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Rutgers student criticizes U. after being sexually assaulted KATIE PARK NEWS EDITOR
THE CASE
After being sexually assaulted twice on campus in a year, a Rutgers student is voicing disbelief about how her incident was handled by the University’s Office of Student Conduct when her offender, a former boyfriend, was reprimanded with a three-semester suspension instead of the expulsion she felt he deserved. According to documents amassed by Rutgers investigators during the case and provided to The Daily Targum by the woman who requested anonymity, the sexual assaults occurred and were reported in February 2014 and October 2014. The suspended student, who also requested anonymity, supported the validity of the documents in a phone interview with The Daily Targum in early March. The University declined to speak about the specific case in compliance with the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in an interview with The Daily Targum in late February but addressed the way reports of sexual assault are handled with the Code of Student Conduct and Title IX. The two individuals said they had dated for two-and-a-half years until their breakup in October 2013 but maintained a casual sexual relationship until around January or February 2014. A few weeks later, the woman reported being sexually assaulted by the man in her apartment where he continued to touch her as she said she repeatedly said “no.” During this incident and in the incident that would follow in a number of months, neither individual was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. “What happened in February was rape,” the woman said. “(He) and I talked about it, but it did not become real to me at that point because neither of us used the word ‘rape.’ He expressed how sorry he was and how he felt ‘out of control’
The undoctored and verified texts sent by the victim, a Rutgers student, to the perpetrator on Oct. 15, 2014. COURTESY OF VICTIM
and did not know what was wrong with him.” The woman stopped contacting the man for several weeks after the incident and contacted the Rutgers University Police Department about three weeks later where she said Rutgers police officers told her how long the process could be and that it could take several years to bring about a prison sentence. When the woman coupled what the officers said with the low national rates of conviction for sexual assault perpetrators, she felt discouraged and stopped pursuing criminal charges until October. “I could attempt to get a restraining order, but it felt so discouraging to know nothing could be done,” she said. “I convinced myself that it simply was not a big deal because if the legal system could do nothing, then clearly nothing had been that bad.” Although the woman did not pursue the case through the criminal process, Rutgers spokesperson E.J. Miranda said RUPD strongly encourages anyone who believes he or she was a victim of a crime to report the incident to RUPD. Under the Code of Student Conduct, students can choose to consult the criminal system and Rutgers’ conduct process prior to, simultaneously or following civil or criminal proceedings. Students can also choose to only utilize one or neither channel. “RUPD treats victims with respect, courtesy, and dignity, believing that a victim’s safety and privacy are of major importance,” he said. “Filing a report does not commit an individual to pursuing an investigation or prosecution and the police will respect the victim’s decision.” Around the same time when the woman consulted the police, she said one of her former roommates who knew about the incident advised her not to press charges against the man for risk of “ruining his life.”
The undoctored and verified texts sent on Oct. 15, 2014 by the former Rutgers student found responsible by the University’s Office of Student Conduct for sexually assaulting an ex-girlfriend on Oct. 11. COURTESY OF VICTIM
“I felt like clearly I was overreacting and started to feel as though maybe I hadn’t said ‘no’ enough or since I had not fought back physically despite saying ‘no,’ that he simply had not understood that I did not want to have sex,” she said. In the weeks after the first incident, the woman said she often felt lonely and scared and returned to having sex with the man who assaulted her despite the fact that she was afraid being around him. The two individuals resumed a consensual sexual relationship for several months, although the woman said the experiences were “horrible” and that she would throw up every time after having sex with him. “I had relied on (him) for so long that it seemed natural to seek comfort from him,” she said. “However, he raped me, so it was all tremendously f----d up.”
Since then, the two maintained a relationship without having sex until Oct. 11, when she said she slept in his bed with him as she had done several times prior with the mutual understanding that nothing sexual would happen. During the night, she was awakened by the man rubbing her shoulders who asked the woman within the hour if “she would let him have sex with her,” to which she recalled saying “okay” or nodding her head affirmatively, although she said she nodded more out of a desire to remain compliant. The man avoided eye contact with the woman during intercourse, finished and said “I can’t believe I did that.” Four days later, on Oct. 15, the woman sent the man a series of text messages around 5 a.m. expressing her disgust and fear at the incident. SEE STUDENT ON PAGE 4
Students gear up for fourth annual ‘Geek Week: Episode IV’ AVALON ZOPPO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
The word “geek” is often considered a derogatory term, but each year, one week during the spring semester, Rutgers University makes a point to prove that everybody is a geek. Rutgers’ fourth annual Geek Week, “Geek Week: Episode IV,” kicked off on Sunday with its gaming tournament, “Knight Slash.” The geekiness will continue from March 23-28 with a Nerd Girl panel, a lecture from a NASA scientist, an Evening with George Takei and fun trivia nights. Geek Week is an oppor tunity for students to get excited about something and find a community that shares that excitement, said Carey Loch, director of Major Events and Programs for Student Life.
“I think about geek as a verb, not a noun or description for a person,” Loch said. “When you’re a geek, you get really excited about things and geek out. For me, I geek about astronomy and science.” By the end of the week, around 3,500 geeks will have participated in Geek Week, Loch said. Trevor Mcormack, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, said he will be among those 3,500 geeks. He said he is excited for Geek Week, though he doesn’t consider himself a traditional nerd. “I geek out over the Harry Potter movies. I’ve seen every movie,” he said. “…I’ve always thought it would be fun to attend Comic-Con, but Geek Week is right here so I plan on going.” Geek Week has definitely grown over the years, and not only in numbers, Loch said. When the event first began, it focused on
traditional geek culture, such as comics, gaming and movies, but has grown to include social justice issues. “We’ve incorporated some social justice issues into (Geek Week),” Loch said. “This week our Nerd Girl Panel is focused on misogyny in nerd culture as it relates to women.” The Nerd Girl panel will discuss topics ranging from “Cosplay is not Consent” to GamerGate, Loch said. A few of the panelists include Rocket Jump Studios’ Lauren Haroutunian, Danni Danger of The Valkyries and founder of HoodFeminism.com Mikki Kendall. “We want people to be able to learn about something they don’t know about, whether that’s a game they’ve never tried or to be a part of a conversation on a bigger issue,” Loch said. SEE WEEK ON PAGE 6
Students gather in the Livingston Student Center the afternoon of March 22 for “Knight Slash 10,” a tournament organized by the Underground Gaming Society. TIANFANG YU / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
VOLUME 147, ISSUE 25 • UNIVERSITY ... 3 • TECH ... 7 • OPINIONS ... 8 • DIVERSIONS ... 10 • CLASSIFIEDS ... 12 • SPORTS ... BACK
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Pendulum Question
Q:
What are your plans for spring break? A. Going on vacation B. Staying Home C. Studying D. Working D. Netflix
Pendulum is an online poll to explore the opinions of the Rutgers community. Results are printed every Tuesday in the paper. Vote online until Monday March 23rd at 4 p.m. at dailytargum.com
This Week’s Pendulum Question has been brought to you By:
The TA Project presents “Media for Teaching Purposes” from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the College Avenue Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Photonics Club & Rutgers SciFest present “Intro to the James Webb Space Telescope” from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fiber Optics Material Research Building on the Busch campus. The event is free and open to the public.
TODAY TONIGHT
The Mason Gross School of the Arts presents “Frauenliebe und Leben: Chamisso’s Poems and Schumann’s Songs” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Douglass Library. The event is free and open to the public. University Career Services hosts “Post Fair Choosing a Major Workshop” from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Busch Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. THURSDAY 3/26 The Institute for Health, Department of Sociology and Centers for Global Advancement and Global Affairs present “Latino Immigrant Health over the Life Course: Social, Cultural, and Economic Influences” from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Institute For Health, Health Care Policy And Aging Research on the College Avenue campus. The event is free and open to the public.
WEDNESDAY 3/25 The Student Employment Office hosts “JLDP 101” from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the College Avenue Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.
If you would like to submit an event for the Campus Calendar section, please email Copy@Dailytargum.com. For more information please visit www.dailytargum.com. Due to space limitations there is no guarantee that your event will be listed. Events can run for no more than three days: two days prior to the event and the day of the event.
Source: Rutgers Meterology Club
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Campus Calendar TUESDAY 3/24 The Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research presents “Numeracy and Health: A Tyranny of Numbers” from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Institute For Health, Health Care Policy And Aging Research on the College Avenue campus. The event is free and open to the public.
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March 24, 2015
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CORRECTIONS Tuesday’s article, “Professor blogs NYPD’s watch over Muslim-American youth,” should have stated the New York Police Department’s Demographics Unit surveillance program ceased operation in April 2014. It also should have said the Rutgers plaintiff ’s inability to pursue a career in international social work was stated in the legal complaint. Monday’s article, “RBS students meet with investor Warren Buffett” should have stated the meeting occurred at Buffett’s office. SOCIAL MEDIA The Daily Targum broadcasts across multiple social media platforms. Please use the following handles to stay on top of breaking news as it happens.
