The Daily Targum 2010-03-03

THE DAILY TARGUM

Volume 141, Number 98

S E R V I N G

T H E

R U T G E R S

C O M M U N I T Y

S I N C E

Today: Snow shower

ALL OR NOTHING

High: 39 • Low: 30

Head women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer motivated her team to snap its three-game losing streak by refuting claims that she would accept a WNIT bid.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2010

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Death threat ignites fear around campus

BY DEVIN SIKORSKI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A death threat posted on a bathroom wall in the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus caused problems Tuesday morning for both police and students.

The message, found on Monday, threatened that “everybody in Hickman will die.”

Students did not know what to think of the message.

“I don’t know if it is a serious threat or not. However, many students have class in Hickman [Hall on Douglass campus] so it’s a big deal if it was,” said Jonathan Powell, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences junior.

Lauren Mairella, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said she still went to class despite the threat.

“I went there, but it seemed like only half the students were present,” she said. “I’m really glad though that the police [were] outside searching bags, because it makes me feel better about it.”

Police searched the bags of everyone entering the building yesterday in an effort to deter anyone’s acting on the threat.

University Spokesman E.J. Miranda said the investigation of the incident is ongoing.

“There are police officers stationed around Hickman for the

SEE THREAT ON PAGE 6

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

A Rutgers University Police Department officer searches students’ bags yesterday outside of Hickman Hall on Douglass campus after someone left a death threat in a College Avenue campus bathroom.

Initiative to create ‘grad nation’

POLLUTION PILLOW

BY ARIEL NAGI NEWS EDITOR

COURTESY OF ANNE PERCOCO

University alumna and artist Anne Percoco uses recycled plastic bottles to raise awareness of pollution in India. See PAGE 3 for the full story.

The White House estimates that high school dropouts in America earn about $10,000 less than high school graduates.

In an effort to fight America’s high dropout rate and prepare youth for successful careers, President Barack Obama, Gen. Colin Powell, America’s Promise Alliance Chair Alma Powell and U.S. Secretar y of Education Arne Duncan announced Monday the formation of the Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year effort that

aims to mobilize more high school graduates to attend college and reverse the high school dropout rate.

The program’s goal is to make sure 90 percent of today’s youth graduate from high school on time, Powell said in a White House blog.

“The time for talking and planning has ended. Now we must turn our attention to solutions,” he said. “If we achieve this, we will not only be a more healthy and prosperous nation, but we can also help realize President Obama’s goal of making the United States the

global pacesetter of college graduation by 2020.”

The campaign aims to identify states with graduate rates below 60 percent, which Obama said is mostly composed of African-American and Latino students in low-income areas.

The program will invest $900 million of the fiscal year 2011 budget in strategies to get those graduation rates up, transform the schools by bringing in new staff and training teachers to use better techniques in the classroom.

SEE NATION ON PAGE 4

Cadet deploys military lessons to daily life skills

INDEX UNIVERSITY Sigma Phi Delta participates in a mentor program to help high school students in the area build robots.

PERSON OF THE WEEK

BY KRISTINE ROSETTE ENERIO

MULTIMEDIA

UNIVERSITY EDITOR

For School of Engineering sophomore Timothy Farrell, three days of the week kick off at 7:30 a.m. with a 3-mile run and a range intense physical exercises.

These early morning training sessions, although physically taxing, are just one of the many activities Farrell is required to participate in as a Rutgers Army TIMOTHY ROTC cadet.

FARRELL “Waking up early sucks. I’m not going to lie,” Farrell said. “Any other college student can sleep in [until] 9, which is kind of sad to think that’s sleeping in.”

Despite the sacrifice, he has found a number of reasons for sticking with the program.

Because he is a contracted cadet set to join the military upon graduation, his educational fees are paid for.

Should he decide to back out of the contract, he would be required to repay his stipend.

SEE SKILLS ON PAGE 4

ISIAH STEWART

The steps leading to Records Hall on the College Avenue campus remain in a decrepit state. Students are concerned about the many staircases they feel could use repair.

Students urge U. to take steps to improve stairways

BY COLLEEN ROACHE CORRESPONDENT

Yellow is taking the place of the University’s scarlet red at a few sites on campus where strips of caution tape decorate broken steps.

Staircases outside of Brower Commons and Records Hall on the College Avenue campus, as well those at the back of Jameson Hall on Douglass campus — on which large orange cones cover breaks in the steps — are deterio-

rating, and in some cases, closed off to students entirely.

Some students said the University should attend to the crumbling steps, which are not aesthetically pleasing.

Danielle Khoshtinat, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore, transferred to the University from Brookdale Community College to meet broken steps near residence halls on

SEE STEPS ON PAGE 4

RUPD ups security at Hickman Hall after an anonymous death threat.

Visit the multimedia page of the Web site for student reactions.

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MARCH 3, 2010

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CORRECTIONS In yesterday’s front-page story, “Committee to enact clarified integrity policy,” it was incorrectly stated that the proposal would take effect in 2010; the policy would take effect in fall 2011.

T H E D A I LY TA R G U M

MARCH 3, 2010

UNIVERSITY

PA G E 3

Fraternity engineers robotic aid

BY VANDAN UPADHYAYA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One University fraternity is demonstrating the importance of technology education by mentoring local students on the ins and outs of building robots.

Sigma Phi Delta, a fraternity of engineering students, is taking time to help out Piscataway High School students participating in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics competition.

The FIRST robotics competition gives high school students all over the United States an opportunity to exercise their passion in engineering while competing under strict rules, limited resources and time restrictions. All teams participating in the competition are given six weeks for the planning, programming, building and submission of their project.

Donald Bowers, the regional director of FIRST, said the competition is also a learning resource.

“I call FIRST a spark plug for educational reform in technology education,” he said.

Sigma Phi Delta members are participating in the program by visiting Piscataway High School on a weekly basis, from January through March, to mentor students in the competition and help them understand different engineering aspects involved with building robots.

“This is a very good engineering community service,” said Thomas Bruestle, a Sigma Phi Delta member and School of Engineering senior. “We go to the high school, and we get to talk and share our knowledge with them and help out with the projects. [We] basically help them build the robots.”

The fraternity’s involvement with this community outreach began last season. Several fraternity members were part of the competition when they were in high school.

“When I was in high school, FIRST exposed me to engineering and made me really want to enter the career,” said David Maldonado, a Sigma Phi Delta and University alumnus. “I wanted to give back to the community what the community gave to me.”

Charlie Giacomarra, the teacher coaching the Piscataway High School students for the FIRST competition, stressed the importance of mentors to their team.

“The engineering knowledge brought by the adult mentors is just tremendous,” he said. “The biggest assets that we have are the Rutgers engineering students.”

Bruestle, who has been a mentor for two years, said he is glad the members developed tight-knit relationships with the students.

“We really got close to the students. We had professional knowledge and we were able to help,” he said. “While we were adult mentors, we weren’t teachers. We became more like their bigger brother or their bigger sister.”

The FIRST regional competition is scheduled for March 6 and 7 at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton.

COURTESY OF ANNE PERCOCO

A University alumna drifts through the Yamuna River on “Indra’s Cloud,” a raft of recycled plastic bottles. Inspired by her travels to India, Percoco created her cloud to draw attention to the environmental pollution problems both on and in the Indian water.

Alumna showers awareness with cloud creation

BY ARMANDO ALVAREZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On the still waters of the Yamuna River in Vrindavan, India, Anne Percoco performed the traditional act of worship known as Parikrama, or circling, using more than 1,000 plastic water bottles, bound in the shape of a cloud.

The plastic cloud circled Vrindavan in recognition of the disastrous effects pollution can have on the environment.

In the traditional myth, Indra, the god of rain, sends an ominous cloud to attack Krishna while he stays in the city of Vrindavan. In the same way, industrial contaminants and raw sewage litter the banks of the Yamuna. The artinstallation piece, “Indra’s Cloud,” connects the legend to today.

Robyn Beeche works for the nonprofit group Friends of Vrindavan, which helped Percoco put her work together.

“Due to the negligence of the local municipal authority, there is neither any other facility provided nor enforcement for stopping illegal dumping and building work in

the Yamuna riverbed,” she said.

Biology Professor Judith Weis said in terms of actual impact, the trash is less important than the actual chemical pollutants, which you cannot see.

“Chemicals have a real effect on organisms and a potential effect on people who either eat the organisms that live in the water or that drink the water,” she said.

“But in terms of having a piece of artwork, using trash helps bring attention to the issue.”

Beeche said much of the plastic bottle pollution comes from tourists, not locals. In response to the piece, the yoga camp — which the bottles for the cloud came from — has begun using refillable bottles.

Percoco, 27, who graduated in 2008 from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a Master of Fine Arts, worked with the Friends of Vrindavan, but a grant from the Asian Cultural Council funded her project.

The cloud represents a style known as site-specific art.

