like Kanye West or Drake establishes themselves as Yeezus or 6-God, it’s a form of pre-emptively selling their future work even before it’s made, or by that logic, before it’s even made well. Once a celebrity has so closely aligned
themselves with a god-like persona, it’s psychologically difficult for us as an audience to collectively denounce that claim, even if their newer work isn’t up to par with the older work that lent them that god title to begin with. J Cole touches upon the subject in his song “False Prophets,” in which he discusses Kanye West: “He’s fallin’ apart, but we deny it / Justifying that half a** sh*t he dropped, we always buy it / When he tell us he a genius but it’s clearer lately / It’s been hard for him to look into the mirror lately.” When you start looking for this god complex in rap songs, it’s hard to stop. Even J Cole, who dedicated a whole song to the criticism of false prophets in the rap industry, calls himself a god in his song “January 28th.” More than anything, calling rappers gods creates an unnecessary divide between them and us. It develops this idea that the rappers, whether it’s for their money or talent, are above their fanbase. And in the end, it makes a separation that extracts the musical element of hip-hop and replaces it with a game of public image and branding. Because once we as fans agree that rappers can be and are gods, we undermine the importance of the music and its ability to speak for itself. Jhanvi Virani is a School of Arts and Sciences first-year majoring in Computer Science and History. Her column, “From Breaks to Bars,” runs on alternate Tuesdays.
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Tech Tuesday
Page 8
February 28, 2017
Neural networking used to improve artificial intelligence performance can be easily fooled if you give it well-designed inputs. This is a major limitation of the networks.”
What did the Luka team do?
Neural networks are being used to advance research in artificial intelligence. Researchers create the base of the network, but cannot say how networks might make decisions. GRAPHIC BY WAYLEN GLASS / DESIGN EDITOR
Nikhilesh De
itself to transform the inputs into an output. During the process of creating an output — for example, the From “Iron Man’s” Just a name of an image from a given Rather Very Intelligent Sysinput, the image itself — the nettem (J.A.R.V.I.S). to “Portal’s” work “learns” how to complete GLaDOS to “2001: A Space Odtasks, like identifying images. yssey’s” HAL 9000, the idea of One of the disadvantages to having a fully sentient digital asneural networks is that they are sistant is one that people hope to black boxes, Elgammal said. Ofsee jump from science fiction into ten, the people who create or work reality sooner rather than later. on these networks are not entirely Google, Apple and Windows sure how they work — they build have all begun this process with What is a neural the framework of the network and their own digital assistants, network? let it take on tasks for themselves. which allow users to control their Neural networks are a new type What scientists were unable to phones or computers with voice of computer program, which can do during neural networks’ early commands. Facebook found- respond to queries or carry out stages, was have a neural network er and CEO Mark Zuckerberg instructions more efficiently and explain its reasoning, according to spent a large part of 2016 trying creatively than existing programs. All About Circuits. While a network to push the idea of digital assis- They are programs used to identimight produce the desired output tants a step further, by creating fy faces in photos, analyze medibased on the given inputs, it would an artificial intelligence that can cal data, crunch through quantum not be able to provide a reason, control his house. mechanics, steer self-driving cars which would While these not help any of digital asthe research sistants are fields listed. examples of “...a neural network takes the image and the task you’re trying to (teach it) According smart systems, and learns.” to an article they are not published by thinking indeAhmed Elgammal the Massachupendently and Professor in the Department of Computer Science setts Institute they cannot of Technology pass the Tur(MIT), “After ing test — they cannot fool humans into thinking and improve automation, among at the data that is available and let training, a network may be very good at classifying data, but even the machine learn for itself.” they are sentient. The advance other tasks. These networks are trained its creators will have no idea why.” of neural networks may have They do this by creating arIn the October 2016 article, rechanged this by creating artificial tificial neurons — the human to identify patterns on their own intelligences that can successfully brain cells which allow people through test data provided by the searchers said that because they simulate a human being. to think and reason, said Ahmed program’s creators. Unlike tradi- cannot figure out why a neural Late last year, a team of pro- Elgammal, a professor in the De- tional programs, these networks network might reach any particgrammers came one step closer partment of Computer Science. are then expected to find similar ular conclusion, they cannot trust to simulating a full intelligence Perceptrons — artificial neurons patterns given