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March 24, 2015
University
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Students underutilize LinkedIn to build academic profiles AVALON ZOPPO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
College students and LinkedIn are seemingly a match made in heaven. The career-focused social media platform is perfect for job-seeking millennials. Yet, LinkedIn is the only platform in which 30 to 64-year-olds are more likely to be users than those aged 18 to 29, according to the Pew Research Center. Only 23 percent of LinkedIn users are millennials, compared to 87 percent of Facebook users and 53 percent of Instagram users. Many students shy away from LinkedIn because they have yet to enter the professional realm and do not know where to begin building their profiles, said Janet Jones, director of Employer Relations at Career Services. Jessica Chaiet, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, said she does not plan on creating a LinkedIn profile until after graduation. “I haven’t had any internships or jobs that relate to the career I’m studying for, so I feel like there’s no reason for me to make one,” she said. “I think (LinkedIn) is mostly for adults.” But the platform is now designed more for college students than in the past, Jones said. The LinkedIn Higher Education Resource Center offers tutorials, tip sheets and
checklists tailored for those transitioning into the workplace. Numerous videos exist for students, such as “Building Your Professional Profile” and “Turning Relationships into Opportunities.” The Student Job Portal on LinkedIn highlights entry-level opportunities specifically geared toward students. Students should not wait until they’re donning a graduation cap and gown to build a professional network on LinkedIn, Jones said. With today’s uncertain job market, students should be utilizing the website as early as possible, Jones said. Taking advantage of LinkedIn as a first-year student can pay off when seeking an internship or job after graduation. “(LinkedIn) is a great way for students to present the start of their professional story,” Jones said. “(Your network) starts off slow, but grows rapidly.” Students can get ahead of the game by tailoring their profile, connecting with anyone they may know and joining relevant groups, Jones said. Another strategy is to connect with alumni, Jones said. Students can join one of the many Rutgers groups on LinkedIn to communicate with the more than 188,000 Rutgers alumnus and sift through job postings. “You have to think outside of the box and really think about
who you know,” she said. “Most people have parents or family that are working, so that can be the beginning of a network.” It is also important to approach LinkedIn as a professional platform filled with potential employers, Jones said. According to LinkedIn research, a profile with a photo is 11 times more likely to be viewed. Students should take into account several factors when choosing a headshot, Jones said. “It’s not Facebook,” she said. “When I see a student’s profile picture that is not professional looking, it’s worrisome. College students are savvy enough to capture a photo that looks serious.” There are some basic do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn headshots, such as wearing appropriate attire, not tilting the head and choosing a solid background, Jones said. Having an appropriate headshot can help a student more easily be recognized by fellow classmates or past professors. Regardless of the industry or career a student plans to pursue after graduation, Jones said LinkedIn is a key element in landing a job. “I see people on LinkedIn from across the board,” she said. “Certainly different industries have their nuances or methods for making connections, but there’s no cost in joining (LinkedIn).”
Only 23 percent of millennials are on LinkedIn compared to the 87 percent on Facebook and 53 percent on Instagram. NAAZ MODAN / PHOTO EDITOR
LinkedIn is not the only networking opportunity that students overlook. Many students miss resources available right at Rutgers, said Melissa Blake, assistant director for Marketing and Public Relations at Career Services. Employer Networking & Information Sessions, On-Campus Interviewing and a number of workshops are offered on campus, but are often ignored by students. Students are not utilizing CareerKnight enough, Blake added. Out of the entire Rutgers-New Brunswick population of 41,565 students, there were 5,288 student log-ins to the website last month.
Students need to take advantage of multiple resources in order to land a job, Blake said. From utilizing CareerKnight to having a polished LinkedIn profile, a well-rounded approach is necessary to get a job or internship. “The reality is, in a competitive job market, students cannot afford to do just one thing,” Blake said. “They need to be in multiple places.” Avalon Zoppo is a Rutgers Business School first-year student majoring in pre-business. She is an Associate News Editor at The Daily Targum. Follow her on Twitter @avalonzoppo for more stories.
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March 24, 2015
STUDENT Period of suspension is always minimum sanction in cases of sexual assault, Newman says CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“And maybe I will never be able to have a healthy sexual relationship because of you?” she wrote. “Doesnt that seem unfair? (sic)” The man responded with his own series of texts about three hours later. “I just destroyed you,” a sentence from one of his texts read. “I raped you.” The woman said her meeting with RUPD in February thoroughly discouraged her but she thought the text message was enough to initiate an investigation so she said she brought a report, this time to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) on Oct. 15 with a counselor from the University’s Office of Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance. She said she asked the Middlesex County Prosecutor to pursue criminal charges and the prosecutor told her that she had no legal case and no chance to press charges against the man. “I have a written statement from (the man) which says ‘I raped you,’” the woman said. “So I thought naively if I went
for ward to the police that would be enough … (but) legally, I have no case because I had consensual sex with him at one point.” That same day, the woman proceeded to open a case with the University’s Office of Student Conduct and began working with University administrators Felicia McGinty, Joe DiMichele, Jackie Moran, Jordan Draper and Jon Bouchard.
UNIVERSITY ACTION
In the coming months, investigators found the man responsible for two violations under the Code of Student Conduct: sexual assault, or non-consensual sexual contact, and relationship violence. Under the code, sexual assault or non-consensual sexual contact is defined as touching a non-consenting person with one’s own intimate parts or penetrating a non-consenting person orally, vaginally or anally with any object or body part through the use of force, threat, intimidation, coercion or exploitation of the person’s inability to consent. Relationship violence, a distinct violation from sexual assault or
Graphic by Marielle Sumergido / Editor-in-Chief
non-consensual sexual contact, is any act of physical, sexual or psychological harm against a current or former intimate or romantic partner. With these violations in mind, administrators decided to readmit the man after a three-semester suspension, allowing him to come back May 2016, or the time when the woman would have already graduated from the University. “Felicia McGinty, the vice chancellor of Student Affairs, said (suspension) was an appropriate punishment,” the woman said. Brett Sokolow, founder, president and chief executive officer of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM) and one of the top legal advisors for college sexual assault cases in the United States, offered his perspective on the University’s decision in a phone interview with The Daily Targum in early March. “If (the man) committed an act of rape, and by that I mean something very specific, legally,
then he absolutely ought to be expelled,” he said. “A three-semester suspension, in my view, would not be appropriate.” Sokolow, who legally defined rape as “a forcible or non-consensual sexual attack,” said Rutgers reached a gray area with the case because the woman reported rape in February then resumed sexual activity afterwards until October and nodded her head in response to the question “Are you going to let me have sex with you?” in October. For these reasons, he said he understood the investigators’ thought processes for choosing the sanction. “There’s a reason why this never gets prosecuted,” he said. “At the moment of the act (the woman) was acting in a way that could be interpreted by some people as consent.” Consent, as it is currently defined in the Code of Student Conduct, is one of the weaker points in the book, said Anne Newman, chief of staff at Rutgers Student Affairs. “Right now, we define who cannot give consent as opposed to what consent looks like,” she said. “So as the University moves forward we have to determine for ourselves whether or not this definition is okay or whether or not we have to define consent.” But in the current moment, with no immediate revisions slated to be made for the Code of Student Conduct, administrators are working to balance the needs of the victim and public with the rights of the perpetrator. Students who are readmitted back to Rutgers after a period of suspension can still be required to follow cer tain sanctions when they return to campus, Newman said. For instance, students can only be readmitted after the victim graduated or when the victim is away on spring break, she said. Other sanctions can mean being allowed to take only online classes or being barred from a particular residence hall. But even if administrators mandate sanctions when a suspended student returns to campus or expel the student, she said feelings of fear can still persist. “Even if we expel someone, we can’t make them leave New Brunswick or Piscataway,” she said. “We can only control on the campus, so what we try to do is make sure they have all the resources available to handle what’s going on inside them. We do contact restrictions and monitor those closely.” In this case, the woman who was assaulted said the investiga-
tors leveraged no sanctions for the man when he is allowed to return to campus, and she fears for the safety of other female students on campus in the future. “It’s a really unsafe environment, and it makes me think how many other young men who have raped women are on campus now,” she said. Ruth Anne Koenick, director of Rutgers’ Center for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance, said she thinks the University has a process that works but not everybody will see it that way. “For every case that we handle, it’s a case-by-case basis,” Newman said. “So we look at the individual incident that occurred, the facts of the case and the information that’s provided by both the accused and the victim for that individual case.” Although ever y case is unique, a period of suspension is always the minimum sanction in cases of sexual assault, she said. An expulsion is mandated when investigators find the accused student to be a danger to the University community. A suspended student would carry a notation on their transcripts that indicates they were suspended for a “disciplinary reason” and not for the specific issue of sexual assault, Newman said. If the student were to transfer to another university, the transfer school would have to directly contact Rutgers to find the details of the student’s violation. A student who was suspended through the Office of Student Conduct would also not have sexual assault on their criminal records although they would on their academic disciplinary records, Newman said. “We’re not the criminal process,” she said. “The University process is completely separate from the criminal process.” With two separate avenues for handling cases of sexual assault, two sets of data exist for each. More extensive data listed under the 2014 to 2015 Clery Act Report for the University indicated 26 reported sexual assaults to University offices between 2011 and 2013 on all on-campus property, non-campus property, public property and on-campus residential property. In the same time period and on the same properties, two sexual assaults were reported to University police instead of University offices in 2011, seven in 2012 and five in 2013, Miranda said. “We don’t have a lot of students that want to go through our process,” Newman said. “So the numbers of sexual assaults that
March 24, 2015 occur are a whole lot higher than the students that actually choose to go through the formal process of filing a University complaint against a student. So our numbers are a whole lot lower than we’d like them to be.”