“The art is relevant to its location,” Percoco said. “If you put it

COURTESY OF ANNE PERCOCO

More than 1,000 plastic bottles make up the art installation piece in a style known as site-specific art.

in a museum, it wouldn’t mean affixed old tires to the side of the same thing.” their homes to prevent the trees School of Arts and Sciences from growing in any further. sophomore Morgan Ivey said she She appreciated this use of wishes more students would take objects for things other than what a more creative outlook on life they were intended to be used for, like Percoco. like tires used as architectural sup“It’s so inspiring to see some- port. She likes to work mostly with body who can turn the rubbish “found” art materials rather than polluting a river into an important things that can be bought in stores. message about the environment,” “Using trash is a very good way she said. “It’s like she’s speaking of bringing attention to the issue, through her art.” because it is the most conspicuous Percoco, a kind of pollution in Wayne, N.J., resiwater: That “The art is relevant the dent, studied this which you can realparticular art form ly see,” Weis said. to its location. at the Sandarbh Percoco’s expeIf you put it in Workshop for Siteriences in India Specific Art. While inspired her to a museum, it the experience start a blog, called was compressed wouldn’t mean the “Repaired Things.” into a short period “Ever ything same thing.” of time, Percoco was easier to repair said it taught her a in India,” she said.

ANNE PERCOCO lot about the “The culture is just University Alumna region of a lot more focused Rajasthan, located on the idea that in Northwest India and the differ- things last longer, as opposed to us ent towns and villages within. throwing things away all the time.

While at the workshop in the I just think that being resourceful small town of Partapur, Percoco is a really creative thing.” met a nomadic family who India was not the first country inspired her to create something where Percoco has spent a signifpractical, yet artistic. She built a icant amount of time traveling reflective dome for their hut out abroad. She spent two years of readily available materials such teaching English in Japan. as tin foil and food wrappers.

As to why she chose India for The project, which she called her first “art travel,” Percoco said “Weather Shield,” was designed to she has always had an interest in be portable and enabled the family the country. to keep the heat out, while at the “I took a class on the regions same time serving as an artistic of India, and I’ve always loved reflection of the world around them, novels set there,” she said. wherever they should choose to be. “Friends of mine who have travThe program appealed to eled there told me I would love it.”

Percoco for a variety of reasons, Percoco was inspired to take but the fact that they spoke the journey while applying for a English was important.

Fulbright Scholarship.

“I was the only one in the “Thinking about that scholargroup who spoke English as their ship really got my creative juices first language, but most people flowing, and I ended up looking into there spoke it,” she said. “To be other possibilities, even though I polite, they might have spoken didn’t get the Fulbright,” she said. more English while I was around.”

Percoco encourages people to Percoco also witnessed other plan trips with motivations simiinvolvements between humans lar to hers and reminds them and nature that helped shape her that there are enough resources perception of the country. and grants available to those “In a downtown shopping area who are interested.

I went to, there was literally a full“If you’re interested in specific grown tree sprouting out of the countries, or different kinds of center of a store,” she said. research or writing, there are these Percoco saw a similar situa- highly specialized groups out there tion happening to homes in down- who can enable you to do whatever town Bangalore where residents you dream of doing,” she said.

4

MARCH 3, 2010

NATION: Obama to use

ating rates,” he said. “I have to point out, in the 21st centur y, schools shouldn’t just $50M for high school programs high make sure students graduate — they should make sure stucontinued from front dents graduate ready for col“In this kind of knowledge lege, ready for a career and economy, giving up on your eduready for life.” cation and dropping out of school Obama said in the 21st centumeans not only giving up on your ry, students cannot afford to even future, but it’s also giving up on just graduate high school, as the your family’s future and giving up job market is becoming more on your countr y’s future,” competitive.

Obama said.

Students should look further He said the campaign might to careers or higher education, even shut down a school for a he said. The program will create short period of time and reopen it more and improve early college under new management. high school programs that allow Students will be sent to another students to earn high school school in the meantime. diplomas and associate’s degrees “So if a school is struggling, or college credits simultaneously. we have to work with the princiThe president’s FY 2011 budgpal and the teachet supports a new ers to find a solu$100 million “Education is not College Pathways tion. We’ve got to give them a Program, accordand cannot be chance to make ing to the report. the task of meaningful “Now, it’s true improvements,” that not long ago, government alone.” you could drop Obama said. “But if a school continout of high BARACK OBAMA ues to fail its stuschool and reaU.S. President dents year after sonably expect to year after year, if it find a blue-collar doesn’t show signs of improvejob that would pay the bills and ment, then there’s got to be a help support your family,” he sense of accountability.” said. “In fact, during this recesOther initiatives include investsion, a high school dropout has ing in accelerated instruction probeen more than three times grams in reading and math to help as likely to be out of work students make up credits to gradas someone with at least a coluate on time, and creating and lege degree.” improving alternative high Obama said since 12 percent schools and transfer schools. of America’s schools produce 50 Other considerations include percent of the nation’s dropout implementing innovative ideas to rates, the campaign will to work make class more interesting and to help states and particular engaging for students. A recent school districts turn around their study indicates that many stu5,000 lowest-performing schools dents drop out because they are in the next five years. uninterested in school and not Transforming the schools motivated to do their work, would require help from not only Obama said. teachers and administrators, but The Obama Administration from the parents and students as will suppor t such strategies well, he said. through $50 million committed “Education is not and cannot to the Graduation Promise be the task of government Fund and through reforms supalone,” Obama said. “It will take ported under the Student Aid parents getting involved in their and Fiscal Responsibility Act, children’s education, consistentwhich has passed the U.S. ly going to parent-teacher conferHouse of Representatives, ences, helping their children according to a report on the with their homework. They’re White House Web site. not let off the hook. Education “That’s how we can curb isn’t a passive activity; it’s an dropout rates and boost graduactive one.”

U NIVERSITY STEPS: Students say U. can take more action to repair continued from front College Avenue. Although she prefers the living environment on the campus, to which she moved from Douglass campus, Khoshtinat said the University should invest in repairs.

“There are things that could be fixed,” she said. “[The campus] could definitely use improvement.

[The University] should definitely use some funding to make things better, because if they want people to go here, it should be more appealing and more inviting of a place and look nicer.”

School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Steven Holloway agreed and said the University should make the necessary renovations using funds taken from other areas that may not be as essential. “[The broken steps are] not that pretty around campus,” he said.

“We can do a lot better job, especially since we have so much money to build a football stadium. We should get our priorities straight.”

For others, the broken steps are more than just a threat to the

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M University’s image — they are a threat to the students themselves.

Emmanuel Gamarra, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences sophomore, said the broken steps are a hazard.

“It makes it kind of hard to get around,” he said. “And it’s not safe.”

School of Arts and Sciences junior Mickey Hennessy expressed frustration with the lack of a timely response to the broken steps.

“It seems like the caution tape at Brower has been up for months,”

he said. “The construction on campus seems to be at its worst now.”

But some students, like School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Sean Strausman feel the state of the stairs is not too big an issue at the University.

“It doesn’t bother me too much,” he said. “It’s not really that bad. I don’t mind it.”

After several attempts to contact the University, officials could not be reached in time for a comment.

— Devin Sikorski contributed to this article

ISIAH STEWART

ISIAH STEWART

Hegeman Hall, above, and the steps leading to Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus are both deteriorating. Some students express concern about the upkeep of these structures.

SKILLS: Training group to participate in military Sandhurst continued from front Farell said he joined the ROTC to help pay for his college education and to follow in his father’s footsteps, who joined the United States Military Academy.

Yet to Farrell, the ROTC program is much more than a way to pay for school. It also teaches skills applicable to life.

The habits he developed as a result of constant subjection to strict procedures influence his schoolwork. “[ROTC] actually keeps me on track. I feel like if I were a regular college student, I wouldn’t be as focused as I am now in ROTC,” he said.

While the program trains cadets for their future potential careers in the military, it also offers extra activities for cadets to partake in.

Farrell is a member of a nineperson team created to compete in April at the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition where they will face other teams from military academies worldwide and seven other ROTC teams in the nation.

“These are world-class teams.

There are teams that have been training for this all year … [they have] a lot of experience,” said Lt. Colonel Ken Patterson.

At the Sandhurst, the team will have four hours to complete a series of 10 challenges set up along a 7.5-mile course in the woods, he said. Challenges range

from rubber raft races to evaluations of simulated casualties designed to test cadets both mentally and physically.

The University’s team has only been training since the start of the semester, but Farrell is excited to compete and views Sandhurst as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“We’re going to try to do as best as we can and try and beat out all the other ROTC programs that are also invited,” he said.

To his classes and leadership labs, Farrell dons his Army Combat Uniform, green camou-

“It’s just a choice that they made to serve their country.”

KEN PATTERSON Lt. Colonel

flage attire commonly seen on ROTC cadets around campus. He said the uniform has put him into many odd conversations with veterans who thought he was already part of the military. “[As a cadet] you’re not really in the army yet,” Farrell said. “You haven’t really been through anything yet it’s kind of hard to talk to people who have actually been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.”

But the opportunity to interact with veterans enabled Farrell to hear actual stories and accounts from people who are in the army.

“I’m going to be in their shoes one day. I’m just not there yet,” he said. “I just don’t have the

experience to talk to them yet.

One day, maybe.”

Like Farrell, Rutgers College senior Jeffrey Chen said many of the values taught by the program were ingrained into his character.

“I learned a lot of leadership qualities,” he said. “[In the program], you don’t just learn about it, but you see it in action.”

Cadets are required once a week to take a 1.5 credit military science class lasting between two to three hours, Patterson said.

Lessons learned in those classes are then put into practice on Fridays during their Leadership Labs out in the Kilmer Woods on Livingston campus.

“We’ll actually go out in the woods and learn how to patrol, how to conduct raids and ambushes, and things of that nature,” Patterson said.

One cadet will act as the leader and will guide the squad members to overtake a certain objective, Farrell said. Squad leaders alternate every week.