unique data, in- the results. This inability to predict a neuwhen they built an artificial intel- — have existed as a concept since stead of simply providing an exral network’s reasoning process ligence capable of responding to the 1950s, and form the basis of a pected result with a given input. There are two ways to train makes using them a disadvanmessages as a person. neural network. Eugenia Kuyda, founder and The components of a neural data, Elgammal said. Super- tage for researchers who want CEO of Luka, an artificially intel- network are designed to cooper- vised learning occurs when a re- to understand how a network ligent messenger bot, directed ate in order to produce a unique searcher provides input data and can relate to a human brain, Elher team to develop a program output from a given input that directs the network to create the gammal said. “It’s really hard to predict its that could simulate Roman Ma- might be different from what matching output data. Unsuperzurenko — her former col- each neuron might produce on vised learning occurs when the behavior on some data that it has researcher lets the network train never seen before,” he said. “Its league, boyfriend and best friend its own. correspondent
who died in a car accident early in 2016. In late 2016, using thousands of stored text messages and pictures, the Luka team completed a neural network that could respond to people as Mazurenko through a chat interface. The network was realistic enough that Kuyda, as well as Mazurenko’s friends and family, said that speaking to it was similar, if not identical to speaking to him.
In other words, neural networks try to simulate being a human brain. “Other algorithms have a lot of tweaking and are designed,” Elgammal said. “So to recognize an image, for example, you would have to start by designing certain features or elements that you need in order to recognize it. A neural network doesn’t do that, a neural network takes the image and the task you’re trying to (teach it) and learns.” Researchers approach neural networks differently than they do traditional algorithms, he said. “You don’t design the algorithm, you design the architecture of the network,” he said. “You don’t design what exactly (it) should look for in the image — is it the colors, is it the line, is it the corners, you don’t do that anymore. You look
Roman Mazurenko was hit by a speeding vehicle while crossing the street and died shortly after the accident. Three months later, his friends and family could send him messages and receive responses by texting him. The Verge notes that the idea of resurrecting deceased loved ones through the use of technology is not new — an episode of “Black Mirror” actually features robots created with the messages left behind by the deceased. In “Black Mirror,” these robots can simulate everything about a person except for their emotions. Kuyda said in The Verge that she saw the episode and her project was inspired at least in part by it. The Mazurenko bot’s responses are identical to what he would have sent and are based on feeding the neural network some 8,000 messages he sent over his lifetime. While it originally only responded with archived versions of the actual messages the person sent, it is now able to choose its own words in each message. While it primarily responds with text, the bot can also respond with images. Though the bot can seem real, it cannot feel emotions — the same problem facing the androids in “Black Mirror.” The bot is also not the person it was modeled after, despite how effective the simulation may be. After interacting with the bot, one of Mazurenko’s friends said “What really struck me is that the phrases (the bot) speaks are really his. You can tell that’s the way he would say it.” The same friend said he asked the bot for advice, and the response also matched what Mazurenko might have said, which means the bot is not only able to respond to queries, it can determine what a person might need to know.
Can a neural network simulate a person?
Elgammal said it is unlikely for an artificial intelligence to fully simulate a human, even with the use of neural networks. The present technology is simply not sufficiently advanced to do so. But by simulating specific aspects of a reasoning process, whether that is for responding to people’s messages, analyzing traffic patterns or even just agreeing with a doctor’s diagnosis, neural networks have proven their potential for future applications, he said. Neural networks can dramatically change how researchers analyze different problems facing society, but it is clear they can also be used to advance artificial intelligence research by leaps and bounds. Though the Mazurenko bot is based on a specific person and carries the traits of that person, it is possible that in the future, unique people may be simulated without needing a source person to create it.
DIVERSIONS
February 28, 2017
Mark Tatulli Horoscopes
Lio
Page 9 Eugenia Last
Happy Birthday: Concentrate on being original and creative, and look for alternatives as you face challenges this year. Don’t let confusion set in, causing you to waffle and make little progress. So much can be accomplished if you believe and trust in your ability to take care of unfinished business and begin new ventures that encourage personal growth and greater prosperity. Your numbers are 5, 12, 23, 28, 34, 42, 46.