NATIONAL RESPONSES
According to findings from The Philadelphia Inquirer in July 2014, from 2010 to 2014, the University judicial board reviewed 12 cases of sexual assault, three of which resulted in expulsion. The University’s numbers for expulsion are largely mirrored in national statistics for a multitude of American universities. “Students found responsible for sexual assault were expelled in 30 percent of cases and suspended in 47 percent of cases,” The Huffington Post found in data collected from nearly three dozen colleges and universities. “At least 17 percent of students received educational sanctions, while 13 percent were placed on probation, sometimes in addition to other punishments.” In the same data study from September 2014, an analysis of data from more than 125 schools from 2011 to 2013 showed a minimum of 13 percent of students were expelled to a maximum of 30 percent. Conversely, between 29 to 68 percent of students were suspended. In a similar, more dated vein, data maintained by the United States Department of Justice’s Office on Violence on Women from 2003 to 2008 revealed that colleges rarely expel men found responsible for violating their schools’ sexual assault policies — only 10 to 25 percent of students are prohibited from ever returning, according to a 2010 report from the Center for Public Integrity.
NOW WHAT?
With the University process, an investigative report is drafted from meetings with both accused and complaint parties, and investigators determine if charges should be brought against the accused student, Newman said. The complainant party can assist in establishing repercussions by recommending a sanction, which investigators take into account when making their final decision for the accused student during a hearing, she said. After the hearing, the accused student can request an appeal to readdress points of disagreement, she said. In this case, because the man admitted to sexually assaulting the woman via text and confirmed it again to the investigators there was no hearing and the investigators proceeded to find a sanction appropriate to the violations, both the man and woman said. But after receiving the sanction for suspension on Dec. 18, the man appealed because the investigators’ findings were “unsupported by the evidence,” and that the sanction was “unjust,” according to his written testimony. “I will also explain that my feelings of emotional guilt, as expressed in the text messages sent to (the woman) are not justification of these sanctions,” he wrote. The appeal, which was denied by the investigators on Feb. 2, was a “last-ditch effort” to prolong or turn back the sanction, the man said in a phone interview. “I messed up,” he said. “I wasn’t in a good place in my life in the least.” The man, who moved all of his belongings out of University housing about a month ago, said “there were a lot of things (he) said” to make the woman feel better and
Page 5 feel less attacked. Legally, he said he felt he could have fought, but “in terms of living with (himself)” found it best that he accepted the sanction. “Too often, people see the situation as things that are either only right or only wrong or yes and no or black and white — very binary,” he said. “And they just aren’t resolved.” He cited his and the woman’s histor y stemming from high school as par t of the backstor y but hesitated to explain, calling it a road hardly wor th venturing down. “I’m not trying to use my past or her past as an outlet,” he said. “I just think that when you speak to people about this, the kneejerk reaction or the condition that is that, you know, that I’m a bad person, which I can’t even argue against, (but) things become a little more understandable (when you) see the whole story.”
His chance to tell the whole story will “probably not” happen at the University as far as he can see, he said. He said he doubted whether he would return to the University when his suspension ended, transfer to another college or proceed in his military career as a soldier
“It’s the issue of being the perfect victim. Because I had consensual sex with him in the past, I was no longer a valid victim.” ANONYMOUS RUTGERS STUDENT AND VICTIM
currently in the Army Reserve. “At this point in my life, (I’m) not really sure (what I want to do),” he said. “It’s not a whole lot left for me in a lot of places. I used
to have lots of hope. But now I just — I don’t know.” Back at school, the woman is getting ready to wrap up her college career. Despite trying to remain positive after the incidents, her roommate, who asked for anonymity, said the woman has her bad days and has trouble sleeping. “The idea of him being on campus makes me sick to my stomach,” the woman said. “But going through a process where nothing will come of it seems so daunting and so unnecessary. Like I want to fight for this in any way I can but I have no case.” She said the case will most likely end with University investigators because she questions the efficacy of the legal system, even more so after her experience with University police. As of publication time, she had not issued a formal complaint with the University about the handling of her case.
She said she is also tired of being blamed by the police and University investigators for being a victim. “It’s the issue of being the perfect victim,” she said. “Because I had consensual sex with him in the past, I was no longer a valid victim. So it’s also the idea of being in an alleyway — you don’t know someone. It has to be a stranger. It probably has to be a black man who already has convictions. There are certain implications for what the rapist has to be and what the rape victim has to be as well.” Most of all, she said she is stunned that Rutgers chose to suspend a student who openly confessed to sexually assaulting a student instead of expelling him. “I want a school that will take care of me,” she said. “That’s what I wanted, and they did not do that.” A previous version of this article appeared online on March 20.
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March 24, 2015
CRIME MARCH 23 NEW BRUNSWICK — As part of the "UDrive. UText. UPay." campaign, law enforcement officers from the New Brunswick Police Department will be more stringent in regulating distracted drivers during April 1 to 21. "Distracted driving is a serious issue on our roadways," said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes, and an estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver." MARCH 23 ELIZABETH — Ten people are facing charges in the breakup of a dog fighting ring. A joint investigation led to a home and a vehicle where 17 dogs were found with obvious injuries and kept in small, dirty steel or plastic cages. The police also discovered a treadmill allegedly used to build up the dogs' endurance levels in preparation for fights, a dog fighting ring stained with blood, various collars, chains and harnesses. In addition to that, they found a pellet gun, marijuana and a stolen ATV. MARCH 21 NEW BRUNSWICK — The police are investigating a shooting that was reported to occur last Saturday at an off-campus area near Mason Street and Pine Street. The victim, who is unaffiliated with the University, sustained an injury from the gunfire and was transported to the local hospital for treatment.
WEEK
IN BRIEF
How society views female superheroes is how society views women in general, Wilkinson says CONTINUED FROM FRONT
George Takei was invited as the keynote speaker for Geek Week, Loch said. He is the keynote speaker for not only Rutgers Geek Week, but GAYpril and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as well. Loch said she has wanted to bring George Takei to Geek Week for the last three years because he addresses areas of the LGBT conversation. Takei will share personal stories about sur viving Japanese internment camp, working on the set of Star Trek and advocating for LGBT rights. Zara Wilkinson, Reference and Instruction Librarian at Rutgers University-Camden, is another Geek Week speaker who chose to touch upon larger social issues. She visited the Rutgers University Art Library on the College Avenue campus yesterday to discuss depictions of female characters in comics and superhero movies. Several female superheroes in comics have received new costumes, such as Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Spiderwoman. Each time a female character receives a new, less revealing costume, Wilkinson said the change creates controversy. “(Wonder Woman) had pants, then she didn’t. She had a jacket, then she didn’t,”
Wilkinson said. “Now she has armor, which seems pretty reasonable, and people are disappointed that she no longer has her iconic bathing suit.” Wilkinson said the discussion is impor tant to have because the way society views female superheroes is representative of the way society views women in general. “I want to encourage students to think critically about popular culture and to realize that some of the things we take for granted, and things that we might even enjoy, can be problematic,” she said. The Geek Week finale event will be held on Friday and is meant to be “large and encompassing,” Loch said. The finale will feature a costume party, gaming, board games, a cosplay workshop, a concert and movies. “We’ve added elements to the finale event to make it more like Comic-Con,” Loch said. “Local vendors will be coming to sell their items, and the Harry Potter group on campus will hold a book drive.” RU SciFest will be held the following day and will feature demonstrations by Mad Science and interactive “sidewalk science” activities. “We are trying to expose students to something and give them an opportunity to find community,” Loch said.