“It’s more about leadership than the actual exercise,” he said.

“It’s developing your skills to lead people.”

While Patterson has found many regular University students phenomenal, he believes what distinguishes a cadet like Farrell is the fact that they decide to serve the country in a time of war.

“I don’t believe that being involved in our program makes [cadets] better students or makes them above anybody else,” he said. “It’s just a choice that they made to serve their country.”

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

U NIVERSITY

MARCH 3, 2010

5

Table tennis team rallies toward spring nationals

BY JOE GESSNER

College, Bergen County College, The New Jersey Institute of Technology, New York The University’s table tennis University, Stevens Institute of club advances to next month’s Technology and Stony Brook national tournament after placing University.

Many matches first in coed competition and sec- against these teams were close, ond in women’s singles in So said.

Sunday’s National Collegiate “No matter how much Table Tennis Association’s spring stronger the other teams were, regional tournament. we still managed to pull through,” “We’re definitely very proud said club member Khaled and relieved,” Elfarra, a School club President of Arts and Judy Hugh said.

Sciences junior.

“There was a lot The team faced Elfarra, who of tension in the air, said he was not the initial challenge of starting expecting much just the way the year without a from the club this [the tournament] year, is ecstatic it few of its experienced team memwill compete was set up.” bers. But it continnationally. ues to be victori“Nationals are JUDY HUGH ous, Vice going to be big,” Club president P r e s i d e n t he said. “There Kenneth So said. will be lots of com“I’m extremely proud of our petitive players there, but we can team, especially considering we only hope for the best and give it lost three of our starters for coed our best.” and two starters for women’s to School of Arts and Sciences graduation,” he said. junior Ben Huang is also optiThe club was not ranked mistic about how far the club’s among the top teams going into prospects go in the nationals. the regional tournament and “Nationals are totally different entered as underdogs. from regionals,” he said. “The The environment did not help strength of the teams just skyeither, said Hugh, a School of rockets but that excites me.”

Arts and Sciences junior.

Huang said he thinks the “There was a lot of tension in team is improving after every the air, just the way [the tourna- game they play. The pressure ment] was set up,” she said. “It they have faced so far is helping was a bigger tournament this them get better. year than in the past.”

“Near the end, there was so Despite these obstacles, the much pressure because only the club overcame the odds and top two schools go to nationals,” defeated top teams from Baruch he said. “But we made it.”

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NICHOLAS BRASOWSKI

The table tennis club entered Sunday’s regional competition as underdogs but came out on top.

The club prepares for next month’s national spring tournament, hoping for repeat success.

He said the competition at the nationals would be much tougher.

“Our position isn’t stable at all. It’s extremely hard-fought,” he said.

Hugh said regardless of what happens at nationals, she is happy the club has come this far.

“Even just getting to the nationals is a big accomplishment,” she said.

The goal for the team is to go fur ther than it ever has, Hugh said. Sixth place is the highest rank it has ever attained in the competition.

So said members of the club perform best when their backs are up against the wall.

“We came back in so many games,” he said. “We really wanted to maintain our champi-

onship status. I feel really proud of our team.”

The club will have until late April to practice and prepare for the competition. In the meantime, the players will rally around their captain and president with their eyes on a national championship.

“With Judy being on our team we have the ability to accomplish big things,” Elfarra said.

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MARCH 3, 2010

THREAT:

University says required precautions are taken continued from front safety and security of the [University] community,” he said.

Although only a few students saw the Rutgers Student Center bathroom threat, an anonymous student received an e-mail Monday about the threat from a worried friend. The friend then posted the e-mail on ISawYouRutgers.com, allowing many students to read about the death threat.

This caused a dilemma for Jing You, the co-creator of ISawYouRutgers.com.

“At first, I didn’t know whether to leave the message up or not,” said You, a School of Arts and Sciences senior.

“However, the girl who wrote the message seemed genuinely concerned for the safety of the students.”

The social networking Web site has been a hot topic among students recently. You said although she does not want the site to become a tool for students to post hoaxes, the site helped console many students.

“The girl just wanted to hear something from the University to calm her nerves about the situation,” she said. “I’m glad many people responded to her posting and hopefully provided comfort for her.”

This is not the first situation in which ISawYouRutgers.com has provided comfort for another student who is either worried or having other problems.

You said a depressed student asked for help from anyone over ISawYouRutgers.com.

The response was overwhelming.

“She received many messages telling her about how great life is, and one student even took her out to dinner,” she said. “The Web site is providing the students with an outlet for their problems.”

School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Abdush Ahmad thought the Web site was critical in notifying the students.

“The Internet, in general, is a good tool for getting the word out quickly,” he said. “If it’s used the right way, it can be extremely helpful.”

Although ISawYouRutgers.com helped spread the news about the message, the University made sure students know a death threat is a serious offense and should not be taken lightly.

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

U. Council prepares for Rutgers Day

BY JEFF PRENTKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Livingston Campus Council

SKYLA POJEDNIC

An anonymous student says the death threat was posted in the women’s bathroom at the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus.

In a campus-wide e-mail from Jay Kohl, vice president for Administration and Public Safety, students were assured that the necessar y precautions were being taken.

“We will do all we can to find the person or persons responsible for the [death threat],” Kohl

said in the e-mail. “Posting threatening messages is a criminal act and those responsible will be prosecuted.”

If anyone has any information regarding the death threat, please contact University Detective Sean Skala at (732)-932-8025.

With Springfest and Rutgers Day approaching, the Livingston Campus Council worked Monday night to continue planning the upcoming events and to ensure that everything will run smoothly.

During Rutgers Day, scheduled for April 24 on all campuses, representatives from the council will conduct a guided tour of the new Livingston Student Center, giving the public a glimpse of student life at Rutgers and on Livingston, said Josh David, a member of the Rutgers Day committee.

“I think our Rutgers Day program is going to allow the public to see Livingston in a really positive light,” David said.

Members of the council have created new committees made up of two to four people to work on Springfest, Rutgers Day and other initiatives around the University, said Winnie DeMoya, council president.

“The [council] has decided to do something a little bit different this semester,” said DeMoya, a Rutgers College senior. “Usually, campus councils have committees.

We decided to suspend the use of those committees for this semester and create ad hoc committees for all of our different initiatives.”

Smaller committees can focus on one issue during the week and be really productive, and then come to the general body meeting and explain where they are at, DeMoya said.

David, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore, has been working on renting a helium tank for balloons, creating a budget to buy galaxy pens and carabineers, and writing a script for the guided tour. He will soon attend a workshop for Rutgers Day event planners.

Rutgers Day will also feature such perennial favorites as the New Jersey Folk Festival, Zimmerli Family Day, the Scarlet-White football game, and Big East softball and lacrosse games, according to the program’s Web site.

Springfest is scheduled for April 17 and will be a gathering for residents of Livingston campus, featuring a disc jockey, free food and activities similar to a carnival, David said.

The council also discussed setting up a table at Solar Day, an event sponsored by the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group Student Chapters to inform the student body about solar energy and the Livingston campus solar farm. The event will take place Thursday in Tillett Hall on the campus.

The council also passed a bill to allocate $600 to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning People of Color Union’s upcoming event “How to Have a Gender-Free Orgasm,” scheduled for March 23 in the Asian American Cultural Center on Livingston campus.

“We want to talk about how to have a sexual experience without having to identify gender roles,” said Ian Campbell, political chair of LLEGO.

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

CALENDAR MARCH

3

How do YOU fondue? Find out at 7:30 p.m. at The Cove in the Busch Campus Center. Test your taste buds this season with Fresh Frites and their wide array sauces and dips. Learn some of the dos and don’ts of fondue in this educational program. Dip your favorite treat in chocolate, cheese or even caramel sauces. Supplies limited.

The Zimmerli Student Advisory Board and The Center for Middle Eastern Studies are hosting Dance Within The Art. This event begins at 7 p.m. and will allow the public to experience how dance responds directly to art in the museum. Meagan Woods & Company will become part of the art through movement and sound. Preceding her performance, there will be a Whirling Dervish with a spectacular continuous meditation spinning performance.

Admission is free to students, staff and faculty and $3 for general public. Refreshments will be provided.

Want hands-on experience in journalism? Check out The Daily Targum’s weekly writers’ meeting. Held in the fourth-floor lounge of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., students can meet with editors to receive assignments and feedback, learn how to write newspaper articles and discover the ins and outs of the Targum’s production process. Contact the University editor at university@dailytargum.com for more information.

4

Rutgers CARE is having its first Swimsuit/Spring Apparel Fashion Show. It will be in the Multipurpose Room in the Busch Campus Center from 7 to 9 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Ticket pricing is $5 for students (must have RUID on hand as proof) and $7 for all non-University attendees. All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti.

The Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministry and Wesley Fellowship is holding a women’s bible study focusing on where biblical women got their faith and strength. The study will start at 5 p.m. at Canterbury House on 5 Mine St. For more information call (908)-240-1219.

5

All interested photographers are welcome to attend The Daily Targum photographers’ meeting in Room 403 of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus.

The meeting will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. We will be holding a weekly photographers’ meeting to discuss important housekeeping business, assign events and facilitate several workshopping activities. Pizza will be served.

10

Expand your horizons! Take a trip to the East with this celebration of Asian cultures and traditions at 7:30 p.m. in the Livingston Student Center. Spend your evening with exciting performances and cuisine from the University’s own student groups and local vendors representing Japan, China, the Philippines, India and other Asian countries.