Over The Hedge
T. Lewis and M. Fry
Non Sequitur
Wiley
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions can be handled in different ways. Carefully assess the situations that make you anxious before you plunge into something that is best handled by saying and doing little. Keep your life simple. Avoid overreacting. 3 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Greater opportunity will develop as you move forward with your plans. Added discipline will help you finish what you start and impress those who can make a difference to the final outcome of your plans. Romance is highlighted. 3 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t reveal information that may be incriminating or hurt someone unintentionally. Weigh the pros and cons of an idea you have and you’ll come up with the best way to approach your plans. You will prosper as you move forward. 3 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Divide your time between personal and professional matters. Balance and equality will give you a much clearer picture of how you should move forward in all aspects of your life. Trust your intuition to help you make good choices. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look for an opportunity and seize the moment. Don’t share your findings with anyone who may be trying to pry into your affairs. Stay focused on what’s important to you and refuse to back down. Romance and personal gains look promising. 4 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There will be a division between those you have to deal with and those you want to spend time with. Don’t trust anyone to look out for your best interests. Move forward with integrity and honorable motives. 5 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make plans strategically. Don’t feel the need to overspend to impress others, and avoid trying to bring about changes that aren’t really necessary. You’ll gain the most from working with someone who complements your work ethic. 2 stars
Pearls Before Swine
Stephan Pastis
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You can bring greater stability to your life and your career if you make a couple of changes. Look for opportunities and take action. Your ability to size things up and make a move will ensure that you don’t miss out. 5 stars VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Domestic alterations will require your input. Don’t go over budget or make an assumption that someone else will handle matters as efficiently as you. Be diplomatic to avoid being left to do the grunt work. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll be tempted by what others offer. Use your intelligence and common sense to avoid turning into someone else’s scapegoat. Protect against loss, indulgence and injury. Hold yourself accountable to avoid regret. 2 stars AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make your move. Follow your heart and seize the moment. Actions will lead to new beginnings and greater stability. Contracts, settlements and financial matters will turn in your favor. Personal and financial gains are within reach. Reward yourself. 4 stars PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Choose to live your life your own way. Express your concerns and replace what isn’t working for you with something that will. Trust your perception to guide you through confusion and uncertainty. Challenge anyone who stands in your way. 3 stars
©2017 By Eugenia Last distributed by Universal Uclick
Universal Crossword ACROSS 1 Is in labor?
59 He helps his neighbors by giving them ...
6 First word of “Jabberwocky”
64 No. on a business card
10 Recipe meas.
65 Vidalia veggie
13 Cessation of breathing, for
66 Plant used for making
a sleeper
tequila
14 Buenos ___
67 Polar seasonal worker
16 Skating surface
68 Large percussion instrument
17 He sets his watch according to ...
69 Handrail post
19 Extinct New Zealand bird
DOWN
20 Mark over some letters
1 Historic verb?
in Spanish
2 Make a choice
21 Drug cops
3 Gene stuff
23 Game-match link
4 Clark the “Super” reporter
26 Sylvester Stallone’s nickname
5 Penchant for inflicting cruelty
27 Change form
6 After the deadline
28 It’s truly puzzling
7 Like EE shoes
30 Sonic employee
8 Museum acquisition
31 Handle
9 Some fishermen with nets
35 Seize power illegally
32 Vehicle for one last ride?
10 When he has a headache,
36 Disorderly or untidy
34 Addition conclusion
he takes ...
38 Fake medicine
37 Thing canceled at a post office
11 Journalist’s desire
41 Frequent, in old poetry
39 Certain primate
12 “___ porridge hot ...”
44 Soon, in old poetry
40 Awaken suddenly
15 Rampaging one
45 Scarecrow’s filling
42 Dusk, poetically
18 Islam deity
48 Austin-to-Baltimore dir.
43 Crowbars, essentially
22 P, to the Greeks
50 Sea close to Greece
46 Winter ailments
23 Touch or sight, e.g.
51 Talk foolishly
47 More expensive
24 Related on the mother’s side
52 Fight the powers that be
49 Potatoes, slangily
25 When he works late, he does
53 Included with
51 Struts like a steed
so at ...
56 Dietary supplement
53 “___ you listening?”