NATASHA TRIPATHI
of premature mortality in forms of cardiovascular disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes. Although the study said the data A team of researchers at the Preventive Medicine Research Institute regarding a relationship with morrecently found that what consumers tality remains uncertain, a consumpgain from eating healthier is much tion of saturated fat and trans fats may increase the development of more than what they give up. According to his article in The Alzheimer’s disease. “Our interventions also included New York Times, Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of medicine stress management techniques, at the University of California, moderate exercise, like walking, San Francisco and founder of the and social support,” Ornish said in institute, and colleagues conduct- his article. Research by Ornish and coled clinical research proving the leagues at the many benefits Preventive of a whole“In addition, what’s Medicine Refoods and plant-based good for you is good for search Institute used random diet as an anour planet.” and controlled tidote toward trials to show helping chronDEAN ORNISH that diet and ic diseases. Clinical Professor of Medicine at the lifestyle changTheir study University of California, San Francisco es positively showed many and Founder of the Preventive Medicine effect severe more benefits Research Institute coronary heart for health than disease by rejust reducing versing progression. risk factors on cholesterol. The study shows that blood Recently, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee cited research flow to the heart improved by that dietary cholesterol is not a vital over 300 percent. “In addition, what’s good for you is factor in blood cholesterol levels when revoking recommendations to good for our planet,” Ornish wrote in the article. control and regulate consumption. The production of livestock According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Amer- disrupts the climate, according icans consumed 67 percent more to Ornish. Long term effects of a wholeadded fat, 39 percent more sugar and 41 percent more meat in 2000 than foods and plant-based diet may also they had in 1950 and 24.5 percent alter genes and keep consumers healthy by turning off genes that more calories than they had in 1970. Research by the Harvard School promote disease, and may even of Public Health in 2012 shows that lengthen the ends of our chromoanimal protein may increase the risk somes that control aging. ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
March 24, 2015
Tech Tuesday
Page 7
Digital technologies stretch reach of modern music industry TYLER GOLD STAFF WRITER
Last week, Kendrick Lamar released a new album titled “To Pimp a Butterfly.” The album has a unique sound to it — more jazz than hiphop, with bits of spoken word poetry scattered throughout. In each song, Kendrick conveys a detailed, nuanced message that he summarizes in a conversation-style poem with the deceased-rapper Tupac at the end of the album. Many critics hailed the album as Kendrick’s best yet. But one of the most interesting things about Kendrick’s album isn’t its artistic achievement. It was the fact that it was the most streamed album ever on the music streaming service Spotify. “To Pimp a Butterfly” was streamed 9.6 million in its first day of availability, according to The Fader. It was reported that Kendrick made $1 million off of those streams from that single day. But if that weren’t enough, the next day the album broke its own record, amassing 9.8 million streams. Streams download as you watch or listen, unlike the iTunes downloads that were so popular in the early 2000s. Some popular music streaming services are Spotify, Rdio, Beats Music, Pandora radio, and SoundCloud. Streaming media isn’t the same as downloading it — it’s more like a rental than buying it —
and usually is priced differently because of that. This can pose a problem if you have a bad connection — no one likes to see a loading bar slowly buffering a YouTube video. The streaming success is an important milestone. Not only does it firmly establish the importance of streaming services like Spotify, it also says a lot about where the music industry is going as a whole. Downloads and intentional purchases used to be the main way that people got music, movies and other types of entertainment. Ninety-nine cent iTunes singles are a thing of the past for a simple reason: Listeners can get that same song for free on YouTube or SoundCloud, which on top of being free, is often faster than logging into iTunes and waiting for the file to download. Thanks to the digital transition, art is no longer what it used to be. Before the Internet, music, movies, TV shows, etc. were confined to physical media like vinyl, CDs, DVDs and tape cassettes. According to an article on Vox.com, when media transitioned to digital, it became incredibly easy to copy, and art suddenly lost its scarcity. Suddenly the most convenient way to get music became the most popular way to get music. It makes perfect sense: why would you pay for something when you can get it for free? The Vox article brings up the point that people no longer want
Established and emerging digital technologies are surpassing the influence of traditional media such as vinyls, CDs, DVDs and tape cassettes. COLIN PIETERS to pay for music, opting instead to pay for experiences like concerts. Jimmy Lovine, a music executive for Beats Music, said that people will not pay to simply access music because they want more. Kendrick’s album was streamed so many times because that was the easiest, and the first, way to hear it. Entertainment as a whole is moving in this direction: Netflix and HBO Go streaming are among the most popular ways to watch TV shows, particularly among young people. YouTube and Vimeo let
people upload their own videos. Even the Billboard 200, the music industry-standard metric for album sales, started counting streams toward its top music lists in November 2014, according to The New York Times. Billboards rules count 1,500 song streams on services like Spotify, Rdio, Beats Music and Google Play as one album purchase. Digital technologies like the internet and high-speed networks, which enable streaming instead of requiring slow downloads, are rapidly and significantly changing the face of
the entertainment industry. Music is just one lens to look at this phenomenon: video is advancing at just as fast a rate, if not faster. But milestones like with Kendrick’s record will quickly be surpassed, new technologies will emerge, and the entertainment industry will continue to evolve. Tyler Gold is a School of Communication and Information senior majoring in information technology and informatics. He is a staff writer at The Daily Targum. Follow him on Twitter @tylergold for more stories.
OPINIONS
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EDITORIAL
Rape investigations deserve expediency Proper education no replacement for faulty, antiquated processes
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The exploration and end result of this case highlights he mentality surrounding rape and sexual assault has undeniably progressed. In most in- Rutgers as a responsible institution. The ongoing situastances, victims have the opportunity to come tion of rape allegations out of the University of Virginia forward and share their stories. As compared to two or and the Carry That Weight campaign that started at three decades ago, accusations today are far more like- Colombia University and then spread nationwide, are ly to be dealt with in a serious manner. However, the evidence that perpetrators are not always dealt with acinvestigative and legal practices employed when deal- cordingly. In both of these situations, the alleged offending with these cases have remained stagnant. A recent ers remained students despite their actions. Therefore, article by The Daily Targum places a distinct timeline comparatively, Rutgers is more productive. The indion how an allegation of rape was handled by the Uni- vidual accused and found guilty of sexual assault was versity. On the surface, the process appears to be slow suspended from the University for the remainder of the victim’s time at school moving and riddled with bureaucracy. When a situation unfolds near you, it’s easier to idenUnder Title IX, the federal government mandates that colleges and universities take no more than 60 days to tify with or understand its implications. In that sense, fully investigate sexual violence cases. However, schools sexual violence is a lot like racism: until you experido have the ability to take up to 60 days even if the full ence it, you probably won’t realize how big of a deal it is. And there is no one way to time period is not necessary. codify experience. It can be on In the case mentioned in the a personal level or through faDaily Targum article, the “Independent of how long interactions. Experience University was unable to comthey last, investigations almost milial can also mean receiving formal ment on whether or not they always open the door to or informal lessons dealing with took more or less time than re-victimization.” the matter at hand. But such an the allotted 60-day period. unfortunate phenomenon should The investigation of this not be so commonplace. Efforts case shows that instances of sexual assault are by no means cut and dry. The of- to improve awareness most assuredly exist at Rutgers. fender is not always a stranger or a drunk person at a At New Student Orientation, students are made to watch party. Sometimes it’s a significant other or best friend. a rape scene play out, teaching them how to react and That is often what forces investigations to be difficult and respond to such situations. On-campus organizations long-winded. Regardless, when it comes to these cases, dedicate themselves to educating students on the realities of gender-based violence. We hear about the need for victims can only demand care and expediency. Unnecessarily stretching out an investigation is dan- enthusiastic consent and the necessity to teach men not gerous. Independent of how long they last, investigations to rape. The University itself piloted the iSpeak Project, almost always open the door to re-victimization. The that issues a “climate survey regarding cases of sexual individual who suffered rape or sexual assault is forced assaults that occur on college campuses,” according to to recount the event multiple times to ensure accuracy, an article by The Daily Targum. Educational efforts concerning the issue have a necesmaking time incredibly sensitive. Prolonging an investigation can be used as a ploy to coax victims into dropping sary presence at the University level, but action is needcharges as opposed to seriously exploring the situation ed. Upholding the 60-day time limit and handling both at hand. While the 60-day time period allows for a full in- victims and perpetrators with respect during and after vestigation to ensure that all parties involved have their investigations, are essential. If the University can assert voices heard and that all sides of the story are examined, the importance of education on sexual violence, then the same resolve should apply to investigative practices too. the process must be expedited whenever possible. The Daily Targum’s editorials represent the views of the majority of the 147th editorial board. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
March 24, 2015
Opinions Page 9
Students deserve educational opportunity for all borrowers, wherever their loans come from. If you believe in a Student Aid Bill of Rights that will help more Americans pay BARACK OBAMA for a quality education, I’m asking you to visit WhiteHouse.gov/CollegeOpportunity. Sign your name to this declaration. n an economy increasingly built upon Tell your families, friends and fellow innovation, the most important skill students. I’m going to ask members of you can sell is your knowledge. That’s Congress, lenders and as many business why higher education is, more than ever, leaders as I can find, because making the surest ticket to the middle class. But sure that students aren’t saddled with just when it’s never been more important, debt before they even get started in life it’s also never been more expensive. The is in all our interests. average undergrad who borrows to pay This issue is personal to for college ends up gradume. My grandfather had a ating with about $28,000 in chance to go to college bestudent loan debt. “Michelle and I are where we are today because cause this countr y decidThat’s why my adminof scholarships and student loans. We didn’t come ed that veterans returning istration has worked hard from World War II should be from families of means, but we knew that if we to make college more affordable. We expanded tax worked hard, we’d have a shot at a great education.” able to afford it. My mother was able to raise two kids by credits and Pell Grants, enherself in part because she acted the largest reforms to got grants that helped pay the student loan program for her education. And Michelle and I are in histor y and fought to keep interest can and should do to live up to them. Consider the other actions I took two where we are today because of scholarrates on student loans low. We’ve acted to let millions of graduates cap loan pay- weeks ago. We’re creating a way for ships and student loans. We didn’t come ments at 10 percent of their incomes, so borrowers to ask questions about their from families of means, but we knew that they don’t have to choose between pay- loans or file a complaint and get a fast if we worked hard, we’d have a shot at a ing the rent and paying back their debt. response. We’re going to require busi- great education. That’s what this countr y I’ve sent Congress my plan to bring the nesses that ser vice loans to provide clear gave us. In America, a higher education cancost of community college down to zero, information about how much students because two years of higher education owe and their options for repaying it, and not be a privilege reser ved only for should be as free and universal as high help them get back in good standing if the few. It has to be available to evthey’re falling behind, with reasonable er yone who’s willing to work for it. school is today. I recently unveiled another way that we fees on a reasonable timeline. We’re also Barack Obama is the 44th and current can help more Americans afford college. going to take a hard look at whether we It doesn’t involve any new spending or need new laws to strengthen protections president of the United States of America.