Supplies limited.

13 23

School is out until March 21 for spring break! Enjoy the vacation!

28

The exhibit, “Perspectives Through the Lens: Soviet Art Photography in the 1970s-80s,” ends today in the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum on the College Avenue campus. This collection presents a selection of more than 60 photographs from the Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of Soviet Nonconformist Art by Francisco Infante, Vladimir Kupriyanov, Boris Mikhailov and Aleksandr Slyusarev, four major Soviet artists working with photography in 1970s and 1980s.

Students considering living in off-campus housing can learn their rights as a tenant at “Tenants’ Rights in New Jersey,” scheduled to be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 410 of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus. A guest speaker from the Housing Coalition of Central NJ will discuss topics regarding tenants, landlords, leases, security deposits and other issues regarding living off-campus.

Visit ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu for more information.

To have your event featured on www.dailytargum.com, send University calendar items to university@dailytargum.com.

MARCH 3, 2010

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MARCH 3, 2010

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Christie office reveals new cabinet nominees THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TRENTON, N.J. — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday released Gov. Christie’s Cabinet picks for education and transportation commissioners, but not without some reservations about how former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler would run the state’s schools.

The committee unanimously released Schundler’s nomination as education chief, moving it toward a full Senate vote. But it did so without recommendation — an unusual move that has no practical effect other than for senators to express less-than-full confidence.

“I’m not convinced your visions will provide the best public education in New Jersey,” said Sen. John Girgenti, D-Hawthorne, the committee vice chairman.

Like Christie, Schundler believes in giving parents options on where they can send their children to school. He supports expansion of charter schools, merit pay for teachers and school vouchers, which allow parents in failing schools to send their children elsewhere.

In choosing Schundler, the Republican governor sent a strong signal to the state’s powerful teachers union that he intends to carry out education reforms that they oppose, including school vouchers.

“Your position on school vouchers concerns me,” Girgenti said. “It seems to me you have a nomadic approach.”

As Jersey City mayor, Schundler opened one of the state’s largest charter schools. “I was ahead of my time,” Schundler said in defending his record. “The things I was proposing have become pretty darn mainstream, and I’m proud of that.”

Most recently, Schundler was the chief operating officer of The King’s College, a Christian liberal arts college in New York City.

During his two days of testimony, Schundler acknowledged his

strong religious beliefs but said he wouldn’t force those views on public school children.

Committee Chairman Nicholas Scutari, D-Linden, who grilled Schundler on his views about sex education and prayer in school, also expressed reservations about allowing the nomination move forward.

“My idea of who I wanted to see as commissioner of education was not your particular background,” Scutari said.

The committee unanimously approved James Simpson to run the Department of Transportation.

Simpson, who headed the Federal Transit Administration under President George W. Bush, has endured a trial by ice since being named acting transportation commissioner, overseeing cleanup from three major snow storms in February.

Faced with a Transportation Trust Fund that will run out of money for new projects in less than 18 months, Simpson told lawmakers that he does not support increasing the gasoline tax. With increasingly fuel-efficient cars on the road, he said, it would have limited and unpredictable value.

Surprisingly, Simpson was not asked about his praise of former Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s wildly unpopular plan to raise turnpike and parkway tolls 800 percent to pay for highway improvements and pay down state debt.

He did make it clear that efficient toll collection was a priority and promised to renew efforts to crack down on toll evaders.

Both nominations now go to the full Senate.

So far, five Cabinet nominations have been confirmed by the Senate. They include Christie’s selections for treasurer, attorney general, and heads of the New Jersey National Guard, Civil Service Commission and Board of Public Utilities.

Cabinet members are paid $141,000 annually.

NEW JERSEY TRANSIT TO CUT HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES NEWARK, N.J. — An emergency spending freeze and the layoffs of more than 200 workers are needed to help plug a major budget gap that also is likely to result in fare hikes and service cutbacks for the commuting public, New Jersey Transit officials said yesterday.

NJT said it would reduce its work force by about 2 percent, trim executive salaries by 5 percent and reduce corporate contributions to employees’ 401K plans by one-third.

Officials say the cuts represent the deepest one-year staff reduction in the agency’s 30-year history.

“These are extremely painful steps, but unavoidable ones,” NJT Executive Director James Weinstein said in a statement. “We must close our serious budget shortfall, and we at NJ Transit must do our part by making this the leanest, most efficient agency possible, without compromising safety.”

A message left for the New Jersey local of the United Transportation Union was not immediately returned. The staff cuts will include both union and nonunion jobs, NJ Transit said.

The agency said the cuts will help whittle down a combined $300 million budget deficit projected through 2011 by about $30 million.

NJ Transit said it will also look to reduce costs for parts, fuel and utilities and to renegotiate contracts for some services.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has frozen portions of NJ Transit’s subsidies and called on the agency to improve its operating efficiency.

The riding public will be asked to bear some of the cost.

Weinstein said NJ Transit officials would announce proposals for fare and service changes next week.

“Unfortunately, fare and service changes will have to be a part of NJ Transit’s overall response to this financial crisis,” Weinstein said.

The agency last raised fares in 2007 by about 9 percent.

— The Associated Press

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

POPPIN’ PROMOTION

NICHOLAS BRASOWSKI

The Northeast Kettle Korn company promotes summer session classes along with handing out free bags of their brand name popcorn to students yesterday at the Douglass Campus Center.

MARCH 3, 2010

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T H E D A I LY TA R G U M

OPINIONS

PA G E 1 0

MARCH 3, 2010

EDITORIALS

Councils over assembly

W

ith the recent plans for a new Rutgers University Student Assembly constitution, questions arise in regard to effectiveness and collaboration by the smaller parts of government. The new constitution consolidates all of the University’s campus councils into one body of power, something that could end up damaging a student’s voice rather than aiding in creating a more unified response to University actions. The truth is that this consolidation might end up hurting the effectiveness of the individual campus councils’ actions.

As of now, RUSA, as a student body government, does very little to aid the individual issues of the campuses. How would a unification of campus councils serve to benefit the actions of the student government? Busch Campus Council would not argue for the case of Douglass Campus Council, for example, therefore issues should remain separate. These campus issues would be better addressed by their individual councils and another step or barrier to decision-making, such as a consolidation in RUSA, would only damage student government effectiveness.

Campus councils can individually hold events and meetings that address student needs, according to location. All of these meetings and events simply encourage students to actively participate in decision-making. A decreased number of meetings would only limit the democratic aspect of our student government. In addition, RUSA’s plans would combine the opinion of all councils — something that will prove not to be too easy. This consolidation of ideas would also provide the University population with only one option, rather than isolated, better-informed ideas from campus councils. We as students do not care about only one point that RUSA has to make — we prefer to hear from the individual councils, the ones that stage meetings to inform and ask the student populations of current events. Most importantly, campus councils, if unaffected by a bound-to-conflict RUSA, remain the most personal ways that a student could make a difference in his or her college experience.

After all, it has never been RUSA’s responsibility or aim to change campus policies, so why should we trust them to address something that they have never dealt with before. As students, we want to hear the debate itself, and although RUSA welcomes all to their meetings, campus councils would and do serve us better in that aspect. RUSA’s every-other-Thursday meetings are simply not enough and a consolidation of power would do nothing more than rarify council meetings — something that further disconnects the student population from the body that makes student decisions.

Aid necessary in Chile

T

he news coverage of the earthquake in Chile has not been nearly as big as the one in Haiti; yet, the United States has once again been summoned for help. Once again, we have been called upon by a nation in need for our previous acts of humanity in cases of disaster. And despite our financial situation, we must once again stand up and come to the aid of those in need.

According to Chile’s government, as of Tuesday, there are 763 casualties as a result of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake. While the number of deaths might not be nearly as high as the one of Haiti’s disaster, aid must still reach the Western South American nation. If foreign forces deny Chile the dedication that went into Haiti, they would only be denying the value of human life and would seemingly take a simple number as the main decision-maker.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton landed in Santiago Tuesday morning as she promised U.S. aid to one of the richer nations of South America. Perhaps only at the opening stages of foreign aid talks, this still is a major step toward acting in favor of our image and the people of Chile. The outgoing Chilean President Michelle Bachelet gave the rough figure of $30 billion worth of damage. An estimated 500,000 homes have been destroyed and further discoveries may follow. And the fact that in less than 10 days a new president will step into office would only serve to further destabilize the nation.

Bachelet says that Chile has the ability to overcome this natural disaster, but even a fraction of the U.S. aid went into this catastrophe would greatly improve Chile and our relationship with South American states.

While there is a great discrepancy between higher and lower classes in the nation, under great scrutiny, we should help as we have others time and time again. The case is simply that a failure to exude any sort of sympathy, fiscal or material based, would make the United States seem to focus on numbers rather than human life.

This responsibility does not only fall on our shoulders as nations such as Canada and the United Kingdom, both of whom have or will spend millions of dollars of their Olympic Games’ preparations, could also take it upon themselves to help. To argue the case that many others are in need of help would only be denying aid to all of the countries in need. International help is needed and even a country such as Chile, one in relatively good financial standing, must be supported in times of natural disaster.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “There will be lots of competitive players there, but we can only hope for the best and give it our best.”