27 Less abundant
57 Perimeter or border
54 Collect sensitive material
29 Ring thing
60 2016 Olympic site
55 Do some cobbling, in a way
30 Antic
61 Shooter marble
56 What a mirror can produce
33 Places for some Christmas
62 “___ been thinking ...”
58 NBA competitor, once
lights
63 Director Gibson
Yesterday’s Solution
Yesterday’s Solution
Page 10
February 28, 2017
SPOILER With 2 games left this season, Knights will look to upset Maryland in home battle continued from back the Big Ten, locking up the 14th and final seed in the process. A win in their final two games against Maryland or Illinois throws a monkey wrench in the oppositions season and leaves Rutgers with nothing more than a bump in the win column. While that means next to nothing in the grand scheme of seeding and final positioning in the regular season standings, it can pay big dividends a week later in Washington, D.C. “It’s definitely important because as ever ybody knows, the Big Ten Tournament, any conference tournament, it’s really a new season,” said junior guard Nigel Johnson of finishing the season strong. “You could not win a game all year and go in there and win the whole tournament and go to the NCAA tournament so it’s definitely important for us to stay on a groove and play our best basketball of the year at the tournament.” A meeting with the 11th seed in the first day of the tournament is guaranteed for Rutgers, but who will be on the other side of the court is far from settled. Entering Tuesday, there are six teams who can still finish 11th — Iowa, Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Penn State and Nebraska. Of the group, Rutgers has beaten two (Penn State and Nebraska) and played another two (Iowa and Ohio State) down to the wire on the road, with the remaining two on the opposite end of the spectrum split between
dominating and defeating the Knights (Indiana) and not yet playing them (Illinois). The Knights host the Illini Saturday to close out the season, four days after facing the Terrapins where they can
Knights will take on Wagner just 2 days removed from road contest at Fairfield
seven ground balls in a collective defensive effort that held the
mark for a third straight time. But that won’t be the case if the improvement Pikiell sees in his team continues to manifest itself on the court as it did against the Wildcats and Wolverines. “They’re well prepared, they come with a good focus,” Pikiell said of his team prior to facing Michigan. “I tell them all the time ‘there are a lot of challenges in this league’ and we challenge ourselves every day. We have to get better, obviously, but this
has been a fun team to coach, because no matter what the score is, they keep playing and in tough environments, they keep playing. ... As a team, we’re getting better. … The improvements are there. I know they don’t show up in the win, loss record sometimes, but they’re definitely there and they’re big steps.” For updates on the Rutgers men’s basketball team, follow @briannnnf and @TargumSports on Twitter.
Head coach Steve Pikiell and the Scarlet Knights will try to upset Maryland when the Terps visit the Rutgers Athletic Center for the penultimate regular season game of Pikiell’s first year at the helm. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / FEBRUARY 2017
REST
continued from back
build off two of their most efficient games on offense in conference play. According to KenPom, the Knights adjusted offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) against Northwestern and Michigan was 109.5 and 100.7, respectively. It marked their first two-game stretch of reaching the 100 point threshold in Big Ten play this season. Facing the Terrapins, Rutgers will need a perfect performance to win without reaching that century
Stags scoreless in both the first and fourth quarters. In that same game, head coach Brian Brecht could not
say enough good things about the defense, but was critical of his attackers ability to put the ball in the net. Star junior Jules Heningburg had just 1 goal while senior Connor Murphy had a hat trick and freshman Kieran Mullins did not score or have an assist. And not to take anything away from Fairfield goalie Tyler
Junior defender Alex Bronzo has helped contribute to a defense that shut out Fairfield in the first and fourth quarters on Saturday. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / FEBRUARY 2017
Behring who had a career game contest. Brecht says this will test in net, but the Knights did miss his team’s maturity as the Knights multiple open nets and could not have had a full week between each of their first three games. put away close range shots. “I’m looking for maturity this These opportunities were set up by the midfield, a unit that weekend and understanding how Brecht has been raving about important it is for us to recover the right way and prepare with this season. “The defense, the short the same effort and energy they stick (defensive midfielders), do day in and day out for a quick our (long stick midfielders) turnaround,” he said. With ranked home matchups — (sophomores) Kyle Pless and Garrett Michaeli — were against No. 19 Brown and No. 18 Stony Brook looming after, outstanding,” he said. Rutgers is Pless is part doing its best of the rope unit, to not overlook a group that Wagner and acts as a liaison “We definitely have an get caught in a between the defense and edge on Wagner moving trap game. Groel said attackers, with forward but we’re not that the team Michaeli is a gonna take them lightly.” is aware of defender and the upcoming helps to get the CHRIS GROEL r a n k e d ball to players Senior Defender opponents but like Pless to insists that the help them Knights are push the ball focused on up the field. The main man behind the Wagner and will use the game to defensive stops has been junior sharpen their overall game and goalkeeper Max Edelmann, improve, while not sacrificing an who has been a brick wall in opportunity for a win. “We definitely have an edge between the pipes so far this year, averaging over 11 saves per game on Wagner moving forward while letting in just 7 goals per but we’re not gonna take them game, saving 62 percent of shots lightly,” Groel said. “We’re gonna treat them as big a game as it is that have come his way. He has been a model of and just get better from it.” consistency for this team and For updates on the Rutgers will look to keep it up against the Seahawks, in a game that will men’s lacrosse team, follow have allowed Rutgers just two @griffinwhitmer and @TargumSports days of rest following the Fairfield on Twitter.