COMMENTARY
I
bureaucracy. It’s a simple declaration of values –– a Student Aid Bill of Rights. It says: Ever y student deser ves access to a quality, affordable education. Ever y student should be able to access the resources to pay for college. Ever y borrower has the right to an affordable repayment plan. And ever y borrower has the right to quality customer ser vice, reliable information and fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans. That’s it. Just a few simple principles. But there’s a lot that colleges, lenders and the people you send to Washington
‘Palcohol’ may promote underage drinking of liquid. People that are drinking the palcohol beverage, whether or not they are young adults, might not realize that they are over-drinking because they underestiCOURTNEY HAN mate the alcohol content of the amount of powder they are putting in the drink. Additionally, if someone is given a drink made ecently, some genius decided to of large amounts of palcohol, they might make alcoholic beverages in a pownot realize how high the alcohol content dered form. As if there were not is because the all of the powder dissolves. enough opportunities for kids to drink If they have already had a few drinks, irresponsibly underage, now it comes in drinking the highly concentrated palcohol a form that is even easier to hide from could put them in critical condition. parents and law enforcement. The invenI am all for innovation and it would not tor, Michael Phillips, created the product surprise me at all if palcohol became the in order to be able to enjoy an alcoholic next big thing. I cannot beverage after a hike or active deny the fact that palcosport, when it would be a hashol would be extremely sle to carry a bottle of liquor. “Combine the tendency to feel invincible with the eco-friendly by eliminatNews of the soon-to-be released ing the waste of bottles statistical likelihood of binge drinking and the invention, dubbed “palcohol,” and maximizing shipment has been stirring up controversy easy concealment of powdered alcohol, and we space. But we need to look across the country, with parents have a serious disaster on our hands.” at the safety of young adults and state governments wanting first. I can confidently to ban the use of the substance, say that the generation of understandably so. Powdered young adults today are just not responsialcohol is an extremely dangerous prodThe statistics show that the age barrier ble enough yet, and I’m not sure if young uct that will only make underage drinking and irresponsible drinking easier and to purchasing alcohol has done nothing adults will ever be responsible enough to to stop kids from getting it. What makes handle such a product. Once this product more enticing. I’m not trying to sound like a parent powdered alcohol even worse than regular hits store shelves, it will be abused by unlecturing their child about the risks of alcohol is the fact that it can be hidden so derage drinkers. We cannot assume that underage drinking, but let’s face it: No easily. Young adults will have no problem teaching young adults about the dangers matter how many health classes, lectures sneaking palcohol into concerts, sports of underage drinking, or making the prodand Lifetime movies kids are exposed games and movie theaters. The ability to uct challenging to obtain will stop it from to, they don’t seem to realize the risks of carry it so easily on one’s person at all being abused. That didn’t work for normal underage drinking in terms of sexual as- times would probably increase the likeli- alcohol. Instead of worrying about the hassault and drunk driving. These things also hood of drinking said palcohol, regardless sle of carrying alcohol bottles, we have to realize the extreme danger that this prodhappen with legal drinkers, but they are of the situation. Powdered alcohol would probably lead uct poses for the safety of young adults. much more likely to occur when a person that is underage drinks. Combine the ten- to increased incidents of binge drinking Courtney Han is a School of Arts and Scidency to feel invincible with the statistical and alcohol poisoning. Alcoholic beverlikelihood of binge drinking and the easy ages could be made with a much higher ences sophomore majoring in journalism and concealment of powdered alcohol, and we concentration of alcohol, just by adding media studies and political science. Her cola few more packets of palcohol to a glass umn, “Fit Wit,” runs on alternate Tuesdays. have a serious disaster on our hands.
R
FIT-WIT
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5,000 people under 21 years old die every year from alcohol-related car accidents, homicides, suicides and poisonings. According to the same source, more than 190,000 people under 21 went to an emergency room for injuries related to alcohol in 2008 alone. Imagine the entire population of Salt Lake City in Utah in the emergency room. Introducing a new alcohol product for sale will add to the intrigue of underage drinking. I can only foresee this number getting larger with the release of powdered alcohol for sale.
Community, self-love beam through blackout FRONTLINE
YVANNA SAINT-FORT
T
umblr is a safe space. For those who don’t know, it’s a form of social media that allows users to like and “reblog,” text posts, photos and videos of literally anything. I have always seen Tumblr as the culmination of my inner being. It’s not like Twitter or Facebook or Instagram, where certain social expectations need to be met and emotions can’t be expressed. On Tumblr nothing is off limits. That URL is where my true political affiliations are collected, where my actual desires live, where my visceral emotions exist uninhibited. Or at least, that was my intention. Years ago I was talking to a coworker about Tumblr, hesitant to tell her my username. I wasn’t ready to bare my soul to a casual friend so I asked about her page instead and she said, “I don’t reblog white people, that’s not what I look like.” I had never thought of it like that, but it was like realizing you’re the only black person in a crowded room: Once you notice it, you can’t un-notice. While I was already conscious of what the pictures on my page were, I was not cognizant of who the people in those pictures were. So if my Tumblr was meant to be a reflection of who I am as a person, then mine was completely off. Aside from landscape and aesthetic pictures, the bulk of photos on my blog were of skinny, blonde haired and blue eyed white girls: the complete antithesis of who I am as a full figured black woman with kinky hair. I didn’t take such a contentious stance and stop “reblogging” white people all together, yet since that conversation, I’ve used Tumblr with a sense of hyperawareness. The Tumblr blackout hosted on March 6 was a mass realization of this same concept. It was a day designed to celebrate and reblog black love, acceptance and pride. Every single photo I scrolled past was of someone black. Protestors standing in solidarity with Ferguson, fathers kissing their babies, women proudly displaying their beautiful kinky, nappy and natural hair and everyone unashamedly embracing their successes and shortcomings. There were posts and photos of individuals extolling their emotions, showing how they were brought to tears because of the outpouring of not only black self-love, but of community intimacies. Before the blackout I had no idea how many black people used Tumblr, plain and simple. But because of that day, I gained more than 100 new followers and a reliving of the blackout on my dashboard on a daily basis. America’s relationship with black people is in a state of chaos and uncertainty. Police brutality and homicide are the narratives that speak to the current black experience on a national scale. The media incessantly demonizes victims and shames our communities into a macabre subordination. My black Tumblr is now a place where these near fictive reports are challenged, where ideas are questioned and where black people are allowed to exist as students, lawyers and educators, not criminals, rapists and gang-bangers. The blackout has now been made a monthly event that will take place on the first Friday of every month. Tumblr users have taken the steps necessary to change the negative perceptions surrounding black people, one that will surely erect a positive, lasting imprint on what it means to be black in America. The national narrative does not favor the success of black people in America, but Tumblr does, and however small a step that may seem, it is monumental to users like me. Yvanna Saint-Fort is a School of Arts and Sciences junior double majoring in journalism and media studies and political science. She is the Opinions Editor at The Daily Targum.
YOUR VOICE The Daily Targum welcomes submissions from all readers. Due to space limitations, letters to the editor must not exceed 400 words. Guest columns and commentaries should be between 500 and 700 words. All authors must include name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Anonymous letters will not be considered. All submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity. A submission does not guarantee publication. Please submit via email to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication.