Khaled Elfarra, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, on the table tennis nationals STORY IN UNIVERSITY

MCT CAMPUS

Grievances of a college student

F

between six to 11 people rankly, I’m fed up. I without apologizing. know my 5-foot-2 At this point, I have broframe doesn’t ken into a cold sweat and exactly qualify as ear thby the time I realize my shatteringly intimidating, legs are numb, I can bareso I instead administer my ly breathe past the quart of grievances on this yelphlegm that’s nesting at lowed piece of collegeLAUREN CARUSO the back of my throat. The ruled paper, hanging by a thing keeping me from reinforcement as evidence screaming is the impending hour of peace and of last semester’s fur y. That’s right — I am on the quiet I enjoy on the ride home. After settling into train, so frustrated that I am channeling 1996 by my own two-seater — the train is nearly empty, scribbling all this nonsense down with old-fashunlike the 5:54 p.m. train I have to pile into with ioned pen and paper. the rest of New York — I pop my earphones in I have always been the kind of girl that apoloand notice the 20-something-year-old blonde gizes to a stranger when they rudely bump me. I across from me. Within seconds, I’m annoyed by always resorted to rationalizing that my hips were her pink briefcase and matching bejeweled cell probably in the way, but not anymore, at least not phone that I catch a glimpse of before she drops during the three days I wake up at the crack of it back into her coat pocket — something I may dawn to make the treacherous commute into the have offered a sincere compliment on months Big Apple. prior to my commuting days.

Once I step off the New Brunswick station After consciously reaffirming my long-standplatform, I become jaded and age 25 years, suding aversion to blondes, which I denly harboring inexcusable ferocswear, is not completely unfoundity toward anybody that takes more “The thing keeping ed, I reach past the 3-inch thick than their allotted time to find a of paper work I swimmingly seat on the train. Is it impossible to me from screaming bundle volunteered to tackle during my comprehend the conductor’s bir thday weekend and find my instructions? “Walk back for seats, is the impending book. I get so far as the third line we will not move if you continue to hour of peace and before I’m interrupted by Sean stand in the vestibules, you idiots.”

Kingston’s “Replay” ringtone blarI added that last part, but it’s obviquiet I enjoy on ing out of the blonde’s pocket. ous that the conductor is choking the ride home.”

Even with my earphones in place, I back a few choice four-letter can hear each of Sean’s words words. I direct that same rage to rapped in all their idiocy. With no anybody that tries to talk to me. Do evidence of attempted hustle, she answers the I look like I want to engage in idle chitchat? Don’t call, silencing the song I never thought I’d feel you know I’m on my way to New York? I’m filling nostalgic for. out The New York Times’ crossword puzzle and Her voice shrieks like the audible and intanthat should scream “unapproachable.” gible equivalent to non-tragic road kill — you Let me give you the play-by-play here: I’m on know, the kind you can’t possibly feel empathetmy way home from work on a Monday — a day ic toward, the kind that makes you think the that I would ordinarily have off, so I’ve just spent squirrel that dared to cross Interstate 95 at midthe last 20 minutes in a mad dash — down the night deser ved to eat rubber. As the inevitable stairs of my building on West 59th St., down two icing, she’s absurdly loud, enough to warrant sets of stairs to catch a downtown A-train and up more than a few dir ty looks from the handful of the stairs to New York Penn Station’s main floor passengers in our car. Four minutes pass and I just in time to see the word “ALLABOARD” illurealize I’ve read the same line 16 times but can minated next to the 7:31 p.m. train (yes – this train only recall the contents of the blonde’s converboards two hours after my usual weekday deparsation, which is now on speakerphone — one of ture). I ignore the word, which peers down at me the seven deadly sins of a public space. Her new with a familiar mocking grin, and race to the West gate, down the broken escalator, onto the train SEE CARUSO ON PAGE 11 and estimate that I have now run into anywhere

Ordinary Madness

Due to space limitations, submissions cannot exceed 750 words. If a commentary exceeds 750 words, it will not be considered for publication. 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 e-mail to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication.

The editorials written above represent the majority opinion of The Daily Targum Editorial Board. All other opinions expressed on the Opinions page, and those held by advertisers, columnists and cartoonists, are not necessarily those of The Daily Targum.

OPINIONS

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

MARCH 3, 2010 11

Tea Party’s idea of government wrong Letter AJAY KUMAR

T

here is an enormous lie told in America. It is told with great regularity by all types of people on the right.

Conservatives, Republicans and Libertarians all love to tell the lie of small government: That the ideal government is one that takes care of only law and order and defense, and leaves everything else to the states. Many Americans have fallen for this lie, even many here in New Jersey as we saw with the election of Gov. Chris Christie. We see this lie repeated by members of the Tea Party on Fox News and even here at the University in The Daily Targum.

First, let us note the hypocrisy of some of these people who call for small government and a balanced budget while at the same time are studying in a public university.

One must question why they are here at the University — why are they using these programs when they go against

ever ything they stand for?

Shouldn’t they be in one of those private universities that are so much better? Could it be perhaps that public universities are more affordable and accessible than private universities and that’s why they’re here?

Ask them that the next time you see a University Tea Party member, I’d like to know the answer.

The Tea Par ty remains blind to the simple fact that government was created and exists for a reason: It exists because individual actors in the “free market” are not able to provide for the common needs of society on their own.

That includes not just security but roads, electricity, piped water and common welfare. No private charity will ever be able to feed all the homeless, no private charity will ever be able to provide health care for those too poor to af ford it.

Ironically, what the Tea Par ty claims they want to prevent — the domination of big business and special interests — is exactly what will happen if the

False religious suppression at U. Letter DAVE IMBRIACO

M

ohandas Gandhi once said something that doesn’t get revisited enough is the place of religion in our public sphere. When asked for his views on Christianity, he replied “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.”

I have noticed some disturbing fliers around campus lately. They claim, “Christian students at … public universities are being denied their right to openly express what they believe.” It is then followed up with another dubious statement: “The Constitution has something to say about this.” Yes, it does, just not exactly what they had in mind.

The First Amendment of the Constitution is “Congress shall pass no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Two freedoms are being enunciated here: freedom of and freedom from religion. The framers recognized the value of religion in building the initial moral foundation of the United States, but at the same time, did not seek to create a theocracy, no matter how much some on the right would want us to believe so.

The leaders of the Speak Up Movement claim that Christians are being “indoctrinated” in public universities. What the leaders of this movement call “indoctrination,” I call a free-flowing exchange of ideas where people that are better at describing one’s world take precedence over those that are not. What they are calling a “censorship,” I call our rejection of a system of describing the universe that no longer explains what it claims to explain. In other words, it’s not that we’re actively censoring Christian perspectives on campus. Rather, we’ve decided that these perspectives are outdated, irrelevant or just plain silly in this modern age. This is the same reason Creationists get laughed out of our biology classrooms and flatearthers out of geology classes. We simply have better answers than what religion can provide.

In response, Speak Up Movement repeats the right wing mantra that universities are filled with leftist professors, laying in wait to indoctrinate poor helpless Christian students. If this line of reasoning weren’t as serious as it is ridiculous, I would just ignore it (the issue of why most collegelevel faculty tend to be liberal is another topic for another day). If you don’t like what you’re being taught at one school, you are free to go to another one. Isn’t that the free market working in education?

I cannot also help but notice the incredibly painful irony in the claim that Christian students are somehow being “oppressed” in any way. The Speak Up Movement Web site makes a ludicrous claim that Christian students are somehow being treated as second-class citizens. Anyone who has truly suffered systemic discrimination for whatever reason should take offense to this. Just because Christians do not make up the overwhelming majority of the population at a state school does not make them an “oppressed” community. I think the leaders of this movement are confusing minority status with tyranny, much like Congressional rightists have been since the last election.

In addition, we are currently attending and living at a public university. The law states that institutions that receive government funding must not participate in any kind of religious indoctrination or create an environment that favors one religious group over another.

George Carlin once said “Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.”

I would never, ever deny anyone’s right to practice the faith of their choosing and then choosing to lead their life in that way. But, as soon as you start telling me how supposedly good your god is, you’ve infringed on my freedom to not practice your faith. I don’t want to know if I’m going to heaven, I’ll find out when I get there.

Dave Imbriaco is a Rutgers College senior majoring in history with a minor in religion.

gover nment removes itself from the economic sphere.

They are ver y concer ned about individual freedom and liber ty and protecting the individual from political tyranny.

Yet they fail to acknowledge the tyrannical nature of private corporations. Are the monopo-

“In the end, humans make the laws and they can change them.” lies and oligopolies that will inevitably form and come to dominate the market not tyrannical? They strip individuals of their choices just as easily as and far more readily than the government could. What the Tea Par ty wants is nothing more than a return to the era of the Robber Barons.

Those that subscribe to the Tea Par ty platform reveal a

CARUSO continued from page 10 nail polish, or “neeeel vahnish” as she so shrewdly called it, is “faaaaabulous!” Seriously?

Nobody should exer t that much energy over nail color and this coming from a polish enthusiast. I shoot a few snarls her way, much to no avail, and then proceed to stare.

I turn away in defeat (she’s still spewing squeals, no matter my reaction) and adjust my attention toward the conversa-

purposeful callousness toward their fellow humans. An eleven-year-old girl should not go hungr y in school because the subsidized school lunch program has been cancelled.

As South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer said, “Don’t feed the poor it makes them breed.” It’s wor th noting at this point that Bauer himself was a beneficiar y of the subsidized school lunch program.