February 28, 2017
Page 11 GYMNASTICS TOWSON 195.675, RUTGERS 194.275
Rutgers drops 3rd consecutive dual meet to Towson Robert Sanchez Staff Writer
It was the same story for the Rutgers gymnastics team that visited Towson University this past Friday night. The Scarlet Knights (10-8, 1-4) tallied a score of 194 or higher, now a six-meet streak, but once again, it was not enough to record the victory. With its first time traveling to Mar yland to face the Tigers (7-8), Rutgers hit the 194 mark for the sixth consecutive meet and finished with a 194.275, slightly improving from the past two meets, but still consistent to where it has been scoring during this streak. The Tigers, on the other hand, came out and recorded their best score of the season, and by a decent margin of 195.675. Despite the fourth meet in a row without recording the top spot, head coach Louis Levine saw plenty of bright spots out of his team on Friday. “There were numerous great individual performances,” he said. Of those standout performances was senior Claire Jones, who recorded two 9.900 scores, the first of any Knight this season. “I didn’t even know that that was the first one we have gotten this season,” she said. “But when you get 9.9, it literally makes all of what you work for in the gym worth it. It’s just a feeling of excitement.” Jones saved her season high scores for the last two rotations — the balance beam and floor.
Senior Claire Jones scored two separate 9.9s against Towson, accomplishing a goal she set when first arriving at Rutgers four years ago. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / FEBRUARY 2017 First up on the night came the uneven bars, where Rutgers continued to struggle and tallied its weakest score. Nonetheless, senior April Baker and freshman Erin McLachlan finished in a three-way tie for first with their scores of 9.800. For McLachlan, it was a new career-high. In only her second collegiate competition, freshman Kaitlyn Hall notched a career-high of her own with her score of 9.725. The Knights would finish the rotation with a score of 48.025.