Page 10
Horoscopes
DIVERSIONS Nancy Black
Pearls Before Swine
March 24, 2015 Stephan Pastis
Today’s Birthday (03/23/15). Dreams come true this year with help from friends and family. For the next three months, it’s easier to save money. Thoughtful introspection reveals a hidden passion. What to learn? Plan a magnificent summer adventure with someone special. Polish your image before October eclipses (10/13 & 10/27) illuminate your work. Play full out, and reap rewards. Share with love. 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 an 8 — Get into some profitable teamwork today. Friends help you stay on task. Reminisce about old school strategies. Talk about visions and dreams while handling concrete, even mundane matters. There’s a learning curve. Keep at it. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Treat yourself with restful, peaceful activities. Write, draw and create. Work with fantastical images from a dream. Let your mind wander. Unplanned obstacles could slow the action. Verify reservations before you leave the house. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 6 — Stay close to home while making plans for a great adventure that may include travel on or over water. Confer with family. Read the fine print. Rest while you plot and schedule. Hunt for what you need online. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Figure out how to use what you have without wasting a lot of energy. Don’t take risks. Share resources if necessary. Someone else has what you need. Plan a gathering or meeting. Compassion wins friends at work. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — A professional test or challenge arises. Take it slow. No fair cheating. Take one step at a time, and focus to meet the deadline. Consult an expert. Consider ethics, justice and fair play. Nurture your team members. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Your educational journey seems to progress more quickly than anticipated. Believing you can do the job helps. Don’t get cocky, though. Things may not be as them seem. Watch for hidden obstacles or expenses. Others rely on you.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Avoid waste or financial speculation of any kind. In a disagreement about budgetary priorities, find common ground to minimize risk. Keep optimistic. Remember your manners. Love is the foundation. Build from there, slowly. Sugarcoat results if necessary. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — You have less than expected but enough to get by. Work together to get a big job done. Cut corners where necessary. Be respectful yet undeterred. Recycle or up-cycle and save money. You can afford to be gracious. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Postpone travel. Write down a dream. What you visualize you can create. Ask probing questions. Love deeply. Humor helps you get through a tough spot. Take time to imagine success. Don’t hold back. Go for what you want. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Get into a fun game with friends. Household repairs could drain resources. Cash in your coupons. Turn down an expensive invitation. Working at home is profitable. Old assumptions get challenged. Play for the gold. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 6 — Home has a magnetic draw. Work from there if you can. Avoid jealousies or unexpected expense. Stay out of an argument that doesn’t concern you. Stick to basic facts and common ideals. Cook simple fare. Take it easy. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Imagination works when all else fails. You have to do the work, too, after crafting a plan. Open your heart and mind. Expect nothing. Postpone paperwork. Don’t spend more than you can afford. Get help building your dream.
©2015 By Nancy Black distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
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March 24, 2015
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March 24, 2015
Page 13
TOURNEY
SERIES
Perrotti fails to earn spot on podium after eighth place finish at NCAAs last year
Knights secure first two wins in Big Ten play behind arms of Brey, Rosa
CONTINUED FROM BACK With his championship hopes done, Perrotti had the chance to make the podium for the second-straight year, but Columbia’s Mark Scheidel stood in the way. It was déjà vu for Perrotti, who again struggled to score. He entered sudden victory, and again lost 3-1 on a late takedown. Perrotti, visibly shaken, pounded the mat after the loss and ran back to the hotel. When Perrotti returned the next day to watch the rest of his teammates, he was not sure what went wrong for him. “It is tough, man,” Perrotti said. “Coming away from the Tournament empty handed sucks. You end your season last year on such a high note and coming back now, I don’t even know – I’m still upset. I have to make everything crisp and chase the National Championship next year – just have to work a little harder this time.” Perrotti’s failure to win a match surprised Goodale just as much as it did Perrotti. “You never expect your returning All-American to come back here and go 0-2,” Goodale said. “That’s the nature of this sport. ... Last year he caught fire and he wasn’t able to do it this year. He couldn’t generate any offense and score points – if you can’t do that you can’t win.” Also failing to find spots on the podium were returning Qualifiers Billy Smith and Ken Theobold. The bracket tasked Billy Smith with facing returning NCAA Champion and No. 1 seed Nick Gwiazdowski from N.C. State. Smith dropped the bout 8-2 after failing to score a takedown. After the tough draw and loss to Gwiazdowski, Smith would go on a tear in the consolation bracket. Smith made quick work with a pair of major decisions (8-0, 12-2). Smith used a combined 8 takedowns and an average of over 2 minutes of riding time between the two bouts. Smith seemed capable of claiming All-American status, but faltered against Ty Walz of Virginia Tech, dropping the decision 5-3. Theobold came into the tournament unseeded after being injured in the Big Ten tournament. He won his first match 6-5 against Arizona State’s Christian Pagdilao. The 149-pounder then dropped decisions to Virginia Tech’s Sal Mastriani and Princeton’s Chris Perez to end his tournament. Theobold didn’t have the outing he hoped, but said he might take a different approach this offseason. “It’s not the proudest moment of my life,” Theobold said. “But this is where you find yourself and rebuild. Luckily, I can redshirt next year, win some open tournaments and look toward the future. My big goal is to become an All-American before I graduate and that’s what I look forward to.” While sophomore Scott DelVecchio was the first Knight to be eliminated from NCAAs, he took it as a learning experience. As an unseeded NCAA Qualifier and ninth-place finisher at the Big Ten’s, DelVecchio had the longest shot of any Knight. “It’s tough – just qualifying is not something you want to do,” DelVecchio said. “... If you were just okay with just making it here, you probably aren’t going to make it very far here in this tournament.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow @TylerKaralewich and @TargumSports on Twitter.
CONTINUED FROM BACK hitter and occasionally pitching. Litterio said a change in his role is likely in order after he showed flashes on the mound similar to last season. Rosa had been one of the key pitchers for Rutgers in 2014, posting a 6-3 record and an earned run average under three. “On Saturday, Howie Brey gave us the opportunity to win that game,” Litterio said. “We finally have our pitching rotation set up with the starters and relievers — they all did a good job. Gaby Rosa had good, quality pitches (Sunday). Last year, he basically did it on his fastball. Today, he had a changeup and a slider working for him. We’re still going to use him hitting-wise, maybe a pinch hitter or designated hitter, but he’s going back to the starting role on the mound.” The offense for the Knights was vital to the wins over the weekend. Rutgers outhit the Boilermakers in each game of the series — 12-9, 10-5
and 11-6 — and combined that with effective pitching on the mound. Milo Freeman burst onto the scene, going 8-for-14 in four games dating back to March 18 at Ball State. In the series finale against Purdue, the freshman infielder went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and three stolen bases. According to junior infielder Chris Suseck, when one member of the lineup hits well, the rest of the team follows. Suseck was able to bolster the lineup Sunday by going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs. “We were all just feeding off of each other,” Suseck said. “Hitting is really contagious. When you see one of your teammates have a quality at-bat, you kind of just want to outdo them. I just wanted to get ahead in the count. When I did that, I could just hunt for fastballs and fortunately I put some good swings on them.” For updates on the Rutgers baseball team, follow @TylerKaralewich and @TargumSports on Twitter.
Sophomore Gaby Rosa will continue to see time at the plate, but his three-hitter Sunday proved his worth on the mound for Rutgers. COLIN PIETERS / MARCH 2015
Page 14
March 24, 2015 WOMEN’S LACROSSE RUTGERS-STONY BROOK, TONIGHT, 7 P.M.