Someone with cancer should not go bankrupt because they are burdened with millions of dollars of debt from being forced to pay for their treatment because the insurance companies wouldn’t cover it.

Ever y time the business cycle fluctuates, workers find themselves unemployed with no recourse while corporate CEO’s give themselves hundreds of millions of dollars wor th of bonuses and golden parachutes. If you believe any of this is OK, then by all means vote for the Republican Par ty, join the Tea Par ty rallies and write-in Congressman Ron Paul. You will get what you

deser ve — nothing more than a Hobbesian state “solitar y, poor, nasty, brutish and shor t.”

I, for one, do not want to live in such a state. As the Tea Party so aptly points out, the government is the sum of the individuals. When the government fails to provide security, not just physical but also economical, then government has fundamentally failed in its duties.

How many of our citizens should we sacrifice on the altar of the free market before it is enough? President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sums it up best, “But while they prate of economic laws, men and women are star ving. We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings.”

I would hope that they change the laws so they are just a little more kind and just a little more fair.

tion of two young girls whose voices strengthen by the second as to engage in a hostile competition with the blonde. I force a reciprocated smile their way, demonstrating our collective aggravation with the blonde’s cell phone conversation, which has been switching from English to what sounds like a Pig Latin.

Somehow, I’m not unnervingly bothered by voice-pollution flooding out of these girls’ mouths, perhaps because I can see both participants in the flesh, leaving me remotely tolerant of their conversation border-

ing on loud. I do not doubt their sanity. But the moment that second person’s voice is absent, muffled by a telephone receiver as with the blonde, I need to shut it down — STAT. Once I step off the New Brunswick station platform, I question ever ybody’s sanity, supplementing that doubt with grimacing sneers.

I can’t help but think my mother didn’t raise me this way.

Ajay Kumar is a School of Ar ts and Sciences sophomore and a member of the Rutgers Democrats majoring in political science and history.

Lauren Caruso is a Cook College senior majoring in journalism and media studies with a minor in environmental policy, institute and behavior.

T H E D A I LY TA R G U M

DIVERSIONS

PA G E 1 2

Horoscopes / LINDA C. BLACK

Pearls Before Swine

MARCH 3, 2010

STEPHAN PASTIS

Today's birthday (3/3/10). Your willingness to listen to others develops in two ways this year. Your partner(s) have plenty to say about responsibility and work. Your internal source speaks clearly about how you can remain independent AND satisfy your associates' demands. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Consider a partner's demands early in the day.

This frees up time to work on independent projects that tickle your imagination. Exchange ideas in a group setting.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Today, all group members come together to discuss the rationale for a project. An older person presents irrefutable logic.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 6 — Logic is your strongest tool today. Associates have imaginative ideas that take work in an independent direction. Your job is to bring everything down to earth.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 5 — While spending time away from home with associates, you refocus thinking on a household project.

Perhaps you run across some unique home accessories.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — A partner or associate offers clever insight into a problem that has resisted solution.

This transforms a great difficulty into a happy conclusion.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Just about everyone tells you how much they appreciate your efforts now. These compliments spur

your creative ideas.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Your general health benefits from creative interaction with your favorite person. This could involve recreational sports or artistic pursuits.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Your imagination has worked overtime, providing you with the concepts you need to create a practical, logical scheme. Incorporate a healing element. Add good medicine.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Don't allow others to dismiss your creative ideas. Restate your position if necessary. Make sure everyone gets your point.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 6 — Logic suggests that you bend under pressure.

The best way to accomplish that is to demonstrate generosity (except on key points).

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Take time today for rest and healing. You've been pushing hard enough, and now can relax (easier to say than accomplish, maybe).

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — The focus shifts to other people. You need their resources. Find creative ways to show why they want to help you. It's a win-win.

Dilbert

Doonesberry

Happy Hour

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

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MARCH 3, 2010

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

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S P O RT S

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Head women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer motivated her team by rejecting any notions that it would play in the WNIT.

FIRE: Impressive showing

heads after so many games,” Stringer said. “It could have, not needed at Championships should have. If we had only made a free throw, if we had only blocked out, if we had only execontinued from back cuted a little better — I really feel that we can play with 98 percent Probably not. Actually, defiof the teams we play. It could be a nitely not, with one of the best different story.” teams in the histor y of the It’s tough to judge whether sport playing on the other side the team is finally on its stride of the bracket. after just two wins. It looked Is it enough momentum to like RU was back after three make a serious push and cement a straight wins and a near upset berth in the NCAA Tournament? of WVU earlier in Signs point the year, to yes. but Syracuse The Knights “With her threat to shattered all of have a first round decline a WNIT bid, that the next bye and what with a 31should be an easy [C. Vivian Stringer] game point fiasco. win in the second But if RU ... has a few team round — facing is back, credit either South Florida or motivation tricks up Stringer, who yet again pulled of f Cincinnati, both of her sleeve.” an unconventionwhich lost to RU al maneuver to earlier in the year motivate her without much of team and credit Ray, who cona fight. tinued to play hard through Then RU would get No. extremely demanding stretches 12 Georgetown. The Hoyas are of her senior year. intimidating, playing “That is what coach Stringer Connecticut closer than almost is used to — getting to the any other team, but they only NCAA’s,” said Ray on the beat the Knights by nine team’s motivation to qualify for points. And that win came at the Tournament. “She wouldn’t home during the worst stretch want anything less. We continof the season for the Knights. ue to play hard and just Georgetown is a very winnable continue to do what we need to game for RU and is a potential do as a team. I think that it will semifinal clash with West work out and pay off for all Virginia, which squeaked by the of us.”

Knights in Morgantown.

Taking away the locker The Knights do not have the rooms and the practice jerseys luxury of looking ahead to the might not get the same effect NCAA Tournament this year, but a that they did in years past for mediocre performance may get Stringer, but with her threat to them there anyway. RU might still decline a WNIT bid, she certainsteal an invitation with a first ly has a few team motivation round loss, but as long as the team tricks up her sleeve. is still in Hartford, Conn., Sunday night, its bid should be safe.

Sam Hellman accepts com“It was good for us to be not as ments and criticism at sthellstrained as we were [Monday], man@gmail.com but we have been dropping our

MARCH 3, 2010

15

16 MARCH 3, 2010

S P O RT S

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

DAN BRACAGLIA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Alyssa Lewandowski averages a 9.558 on the floor exercise, good for the third best average on the team. maintains her trademark smile.

Lewandowski excels The more tense the situation, the more she seems to enjoy in vault and floor exercise the moment.

“I’m always a little worried continued from back doing high level skills, but I always have fun out there,” Lewandowski said. “It really takes shine in 2009. In her junior seaaway from the nervousness. “ son, Lewandowski became eliLewandowski’s attitude gible to compete at the EAGL serves her well in a sport that is Championships and recorded a both mentally intense and brutal 9.750 on vault. on the body. In spite of injuries This season, Lewandowski and stressful situations, continued to grow, averaging Lewandowski simply recognizes impressive scores in two her love for the sport. events.

As a vaulter, “For a gymnast you need to Lewandowski maintained a have passion,” Lewandowski 9.611 average, one of the highsaid. “I love it all even though est on the team. However, it is it’s hard on the body.” her work as part of the floor After graduation, exercise team that ser ves as Lewandowski hopes to continher trademark. ue her life in gymnastics. After “She is a consistent strong paying of f student loans, performer on both floor and Lewandowski wants to open a vault,” head coach Chr ystal gym, potentially creating a genChollet-Nor ton said. “She eration of passionate gymnasts struggled in the past but she with broad smiles. is really starting to come into “I want to eventually open her own.” up my own gymnastics school Even in instances when a and stay doing what I love,” success is reliant on the floor Lewandowski said. exercise, Lewandowski still

GYM:

DAN BRACAGLIA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Alyssa Lewandowski averages a 9.611 on the vault, the second best average on the team. Her high last weekend was a 9.800.

S P O RT S

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

MARCH 3, 2010

17

T

he Big East Weekly Honor Roll honored two members of the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team Monday, making it two weeks in a row a member of the team received the award. Freshman goalie Rudy Butler allowed six goals in his second career start while stuffing an impressive nine shots last Sunday against highpowered No. 19 Mar yland Baltimore- County. Senior midfielder Justin Pennington scored twice in RU’s 6-5 loss to UMBC, while nearly tying the game as time expired with a laser shot pulled just high of the goal.

RUTGERS

MEN’S BASEBALL

junior outfielder Pat Biserta earned Big East/Big Ten Baseball Challenge AllTournament Team honors following an impressive performance this past weekend for the Scarlet Knights.

The Point Pleasant, N.J., native hit .357 in three tournament games giving him one of seven honorable mention spots.

FORMER

RUTGERS

football standout Brian Leonard, now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, hosted the Brian Leonard’s Rally at the Alley yesterday at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

Wells Fargo sponsored the event with all proceeds benefiting the Embrace Kids Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that serves children diagnosed with cancer and rare blood disorders.

AFTER

DROPPING

16

points in the Rutgers women’s basketball team’s road win at Providence, The Big East Conference named sophomore guard Khadijah Rushdan to the Weekly Honor Roll for the second time this season.

Her performance Saturday made it seven games this season that the sophomore converted double figures in Big East play.

THE

NATIONAL

Basketball Association confirmed Tuesday that Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James filled out paperwork to change his jersey number from No. 23 to No. 6.