WEEKEND Rutgers cannot continue Sunday magic, falls to No. 16 Virginia in all 3 games continued from back The bullpen struggles have been enough to overshadow what has been a considerably strong offensive unit. In the first two games, the Knights struck first — notching early leads in the first inning. It seemed whenever Virginia would score, Rutgers would come right back and score in the next halfinning. In fact, in their first six games of the season, the Knights have hit six home runs, the most this early in the season since 2009. Coach Litterio thinks the “castle” may be behind this midseason form offensive production. “This preseason I think we’ve gotten a lot more swings in the new facility,” he said. “We’re much more game ready early on than we’ve ever been so I think that has something to do with it.” Despite the plethora of long balls, Litterio is hesitant to call his ball club a home run hitting team. “We do have power in the lineup, but I don’t want to say we’re a home run hitting team,” he said. “I just think the early live at-bats in the new facility have really shown that we’re probably four or five weeks into where we normally are when we step out against Miami.” On Saturday, Rutgers lost by a score of 12-4, but when going into
the bottom of the fifth, it was only a 4-3 deficit. The Knights were only down 4-3 going into the sixth inning on Friday before ultimately losing 7-3. Junior third baseman Milo Freeman, who enjoyed a nice weekend, going 5-11 with two runs batted in (RBI) — part of an offense that collected 21 hits over the three-game series — is looking at the bigger picture. “Sunday’s game was tough,” he said. “But it’s baseball and the good thing about it is we got another game on Tuesday, a midweek game to get back on track and get ready for next weekend.” Rutgers will play Wagner on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Bainton Field, the earliest home game in program history. After playing such a strong team in Virginia, senior first baseman Christian Campbell is confident that tough competition will only make the Knights a better team and will help them have success this season. “Just playing against a skilled team is great for a team that is learning how to beat great teams just like them,” he said. For updates on the Rutgers baseball team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
Next came vault, an area Rutgers has suddenly excelled at, scoring a 48.950 — a new season high breaking its old record set two weeks ago, and just 0.025 away from cracking the top 10 program total. Sophomore Riahanah Ali credits the repetition of work for the team’s success. “Just more numbers,” she said when asked about the improvements on vault the past couple of weeks. “We have been really focusing on … making sure our chests are up on our landings (as
well) because it is all about landings at this point.” All six Knights received a score of 9.725 or higher as McLachlan led the team and scored a 9.850, a career-high and good for first on the night. Ali was also impressed as she matched a career-high at 9.825 and finished tied for second. For Ali — who has been dealing with injuries for much of the season — to come back healthy and right where she left off is a sign of good things to come for this Rutgers team.
“I feel great,” she said. “I’ve been battling a couple of things this season and just coming out after getting over those few injuries and coming out matching my career-high is kind of cool. I just can’t wait to improve next weekend and be better for the team.” After vault came floor exercise where the Knights would tally a 48.800, with Jones a big part of that score. Her 9.900, a mark she has hit only two other times in her collegiate career, was good enough for a second-place tie on the night. Ali followed closely behind with her season-high score of 9.875. Rutgers finished up the night on beam. Again, Jones would be right in the middle of things as she tied the meet-high with her 9.900 — a career-high as well. Baker and freshman Polina Poliakova scored a 9.800, a new career-high for Poliakova, helping Rutgers earn a 48.500. Jones said coming into her final season she has set some goals for herself — one of those goals can now be crossed off. “Since I’m a senior, I’m taking it meet by meet because with every meet it just becomes a little bit more real that I’m done,” she said. “I have a few goals and I keep a sheet of paper in my sock drawer and I look at it every single day and it reminds me of what I’m working for. One of my goals was to get a 9.9.” For updates on the Rutgers gymnastics team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
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rutgers university—new brunswick
SPORTS
Quote of the Day
“I feel like it’s just a mental thing, you just gotta get out there and knock your free throws down.” — Junior guard Nigel Johnson on the team’s ongoing struggles from the line
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017
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MEN’S BASKETBALL RUTGERS-MARYLAND, TONIGHT, 6:30 P.M.
MEN’S LACROSSE
BASEBALL
No. 14 RU set to host Wagner on short rest
Knights swept by No. 16 Virginia over weekend
Griffin Whitmer
Robert Sanchez
Associate Sports Editor
Staff Writer
Following a strong, defensive-centered victory over Fairfield just three days ago, the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team returns home to Piscataway to take on Wagner at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, back inside the friendly confines of High Point Solutions Stadium. The No. 14 Scarlet Knights (3-0) have won nine straight games at home, spanning all the way back to an upset victory over Ohio State to close out the 2015 season. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s another opportunity to get out there and play, especially at home,” said junior defender Alex Bronzo. The Seahawks (1-2) have been playing Rutgers every season since 2009, with the Knights winning all eight contests with comfortable margins. While Wagner has been a program that is steadily improving, Rutgers will still be heavily favored. The Knights have shown their potential through just three games this season, showcasing a potent offense against St. John’s, beating a ranked team in No. 16 Army and riding a dominant defense against Fairfield. Rutgers will need to put all of these things together and they will try to do just that against the Seahawks in a game that senior defender Chris Groel said is a great opportunity for the team to fix the little things. “We’re really looking to tighten everything up a little more. Just another day to get out there go against another jersey, just get better, honestly,” he said. Groel had his best game of the early season against Fairfield, as he scooped up
After beating then-No. 17 Miami in its season series opener, the Rutgers baseball team was itching for more as it headed down south to take on No. 13 Virginia. It was the first meeting between the Scarlet Knights (15) and the Cavaliers (7-0) since 1962 and the first time Rutgers opened the season against two consecutive top-25 teams since 2009. Coming into the weekend, the Knights led the all-time series 5-1. Virginia made a huge dent in that record as it took all three games in emphatic fashion and swept Rutgers right out of Charlottesville, Virginia. Despite what the final scores say, the Knights remained competitive in each game over the weekend until the Cavaliers would finally break things open. “I was happy with the fact that in every game by the fifth and sixth innings, it was a one-run ballgame,” said head coach Joe Litterio. “(Sunday) left a bad taste in the mouth because it was a one-run ball game through five (innings) and (James Torres) got out of there just giving up that two-run home run, it’s still a 5-2 game and then we just kind of imploded.” Rutgers would go on to lose Sunday’s game by a final score of 18-2, experiencing exactly what they had done to Miami last weekend. “We just got to figure out how to finish games,” Litterio said. “That’s one of the areas that has stood out so far in these first six games. Guys coming out of the pen, someone has got to step up and want to throw and be able to hold a team where they are and give us a chance to come back late in the game.”