SOFTBALL RUTGERS 10, INDIANA 6
RU seeks end to losing streak BRIAN FONSECA STAFF WRITER
The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team treks out to Long Island tonight attempting to change the course of a short but historic matchup with the local team. The Scarlet Knights have only faced the Seawolves of Stony Brook once before, in one of the most significant matches in program histor y. Last season’s reception of Stony Brook was the first ever women’s lacrosse game held at High Point Solutions Stadium. The transition was important to the team, which previously held its matches at the practice fields of Busch campus. “When I first came to Rutgers, we played on the practice field. High Point Solutions (Stadium) is a completely different environment,” said senior defender Erin Turkot. “The change made us feel more big time. The change to the Big Ten makes us feel like we get more exposure and makes the overall environment of the women’s lacrosse team, that often goes unnoticed, a lot more exciting.” The fabled encounter between Rutgers and Stony Brook was the only meeting between the two sides. The Seawolves, ranked 18th nationally at the time, crossed the Outerbridge into New Jersey with a 14-4 blowout win over the Knights. Despite the match not ending in Rutgers’ favor, the experience was something those involved will never forget. “That first time walking through the tunnel into the stadium was really exciting. The whole team felt a presence a lot bigger than anything else we’ve ever
experienced,” Turkot said. “The feeling combined with an opponent that was so strong made our program feel really big.” The 2015 edition of the Seawolves currently sits 17th in the polls, as Stony Brook prepares to host Rutgers, trying to extend its unbeaten streak to six. The Seawolves’ biggest win this season was over No. 6 Florida in Gainesville, the first top-10 victory in program history. Stony Brook owns the second best scoring defense in Division I, allowing only 5.43 goals per game, according to NCAA.com. On the other end of the field, sophomore Courtney Murphy averages a hat trick per game, supplementing her team’s stout defense. Along with tying the overall series at 1-1, a win over the No. 17 Seawolves (5-0) can also drastically change the direction of the Knights’ season. Rutgers (1-8) is currently on an eight-game skid, the worst losing streak in program history. Last Saturday, James Madison defeated Rutgers, 19-14, in a game that saw the Knights storm back with six unanswered goals in the second half to come within three goals of the No. 15 team in the country. Rutgers then dropped a 9-5 decision at home to Hofstra on Wednesday where Lauren Sbrilli scored a team-high four goals, elevating her career tally to 96. The senior needs only four more goals to become a member of the 100goal club. Head coach Laura Brand-Sias was surprised with the team’s struggles on the offensive end, but was pleased with production on the defensive end. “After our offensive performance against JMU, we weren’t
expecting to be as stagnant on the offensive side of the ball against Hofstra. Defensively, we’ve made changes and (are) looking to tweak some things, and I think our defense did a great job considering the ball was on our defensive end for about 80 percent of the game,” Brand-Sias said. A bright spot amid another difficult week for the Knights was the emergence of freshman Kerri Puckhaber. The Wantagh, New York, native has been seeing extended minutes and has contributed points on offense in three consecutive games. “She’s stood out to us all year as someone who has a lot of potential. She has a lot of game sense. She’s very engaged in everything she’s doing,” Brand-Sias said. “At the beginning of the year, she was having those freshman moments where she was timid and hesitant to do things. We challenged her to step up and she’s immediately made some changes to her game and made an impact. She’s a very coachable kid.” Fighting through a difficult stretch is becoming increasingly difficult, but the team continues to have hope. “It’s been tough. Every game we’re able to pull away with so many great things that we’ve done. It’s just not translating to the scoreboard with a full game and the win. Each game we’ve had to deal with these struggles,” Turkot said. “It’s taking a lot of stamina to get through it, but hopefully we’re going to break through against Stony Brook.” For updates on the Rutgers women’s lacrosse team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
Junior infielder Melanie Slowinski and the Knights collected 28 runs on 35 hits in their three-game series against the Hoosiers. DAILY TARGUM / APRIL 2013
Rutgers’ bats active in first Big Ten series RYAN MORAN STAFF WRITER
Rutgers softball was one of the school’s last teams to compete in the Big Ten, waiting until this past weekend to debut against Indiana The Scarlet Knights (12-8) made a strong opening statement against the Hoosiers (9-22) at the plate. The Knights won the series, 2-1. “We could have won all three games, but we are playing well,” said head coach Jay Nelson. “We are hitting the ball, fielding the ball much better and playing the game really well. Our pitching is a little challenged right now, but we are working on it.” In the rubber game of the series on Sunday, Rutgers prevailed by a score of 10-6 to earn its first Big Ten series win. Dresden Maddox picked up the win, scattering six runs in four and two-thirds innings. The junior righthander yielded just four hits, but struggled with her control, walking six and hitting two batters. The Kennesaw, Georgia, native found herself in trouble in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded and two out, but was able to get the strikeout to halt the Hoosiers’ rally. The team picked up 10 hits on the day, including two home runs from the bats of junior infielder Melanie Slowinski and sophomore first baseman Bridget Carr. In the second game, the Knights looked to have everything going well, scoring seven unanswered runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but Indiana answered. The Hoosiers rallied for eight runs in the last three innings with three of the runs off three hits in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off win. After Sweeney cruised through the first four innings, the combination of Maddox, sophomore pitcher Shayla Sweeney and senior pitcher Alyssa Landrith could not stop the bleeding late. “It was more about losing a game that we had a seven (run) lead, but you have to give Indiana credit,” Nelson said. “They swung the bats well. They mounted a good comeback and we couldn’t hold them off.” In its inaugural Big Ten game, Rutgers came alive at the plate. After falling behind, 5-2, in the second, the Knights went on to score nine unanswered runs thanks to the its performance at
the plate where they accumulated 13 hits. Second baseman Stephanie Huang was the catalyst of the comeback, going 3-for-5 with four runs batted in. Slowinski and senior outfielder Jackie Bates each added a homer to propel the Knights to victory. Slowinski belted three home runs in the series, providing great protection in the middle of the order. “Thursday we had practice, and we hit for a while and I think that helped me a bit,” she said. “I am really seeing the ball really well and I’ve been able to adjust to the way they were pitching to me. Everyone on the team is hitting, so that helps with your confidence going up to the plate.” Landrith had a strong performance, going the full length of the game after struggling early to secure her sixth win of the season. Huang has found her groove of late since she moved back into the leadoff spot, going 6-for-13 on the weekend with four RBI. “I think being at the bottom of the order, there is less pressure and I was able to get my confidence back up, so that I could be more comfortable,” Huang said. Nelson felt like the move to the bottom of the order really helped Huang relax. “She was getting herself out,” Nelson said. “She was swinging at bad pitches. The move was to get her to be more patient and she has done that. She is seeing the ball really well, right now.” After struggling the first few weeks at the plate, Rutgers has finally shook off the rust and found its niche. Over the past weekend alone, the team compiled 28 runs on 35 hits in three games. While the bats have been hot, the pitching trio of Landrith, Maddox and Sweeney has struggled to find its groove early in the season. While the tilt for March 24 against Monmouth has been postponed, there is an increased sense of urgency to perform as a contest with Hofstra lingers. “We have a good staff that is sort of like the batter in a slump. I believe that it is more mental than anything physical,” Nelson said. “We have to get them feeling more confident out there so they can challenge hitters more. They can definitely overcome it.” For updates on the Rutgers softball team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
Page 15
March 24, 2015 WRESTLING ASHNAULT PLACES EIGHTH AT 141 POUNDS, FALLS OUT OF THIRD-PLACE CONTENTION
Ashnault hurts leg, falls short in All-American campaign TYLER KARALEWICH CORRESPONDENT
ST. LOUIS — Standing in the Morgan Street Brewery, a small pub in the historic Laclede’s Landing neighborhood of downtown St. Louis, head coach Scott Goodale took the chance to make a speech. In front of roughly 50 fans, coaches and student-athletes Saturday night, the Rutgers wrestling coach had many people to thank. Among the gratitude he expressed for the fans for making the trip to the NCAA Championships, and the thanks he gave to his fellow coaches, Goodale acknowledged the Scarlet Knights — which included the five NCAA qualifiers. Goodale recognized them not only for their hard work and dedication this season, but their commitment to the Rutgers program — which included believing in him and his vision. Redshirt-freshman Anthony Ashnault was one of them. With the option to go essentially wherever he wanted, Ashnault made the choice to follow Goodale with the Knights, and it paid off in his first year of competition. *** After the Friday morning of wrestling at the 2015 National Championships, Ashnault was the only Rutgers wrestler alive in the tournament. Following his 9-4 decision over Appalachian State’s Mike Longo and his 6-3 decision against 10th-seeded Zachary Horan of Central Michigan, Ashnault was in the semifinals. Although Ashnault drew 2nd-seeded Mitchell Port of Edinboro, the eventual runner-up at 141 pounds, he said he felt confident after the first day of competition. Ashnault would trade leads with Port early in the first period as both grapplers collected takedowns. Port reversed Ashnault 15 seconds after being taken to the mat and rode out the rest of the period — Port gained a 4-3 lead he would not surrender. After a second and third period dominated by Port, Ashnault would drop the decision, 9-4, against the three-time All-American. Ashnault would still need just one more victory to become Goodale’s second All-American in as many years. With the opportunity to win the consolation bracket, Ashnault shifted his expectations from winning the whole tournament to taking third place — the highest podium spot he could obtain. His first obstacle in the wrestle-back bracket was Randy Cruz of Lehigh. Trailing 1-0 entering the third period against Cruz, Ashnault made the risky decision to choose neutral against Cruz — thus giving up the sure point he would get from an escape if he started on bottom. Ashnault looked for his chance for nearly a minute and then found Cruz’s leg. With over one minute remaining, Ashnault secured the takedown, going up, 2-1. After securing the riding time point, Cruz escaped and put Ashnault on the defensive. With a decision of 3-2, Ashnault became just the second All-American under Goodale. For the first time in program history, the