James grew up idolizing Michael Jordan and claims he will switch to his Olympic jersey number out of respect for his hero.

THE

PHILADELPHIA

76ers have endured a disappointing 22-37 record this year and from this point forward will finish out the year without the help of longtime Sixer Allen Iverson.

The team announced Tuesday that Iverson would not return to the team this season, following a leave of absence granted by the team Feb. 22 enabling him to tend to his ill 4year-old daughter.

The four-time league MVP played in 28 games this season and averaged a significantly low personal mark of 13.8 points per game.

DAN BRACAGLIA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Syracuse senior guard Andy Rautins, left, scored 12 points and dished out eight assists in a 95-77 victory over No. 8 Villanova. ’Nova’s senior guard Scottie Reynolds, right, scored 16 points in the battle of the Big East’s top teams.

Bubble gets thinner as Orange takes top

BY SAM HELLMAN CORRESPONDENT

Playing in front of more than 34,000 fans in the Carrier Dome against BASKETBALL the top team in the Big East, the MID-WEEK REPORT No. 8 Villanova Wildcats did not stand a chance.

Four players scored in double figures, including 16 points from Herndon, Va., native Scottie Reynolds, but the Wildcats still lost to Syracuse 95-77.

In the most impressive Big East win of the season, the Orange both clinched at least a share of the regular season Big East Title and earned the No. 1 ranking in the Associate Press poll after the

BIG EAST

No. 1 and 2 teams in the countr y lost.

Six players reached double figures for the Orange. For ward Rick Jackson scored 19 points and grabbed eight boards, guard Scoop Jardine went for 16 and seven off the bench and guard Andy Rautins hustled for 12 points and eight assists in the win.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re ranked in our game, it really doesn’t,” said head coach Jim Boeheim to the Associated Press. “This team has not thought about rankings all year. I told them they needed a short celebration. I’m just tr ying to get the players focused on the next game. The only thing anybody will remember is the [NCAA] Tournament, but I hope the fans enjoyed this team.”

WITH

ONLY

ONE

WEEK

THE

MOST

SIGNIFICANT

remaining in regular season play, two teams’ bubbles burst with losses last week and two others still teeter on the edge.

Despite impressive shooting by junior Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall (16-11, 7-9) fell in overtime 84-83 to Marquette at the Prudential Center.

Hazell scored 23 points, but his last-second heave bounced in-and-out in over time and likely cemented a National Invitational Tournament bid for the Pirates.

bubble watch game of the weekend came at the Gampel Pavilion where Louisville (19-10, 10-6) edged out Connecticut to likely ensure an NCAA berth.

Four teen points and seven boards from sophomore forward Samardo Samuels helped UofL win 78-76.

The Huskies (17-12, 7-9) have two more road games to try and secure a NCAA Tournament bid against Notre Dame and South Florida.

CINCINNATI (16-12, 7-9)

(19-10, 8-8) are also swaying on the edge of elimination, currently one of the first four teams out of the tournament on ESPN. Other than Connecticut, the Irish have Marquette at home before heading to Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament.

THE could not pull off an upset over West Virginia on the weekend, smashing its hopes at the NCAA Tournament as well.

Unless the Bearcats pull off a pair of upsets to close out the season, they are also NIT bound.

FIGHTING

IRISH

18

S P O RT S

MARCH 3, 2010

SHORTSTOP: Bragg comfortable at No. 2 in lineup continued from back “She came through for us in a big way against UT Chattanooga,” said head coach Jay Nelson. “It was down to Ashley in the end and she came up in a big spot for us.”

The game against UT Chattanooga marked her seventh start of the season, but it was her first in the No. 2 spot in the lineup, moving up from the bottom of the order.

Since moving to the top part of the order, the Middletown, Del., native is 4-for-13, upping her average to .192 on the season — tied for second best on the team.

“It feels good,” said Bragg, who started in all 10 games to start the season. “I feel like I’m contributing more to the team and I feel like everyone has more confidence in me so I feel like I’m becoming a more prominent member of the team.

“I’m ver y comfor table [doing the small things]. I’ve always been comfor table in bunting situations and so if I keep working hard on that in practice, I think I can be pretty valuable.”

Nelson has a history of heavily relying on freshmen as everyday players and those players historically find success.

Third baseman Brittney Lindley started all 56 games for Rutgers last year as a freshman and emerged as a reliable player in her first year. She now

NICHOLAS BRASOWSKI

Head softball coach Jay Nelson is not afraid of throwing freshmen into the fire, starting rookies at both middle infield positions.

leads the team in hitting with her .360 average.

The season before, thenfreshmen Mandy Craig, Mickenzie Alden and Jen Meinheit emerged as key players. Craig started all-but one game at first base and led the team with a .299 average. Alden and Meinheit each started at least 30 games and are now key components in the RU outfield.

Bragg could be next in the line of freshmen.

“I think she’s stepped up and she’s doing very well and she’s doing what she needs to do,” said Lindley, who was in the same position as Bragg last season. “She’s hitting the ball in clutch situations when there’s runners on and she’s doing what the coaches ask of her. She helped put runs on the board this weekend.”

Second baseman Jen Harabedian joins Bragg as a freshman that started in every game, but she has yet to get her bat going like Bragg did with her move to the top of the lineup.

Harabedian has two hits and two RBI in 27 at-bats.

“Jen [Harabedian] and I work really well together,” Bragg said.

“We’re really starting to feel comfortable with each other playing short and second and we have good chemistry up the middle.”

While playing for Caravel Academy in high school, Bragg led her team to four consecutive State Championships and earned All-State honors four times.

But even someone with that decorated of a high school career admits struggles in adjusting to the college game.

“It was pretty nerve-racking at first playing some of the best teams in the country, but once I got out there and got a feel for ever ything that kind of all changed,” Bragg said. “Where I do my best is on the field so just playing helped me out.”

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

COURTESY OF RUTGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Sophomore Kelly Flannigan ran a personal best and led the team in the mile run at the Big East Championships.

Sophomore distance runner provides boost

BY ANTHONY HERNANDEZ STAFF WRITER

It is never too early to start looking toward the future.

With the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships less than a week WOMEN’S TRACK away and an entire spring track season following that, unlimited opportunities still remain for the Rutgers women’s track team to improve.

But this is the last indoor track season for the nine senior athletes on the team, leaving behind a void of talent and leadership that is impossible to replace. This is not to say that a number of Scarlet Knight underclassmen are not be able to establish a legacy of their own. When asked what single athlete on the team provides the most excitement moving forward, head coach James Robinson responded without hesitation: Sophomore distance runner Kelly Flannigan.

“Kelly works extremely hard and has rewarded herself by continuing to run personal records,” said Robinson. “She listens to [assistant] coach Jan [MerrillMorin]’s coaching advice and follows her training.”

Flannigan, a native of Middletown, Conn., had a recruiting offer from Big East power Connecticut, but RU remained at the forefront of her prospective list.

“I really wanted to come to Rutgers,” said the sophomore. “I liked coach Jan Merrill and her philosophy for running.”

Since arriving on the Banks, Merrill’s training regiment allows Flannigan to excel as a distance runner and improve upon the uncapped talent Merrill knows she possesses.

Flannigan is now the top distance runner for the Knights after initially being a plodding freshman.

“She has taken ver y good, progressive steps since day one,” said Merrill. “She listens to what we tell her and she does it.”

The greatest achievement of Flannigan’s up-and-coming career came in last weekend’s Big East Championships as Flannigan ran a personal best and team leading 4:54.83 in the mile run.

Appreciating Flannigan’s strides is not so easy from the outside.

For an athlete who came in as a raw talent, Flannigan can now see her ability to be the great runner and leader her coaches know she can be.

“This weekend at the Big East [Championships] really let me put things into perspective, like where I can be, where I was last year and how much I have improved,” said the runner. “I’ve definitely raised the bar for myself and we’ve definitely raised the bar as a team.”

As noted by Merrill and Flannigan, distance running is a slow and tedious process, and in order to get best times and advance in training, one must stay patient. Merrill is confident her athlete can maintain focus as time moves forward.

“My goals for Kelly are to keep coaching her and watch her progression,” said Merrill.

“Hopefully we can get to a Big East final and place in the top-eight.”

Keeping the bar high and even raising it higher are the new challenges for the young athletes on the team. Flannigan is confident that building upon the pieces already in place with highly-anticipated recruits next season allow her and her young teammates to take the reins of the program.

“It’ll be hard to fill their shoes, but eventually we will,” Flannigan said.

S PORTS

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

MARCH 3, 2010

19

Big Red upset lends confidence against NJ foe

BY STEVEN WILLIAMSON

first week as a collegiate lacrosse player, her numbers earned her Big East Defensive One goal for the Rutgers Player of the Week. women’s lacrosse team this seaAfter posting three goals and son is to turn around the close adding an assist against Cornell, losses it junior attack Kristen Anderson WOMEN’S LACROSSE suffered earned a spot on the Big East l a s t Weekly Honor Roll.

RUTGERS AT year. A The victor y over the Big Red PRINCETON, v i c t o r y turned heads outside of the TONIGHT, 7 P.M. o v e r Big East as well, as the Knights then-No. received votes in the 20 Cornell in their second game latest IWLCA poll, while of the season was step one for the Cornell dropped out of the topScarlet Knights.

20 entirely.