See REST on Page 10
Junior guard Nigel Johnson has proven to be Rutgers’ best option as a 3-point shooter down the stretch DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / FEBRUARY 2017
Rutgers hopes to play spoiler against Maryland Brian Fonseca Correspondent
Senior defender Chris Groel anchors a defense that is giving up 7 goals per game. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
The most recent outing for the Rutgers men’s basketball team ended in familiar fashion, but it wasn’t a result of the issues that doomed the multiple times this season. The Scarlet Knights hit 10 of their 13 free throws in the 68-64 loss to Michigan last Wednesday, a 77 percent performance that ranks top among the other 15 Big Ten contests played under first-year head coach Steve Pikiell. After watching their woes from the charity stripe (a Big Ten worst at 61.6 percent) bite them in Iowa City, Columbus and College Park, the improvement is positive progress as the Knights approach the Big Ten Tournament. “There were practices where we just shot free throws all day,” said junior guard Mike Williams, who converted his three free throw attempts, after the game. “It’s a mental thing. You just got to have, as coach Pikiell would say, some manhood about yourself and just knock them down. I feel like it’s just a mental thing, you just gotta get out there and knock your free throws down.”
Chattanooga The Citadel
43 53 76 85
West Virginia Baylor Stetson Florida Gulf Coast
See SPOILER on Page 10
62 71 57 87
IZAIAH BROWN,
sophomore sprinter, captured the 400-meter event title at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio over the weekend. Brown finished with a time of 45.32, which broke both a school and Big Ten Conference record.
See WEEKEND on Page 11
Senior Christian Campbell has contributed as both a pitcher and infielder this season. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
knights schedule
EXTRA POINT
NCAAM SCORES
North Carolina Virginia
Rutgers failed to redeem itself when Iowa came to the Rutgers Athletic Center, the Hawkeyes handing the Knights their worst loss in Big Ten play less than a month after needing a late surge to scrape by at home. Tuesday night presents a second opportunity at revenge for Rutgers (13-16, 2-14) when it hosts Maryland. The Terrapins (22-7, 10-6) benefitted from the Knights’ third worst performance from the line in their first meeting at the XFinity Center last month, winning by 12 on a night the visitors missed 14 free throws. Maryland comes to Piscataway on the heels of losing 5 of its last 7 games and dropping two straight by 14 at home to Minnesota and Iowa, a sharp turn from its program-record setting 20-2 start to the campaign. The current three-game skid the Terrapins are in has taken them from a contender for a Big Ten regular season title to a team in risk of losing a top four seed and a double-bye in the conference tournament that seemed inevitable just a month ago. The Knights, on the other hand, already sealed a third consecutive last place finish in
MEN’S LACROSSE
BASEBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
vs. Wagner
vs. Wagner
vs. Maryland
vs. Wisconsin
Today, 3 p.m., Piscataway, N.J.
Today, 3 p.m., Bainton Field
Tonight, 6:30 p.m., RAC
Tomorrow, 4 p.m., Indianapolis, Ind.