Knights would have someone on the podium in back-to-back years. Later that day, Goodale was pleased to have his second All-American and to have the program brought to new heights, but he was thinking about Ashnault. Ashnault would not have the chance to compete for the third place spot. “It’s good,” Goodale said of getting his second All-American. “That’s where this thing is going. I don’t think, as a team, we wrestled great all weekend, but it’s good to get one and keep building on it. We’re going to keep getting better kids and keep building on what we’re doing. There’s guys back home certainly capable and the future is definitely exciting. But I’m in the moment right now thinking about Anthony, and that’s kind of where I’m at.” *** Back at the Morgan Street Brewery, it was junior 157-pounder Anthony Perrotti’s turn to make a speech. As Rutgers’ lone returning All-American, he did not have to tournament that he wanted. But when Perrotti spoke Saturday night, it was not about his misfortune this tournament. It wasn’t about how he shocked the wrestling bracket a year ago to become an All-American as an unseeded in Oklahoma City at the NCAAs. Perrotti said how proud he was of his best friend Ashnault for starting his career on a high note and achieving his own goal of being an All-American. *** After Ashnault kept alive his goal of becoming an All-American and making it one step closer to third place, he would be confronted with Dean Heil of Oklahoma State. The first period started with as much normalcy as possible before disaster struck. With just around a minute remaining in the first stanza, Ashnault suffered an injury to his left hamstring. After an injury stoppage, Ashnault tried to walk it off, but none of his best efforts would stop his noticeable limping. Ashnault then made the decision to wrestle on one leg, noticeably favoring his left hindquarter. Battling through the whole second period, Ashnault would resort to wrestling on his hips in his bout, seemingly unable to bear any weight on his legs. Ashnault denied trying to forfeit the match on an injury default, eventually losing the 9-4 decision to Heil. Ashnault was distraught after losing his chance at third and having his tournament ended on something that was out of his control. Following the bout, Ashnault needed only a few words to express his emotions. “It sucks — I don’t know,” Ashnault said about the injury with tears fresh on his face and an ice pack wrapped around his leg after the bout Friday night. When he was asked if he was pleased being an All-American, Ashnault responded, “Not really.” Ashnault walked away in disgust before being asked any more questions. On Saturday, he used a medical forfeit and dropped to eighth place. *** In room 42 on the event level of the Scottrade Center on Saturday morning in St. Louis, Ashnault and Goodale had a day to
get over the hardship that had faced them a day before. While Ashnault was not pleased, he was in better spirits than the day prior and was able to reflect on his first NCAA Tournament. “I’m a little over (the disappointment) at this point,” he said. “I wanted to come back for third. I wanted to come here and win the national title. But things happen — it’s part of the sport and it’s part of life. It’s great to be an All-American, it’s just eighth is kind of like the bottom of the totem pole. ... I’m grateful and I’m proud of myself. I’m happy, but I think I’ve got a lot more potential in me.” Goodale cried tears of joy last year after Perrotti became the first All-American under his tutelage. With what happened to Ashnault, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he shed a tear for a different reason. Goodale said he believed the redshir t-freshman was
the third-best 141-pounder at the tournament, but the injur y leaves a curious feeling of what could have been at this tournament. “Yeah, he’s an All-American but we truly believe he’s one of the best guys at the weight,” Goodale said. “That’s the difference. Last year, it was ver y celebrator y and exciting and now here we are — the highs of him being an All-American, now let’s go get third place and then the injur y. That’s just the way we feel about this guy (Ashnault) and knowing what he can do. It ends up being a disappointment.” *** When it was Ashnault’s turn to speak at the Rutgers wrestling social, he had already limped through the parade of All-Americans, stood on the bottom of the podium and
self-reflected on his tournament that ended the day before. There were no more feelings of discomfor t. He was with his team, fans and ever y member of the Ashnault family was in attendance. Despite not accomplishing his goal, when Ashnault spoke he said coming to Rutgers was the best decision of his life. Although he didn’t take the top spot on the podium like he wanted to coming in and didn’t take third like Goodale believed he could, there’s still time. He may have lost the chance to be the fifth four-time NCAA Champion, but Ashnault can still be the first Rutgers NCAA Champ. It’s just going to take longer than he expected. For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow @TKaralewich and @TargumSports on Twitter.
Anthony Ashnault clutches his left leg after injuring his hamstring in the first period against Dean Heil of Oklahoma State. He came back to finish the bout, but lost. TIAN LI / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TWITTER: @TARGUMSPORTS DAILYTARGUM.COM/SECTION/SPORTS TARGUMSPORTS.WORDPRESS.COM
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK
Sports
QUOTE OF THE DAY “It’s great to be an All-American, it’s just eighth is kind of like the bottom of the totem pole. ... I’m grateful and I’m proud of myself. I’m happy, but I think I’ve got more potential in me.” - Redshirt-freshman 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015
ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM
WRESTLING RUTGERS GRAPPLERS FINISH 6-10, PLACE 31ST AT NCAA TOURNAMENT
Lone All-American highlights NCAA Tourney TYLER KARALEWICH CORRESPONDENT
ST. LOUIS — Every Rutgers wrestler’s goal entering the 2015 NCAA Tournament was to advance as far as possible in the bracket and find themselves atop the podium as All-Americans. The Rutgers wrestling team had a realistic chance to accomplish those goals, too. With three repeat Qualifiers and two newcomers, the Scarlet Knights brought half of their lineup to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Aside from redshirt-freshman 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault, no one else made it to the podium Saturday at NCAAs. Head coach Scott Goodale was convinced going into the tournament that the five Knights who made it could win matches. After the first day of competition, only three Rutgers grapplers were in it. After the second day, Ashnault was the only one left and he would go on to medical forfeit Saturday after a hamstring injury. “I’m disappointed the other guys didn’t get through – I thought they were certainly capable of winning matches here,” Goodale said Friday after only three Knights were alive in the bracket. “It’s the National Tournament, so those things happen.” The duo of Ashnault and returning All-American Anthony Perrotti figured to have the best chance at placing. Both grapplers came in as the only ones seeded for Rutgers, both placing at the Big Ten Tournament. But things did not go well for the returning eighth-place winner. Perrotti struggled to score in his two bouts at NCAAs, causing him to be ousted after the first day. His first match of NCAAs was against Noel Blanco of Drexel. Perrotti struggled to find scoring in the match, using escapes and stalling point to end regulation tied at 3-3. In sudden victory, Blanco found Perrotti’s legs for a takedown, winning 5-3. Redshirt-freshman 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault raises his hand after defeating Lehigh’s Randy Cruz by a 3-2 decision. Ashnault clinched a spot on podium with the win to become head coach Scott Goodale’s second All-American. TIAN LI / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEE TOURNEY ON PAGE 13
BASEBALL RUTGERS 5, PURDUE 2
Rutgers earns first series victory in Big Ten TYLER KARALEWICH CORRESPONDENT
It took the Rutgers football team nearly half of its season to win its first game against the Big Ten as a member of its new conference. And it took three more games for the Scarlet Knights of the gridiron to win their second game against a Big Ten opponent. For the Rutgers baseball team, the wait wasn’t nearly as long. In only their second game of its first conference series at Purdue, the Scarlet Knights collected their first win in the Big Ten Saturday and waited just a day to duplicate.
The 4-1 win Saturday and 5-2 win Sunday also marked the first series win of the season for Rutgers — a feat showcasing the team can put together wins and consistently support their starting pitching with productive offense. But the most impressive element for head coach Joe Litterio was how the Knights rebounded after losing Friday 9-5 on a late mistake in the game. “On Friday night, we played a real good game,” Litterio said. “We gave up one bad pitch and missed a pop up — so that put a lot of pressure on the pitcher and defense — and then we gave up a grand slam. But other than that, we played well and carried it over in the next two
games and I was impressed by that. I think that is something we are learning to do — not let things affect us and learning how to rebound.” Another first for the team was victories from their ace, junior left-hander Howie Brey, and its No. 2 starter from a year ago, sophomore righthander Gaby Rosa. Brey notched his first win of the season Saturday while Rosa followed Sunday. Brey went seven innings, allowing only one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts. Brey was happy with the location of his pitches and said it was a relief to get his first win of the season out of the way. “It was really great to get that first win, finally,” Brey said. “It was definitely locating my off-speed.
EXTRA POINT
NBA SCORES
Brooklyn Boston
91 110
New York Memphis
82 103
Charlotte Chicago
86 98
Washington Golden State
76 107
Minnesota Utah
106 104
Houston Indiana
110 100
MILO FREEMAN,
freshman third baseman, was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after going 8-for-14 in four games at Purdue. The award represents the Rutgers baseball team’s first weekly honor earned in the Big Ten.
I had trouble later in the game locating my fastball, so locating my changeup kept them off-balance. I definitely feel I can keep moving now that I got my first win of the season, but — not only me — the whole team. After getting our first series win now, we feel we can just go ahead and cruise now.” Rosa proved effective for Rutgers in the rubber match on Sunday. The sophomore went six quality innings for the Knights, allowing only one earned run on three hits. Rosa, who had made only three appearances on the mound during the season, had been splitting time playing second base, designated SEE SERIES ON PAGE 13
KNIGHTS SCHEDULE
BASEBALL
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
SOFTBALL
TRACK & FIELD
vs. NJIT
vs. Stony Brook Tonight, 7 p.m., Stony Brook, N.Y.
vs. Hofstra (DH)
Raleigh Relays
Tomorrow, 3 p.m., Hempstead. N.Y.
Friday, All Day, Raleigh, N.C.
Today, 3 p.m, Bainton Field