Tonight’s matchup against The Tigers have only seen No. 9 Princeton is step two. one game this year — a 10-9 “I think this is the best team over time victor y over Johns that I’ve experienced in my Hopkins on the road. time here,” head coach Laura Tonight’s contest marks the Brand-Sias said before the home opener for a team that beginning of the season. “As a didn’t lose a single game at coaching staf f we’ve made home last season, but the some changes over the sum- Tigers’ offensive makeup has mer and decided there were changed dramatically. things we needed to be more The Knights get to play the accountable for as a staff … so role of spoiler to a Princeton we’ve tried to squad that lost raise the bar and three of its top push the team to five goal scorers “It’s just that a higher level.”

— a total of 104 Two wins into goals — to gradextra push, the season and the uation in the offthose little Knights have met season. And with expectations, but the way the RU mistakes, that the Tigers set the defense has make a bar higher still. star ted the Last year’s season, goals huge difference.” game was about as could be far and close as it could few between.

BROOKE CANTWELL get. Down three in The Knights Senior Attack the final 10 minbeat Princeton utes, the Knights just once in prostormed back to knot the game at gram histor y — RU is 1-10-1 all 8-8. But one more Tiger goal time against the Tigers, with broke RU’s back and sent them the lone win coming in 1982 — back North with the loss. but then again, until Sunday A year later comes their shot the team had only beat Cornell at redemption. And with the way once, too. the team played in its first two Last season, in a road games, it could not have come at matchup with the Tigers, RU a better time. lost by just one goal in a Rutgers outscored its oppo- 9-8 decision. nents 21-9 in its first two games Senior attack Brooke and sports six different players Cantwell tallied two goals — en with three goals apiece. route to a team-high 32 on the But the real key to the season — and added an assist Knights’ early success is in the tightly-contested game. its defense.

“We had a lot of games that The Knights hold the early- were really close last year, season advantage in ground either one goal games or even balls 47-36 and are holding three or four there were a lot their opponents to a measly we could have won,” said shot-on-goal percentage of 20.

Cantwell, who found the net Freshman goalkeeper Lily three times in the first two Kalata has 25 saves between games, prior to the season. “It’s two contests and boasts a 4.5 just that extra push, those goals against average along little mistakes, that make a with six ground balls. In her huge difference.”

SENIOR WRITER

ISIAH STEWART

Freshman goalkeeper Lily Kalata, above, earned Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors and junior attack Kristen Anderson garnered a spot on the conference’s Weekly Honor Roll.

The Knights travel to Princeton tonight after winning each of their first two games.

JENNIFER MIGUEL-HELLMAN

Weekend in Boston offers last chance to qualify

BY TYLER BARTO STAFF WRITER

The Rutgers men’s track and field team visits Boston University this weekend for the IC4A Championships, looking to seize a MEN’S TRACK f i n a l opportuRUTGERS AT nity to IC4A CHAMPIONSHIPS, s e n d SATURDAY, 1 P.M. athletes to the NCAA Championships.

The task will be arduous.

Unlike the Big East contest in late February, the IC4As offer countrywide exposure and a difficult path to Arkansas, the host of the 2010 NCAA Championships.

The Scarlet Knights, fresh off of two weeks of training, are eager to take the final step toward national recognition.

“The IC4As are the last chance to get higher on the list for the NCAAs,” said sophomore Adam Bergo, the Knights’ sole representative at last year’s NCAA final in College Station, Texas. “I’m really trying to just focus on the high jump to get the ticket back to Nationals.”

Senior 60-meter hurdler Kyle Grady already qualified for the event in Fayetteville, Ark. Several of his teammates look to join him on next week’s flight, including fellow senior Nii-Amon Robertson, who is .2 seconds from an NCAA qualifier in the 400-meter dash.

Junior Aaron Younger, who captured first in the 500-meter run at the Big East Championships, also needs a slight improvement in his 400-meter time to punch his ticket to the home of the Razorbacks.

“Grady’s already ready to go,” said Bergo, a two-time Big

East champion. “Younger will tr y to get there in the 400. We’re in a position to win and go out

“Monroe [Kearns] has been a pleasant surprise this season.

He improved a lot from last year.”

MIKE MULQUEEN Head Coach

and do good things.”

Others, like sophomore Kevin Bostick, plan on tweaking scores in the high and long jump prior to the 2010 outdoor season.

Encouraging times at the IC4A Championships would go a long way toward rectifying a disappointing team per formance in the Big East, in which RU placed sixth in team points, finishing 78.5 behind winner Notre Dame.

“A good showing at the IC4As and getting guys to NCAAs would definitely allow us to forget about the Big East,” Robertson said. “The IC4As and NCAAs give us a chance to go up against some of the top national talent.”

Boston’s Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center played a friendly host in 2009 to fifth-year senior Steve Swern, who won the 500meter run with a time of 1:02:38.

Fellow senior Bruce Owens, who sat out the 2010 indoor season due to eligibility concerns, placed second in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 21.42 seconds.

Sophomore Monroe Kearns, who held a spot on last year’s distance medley relay at BU, plans to erase the memor y of his under whelming eighth-place finish in the 800meter final at the Big East Championships.

Last year’s relay team finished sixth with a time of 9:55.68 in the Boston meet.

“Monroe has been a pleasant surprise this season,” said head coach Mike Mulqueen, whose 2005 squad won the IC4A Championships and sent athletes to NCAAs, said earlier this year. “He improved a lot from last year.”

Under Mulqueen’s tutelage, the Knights placed in the top ten teams at the IC4As 13 times and celebrated 43 individual IC4A champions. Swern was the lone champion last year.

T H E D A I LY TA R G U M

SPORTS

PA G E 2 0

MARCH 3, 2010

Stringer finally lights fire with WNIT refusal Hell’s Kitchen SAM HELLMAN

I

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

n the game of chess, sometimes one must make sacrifices to accomplish the ultimate goal. Backed into check by the rest of the Big East, Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer put ever ything on the line with a daring move of her most valuable piece.

Stringer flat-out refused an invitation to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, digging the Scarlet Knights deeper into check — they responded in the exact way Stringer wanted.

Like a pawn promoted to queen on the other end of the board, the Knights came out like a different team in the last two games and played their way back into the NCAA Tournament.

Defeating the Providence Friars by 11 points on their home court, behind 23 points and seven boards by senior Brittany Ray, was a nice touch, but the kicker came Monday on Senior Night in a trouncing of Louisville — picked to finish third in the Big East at the start of the season.

RU put together its most complete performance in conference play, and maybe all year, winning the turnover battle, points in the paint, second chance points, bench points and shooting a season-high 52 percent from the floor.

On paper, it’s simply another win that jumps RU to 16-13 on the year and 9-7 in the Big East, but it also brings on a new confidence going into the Big East Tournament.

The team played so well that it even earned its locker room back. “[Stringer] said that we have to give a great effort in the Big East,” said senior for ward Myia McCurdy on the terms of getting back the locker room. “Because if we don’t, then she’s going to put us right back in that [smaller] locker room.”

Is this enough momentum to recapture the Big East Title won in 2006?

Sophomore guard Khadijah Rushdan scored a team-high 16 points in the Rutgers women’s basketball team’s 72-52 rout of Louisville, a team picked to finish third in the Big East prior to the season. The Knights won their last two games after losing three straight.

SEE FIRE ON PAGE 15

Shortstop shines at top of order

Senior’s personality prompts career in gym

BY JOSH GLATT STAFF WRITER

When watching senior gymnast Alyssa Lewandowski compete there is only one word that GYMNASTICS describes her attitude — ecstatic.

Even in the tense situations, Lewandowski’s smile never wavers. She is just happy to be able to show her skills.

From a young age, Lewandowski displayed her cheerful attitude to the extent that her grandparents felt she had too much energy. Like many other gymnasts, her over-active personality got her star ted in gymnastics.

“I had too much energy so my grandparents stuck me into gymnastics and told me to just play around,” Lewandowski said.

Growing up, her energy focused on much more than gymnastics, playing volleyball and softball. However, those

sports did not provoke the same passion as gymnastics.

“I loved gymnastics the most,” Lewandowski said. “It was dangerous, but I had fun doing it.”

When it came time to decide on what college she would attend, she originally chose Wisconsin-Oshkosh, but her hear t was always at Rutgers.

A Linden, N.J., native, Lewandowski had Rutgers in mind from a young age.

“I always wanted to come to Rutgers since I was a girl but I got recr uited to WisconsinOshkosh,” Lewandowski said. “I didn’t really like it out there because it was really farmy and boring out there. I’m just a city girl.”

Upon arriving at Rutgers, she fully displayed her talent and attitude. After a successful first year at Rutgers in 2008, Lewandowski really began to

SEE GYM ON PAGE 16

BY SAM HELLMAN CORRESPONDENT

JEN KONG

Senior Alyssa Lewandowski’s energetic nature caused her grandparents to encourage her to compete in gymnastics.

In the Rutgers softball team’s first overtime affair of the season, the Scarlet Knights had runners on second and SOFTBALL third with two outs. Fresh off a strikeout, Tennessee Chattanooga was set to take it to the bottom of the eighth with freshman shortstop Ashley Bragg coming up.

Bragg dug in with just one hit in her first 11 career at-bats as a Knight, but she smacked a tworun, go-ahead double down the line for her first two career RBI. The knock was not enough to finish the Mocs, who scored three runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-out rally, but Bragg’s second career hit cemented her as a clutch hitter to the rest of the team.

SEE SHORTSTOP ON PAGE 18