missing girls Disappearance of female black youths stirs larger questions about race
Glee Club Four major choral organizations from Rutgers selected for national conference
SEE opinions, page 6
see UNIVERSITY, page 3
WOMEN’S LACROSSE Rutgers dominates Ohio State in third consecutive victory over Buckeyes
WEATHER Foggy with a chance of showers High: 64 Low: 48
SEE sports, PAGE 16
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Man dead after jumping from Rockoff garage Chloe Dopico associate news editor
On Saturday afternoon, a Piscataway man died after jumping off the Rockoff Hall parking deck. The 21-year-old unidentified man leaped from the top floor of the Morris Street parking deck around 3:10 p.m., according to a preliminary investigation
conducted by the New Brunswick Police Department. It is currently unclear whether the victim was affiliated with Rutgers University. No further details are available at this time. “There is no evidence to suggest foul play was a contributing factor with this incident,” said New Brunswick Police Department Captain J.T. Miller in a news release.
The Rutgers chapter of Colleges Against Cancer organized the Relay For Life at Rutgers to raise money for cancer research. Students formed their teams and took turns walking throughout the night while also participating in a variety of events and ceremonies. JEFFREY GOMEZ / PHOTO EDITOR
600 Rutgers students attend overnight walk-a-thon to support cancer research Max Marcus contributing writer
Following the theme “cancer doesn’t sleep so neither will we,” Rutgers students stayed up all night Friday to walk laps at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) on Livingston campus to raise money for cancer research. The annual event, “Relay For Life,” is organized by Colleges Against Cancer, a nationwide organization of college students collaborating to raise money for cancer research. Samantha Sherman, the president of the Rutgers chapter of Colleges Against Cancer and a School of Arts and Sciences se-
nior, said there were more than 600 participants at this year’s event. “The idea is to have at least one person from your team walking the track the entire time,” Sherman said. “People can take shifts. It’s a lot more low-key than Dance Marathon in the fact that everybody doesn’t have to be standing or dancing all at the same time. It’s a more relaxed event, but definitely not worse. There’s a lot going on.” The goings-on at this year’s “Relay for Life” began with a lap to honor cancer survivors. Several cancer survivors spoke to the crowd, then led the crowd in the lap.
This was followed by a ceremony to honor those lost to cancer, Sherman said. Caregivers shared their stories and the track set up for the event in the RAC was surrounded by luminaria bags, each dedicated to someone with cancer. Students could purchase a luminaria bag for $10 and decorate it for a loved one who is fighting cancer or who died from the disease. The event also hosted live music and a basketball tournament. Later in the night, there was a “Miss Relay Pageant,” where men See research on Page 4
An unidentified man reportedly died after jumping from the Rockoff Hall parking deck on Saturday around 3:10 p.m. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
RUSA polls close after heated 2-hour debate Kira Herzog news editor
On Thursday night, the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) held a presidential debate at the Student Activities Center. Online voting for the Spring election closed the following day at midnight. The RUSA debate was moderated by two current board members and involved the presidential and vice presidential candidates for both tickets — Rutgers Rise and Knights for Change. The candidates spent a total of about an hour and a half detailing their platforms and qualifications. The most prominently debated issues included the University’s
response to sexual violence, mental health treatment, student representation on the Board of Governors, water quality on campus and college af fordability. “I am running because I believe that words need to be connected to action,” said Rutgers Rise candidate Evan Covello in his opening statement. “As vice president and as the associate director of the Association of Big Ten Students, I have been able to tr y to put those words into action.” Covello, a School of Ar ts and Science junior, said his experience and success within RUSA — in encouraging former President Barack Obama to come to Rutgers and placing a student seat on the Board of
Voting for the Rutgers University Student Assembly’s (RUSA) spring elections concluded on Friday night after nearly two hours of debate. KIRA HERZOG / NEWS EDITOR Governors — prepared him to ser ve the student body. One of Rutgers Rise’s major initiatives is advocating for a University holiday during elections. They also want to move
for ward by allowing a student to vote on the Board of Governors and encouraging administrators to test for lead in drinking water at Rutgers, The Daily Targum repor ted.
VOLUME 149, ISSUE 30 • University ... 3 • opinions ... 6 • on the wire ... 8 • Diversions ... 9 • SPORTS ... BACK
Both members of the ticket were active as RUSA members last year — Covello as vice president and current vice presidential candidate Christie Schweighardt as chief of staf f. Throughout the debate, the candidates’ var ying degrees of experience became a hot-button issue. As the mediator pointed out within one of his questions, Knights for Change largely based its campaign on an “outsider” perspective. “I am tired of the bureaucracy that plagues RUSA,” said Knights for Change candidate Adeel Ahmed during his opening statement. “I am sick and tired of the RUSA establishment putting the interests of the status quo and the administration before the interest of the students. This is not how it is supposed to be, we are supposed to put the interest of the students first. ” The School of Ar ts and Sciences sophomore said student unity See debate on Page 4