The Daily Targum 2010-04-01

THE DAILY TARGUM

Volume 141, Number 114

S E R V I N G

T H E

R U T G E R S

C O M M U N I T Y

S I N C E

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2010

1 8 6 9

Today: Sunny

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

High: 70 • Low: 47

Brush up on the shows of yesteryear and the classic moments of the early ’90’s that never seem to escape the mind. It'll make for great party conversations, too.

New facility unites LGBT community

New director eyes future one year in

BY COLLEEN ROACHE

BY STEVEN MILLER

CORRESPONDENT

SPORTS EDITOR

Like the rainbow-patterned flag that decorated the Yorba Lounge in Tillet Hall on Livingston campus last night at the opening ceremony of Gaypril, attendees of all different colors and sexual orientations came out to support social justice and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning groups at the University.

The ceremony was the first of a series of events intended to bring awareness to issues that affect the LGBTIQQ community here as well as an invitation for students to visit the new center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities in Tillet Hall. The center is an upgrade from the old office on the College Avenue campus.

“This should have happened 20 or 30 years ago,” Senior Dean of Students Mark

SEE FACILITY ON PAGE 8

MARIELLE BALISALISA

University student Shawnna James and Livingston Campus Dean of Students Cheryl Clarke dance to a performance by Miche Braden last night in Tillet Hall on Livingston campus.

Petition looks to seal spot for professor

BY DEVIN SIKORSKI CORRESPONDENT

When Urooj Abbas realized her favorite professor would not be returning next semester, she took immediate action to make sure his release would not go unchallenged.

Abbas, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, started a petition last month to keep part-time lecturer Peter Valenti at the University.

“I had his classes in the fall semester last year, and I noticed he was only teaching one class,” Abbas said. “This was [a sign] for me that they were phasing him out of the system as a teacher.”

INDEX

In the first seven hours of the online petition, more than 100 people from around the academic world signed it.

“We were very pleased with the first day,” said Sidra Sattar, a School of Arts and Sciences junior.

“It was absolutely amazing.”

Valenti, who started teaching at the University in 2008, said he was surprised to hear about the petition from a colleague in the history department.

“One of the faculty members brought the petition to my attention [and] said ‘Are you aware of this?’ and I said I wasn’t,” Valenti said. “So, that was ver y surprising.”

Rudolph Bell, a professor at the University for more than 40 years, said Valenti’s situation is not unusual.

“It routinely happens that the wishes of students are not given a high enough priority,” Bell said. “The students pay a lot of tuition so they should be able to get access to these classes.”

Although both Abbas and Sattar were upset after finding out about their professor’s departure, Valenti was never under the impression he would be kept on board.

The department hired him as a part-time lecturer to replace Toby Jones, a professor

SEE PETITION ON PAGE 6

WINNING THROUGH ‘LOSS’

METRO The nation and state declare April as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness month.

OPINIONS Obama’s decision to lift a ban on offshore drilling may do more harm than good.

UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . 4 METRO . . . . . . . . . 10 OPINIONS . . . . . . . 12 DIVERSIONS . . . . . . 14 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . 16 SPORTS . . . . . . BACK

ONLINE @ DAILYTARGUM.COM

WINIRIS DEMOYA

Man Booker Award Winner Kiran Desai reads her famous literary peice “The Inheritance of Loss” as part of the Writers at Rutgers Series last night in the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus. Desai is the youngest person to ever receive the Man Booker Award.

Tim Pernetti still remembers what he did a year ago today.

The 1995 University graduate officially entered office as the University athletic director April 1 of last year and looking back, Pernetti recalls the moment when it started as one of the greatest.

“It’s going to sound stupid, but a highlight for me was the first day, walking in the back door of the RAC,” he said. “I walked out across the floor and upstairs, and it was really an eerie feeling. I got the chills just being in this building thinking about what I was about to do.”

What he did was play clean up from what previous Athletic Director Robert E. Mulcahy left behind and began his attempt to move the department forward — exactly what University President Richard L. McCormick said he wanted, and something Pernetti discussed last week.

The 39-year-old became the University’s sixth athletic director devoid of any experience in the field. Instead, he brought his knowledge from CBS College Sports and a desire to launch his department into the 21st century.

Pernetti preached new-school thinking, asking himself how the department can operate more efficiently and how it can take advantage of technology.

“I think we can constantly be thinking about better ways to do it,” he said.

And while much of Pernetti’s work is now focused on moving forward, he spent his first steps attempting to institute a culture change TIM PERNETTI within the administration, beginning by instituting transparency.

“During the previous year, 2008, there were a lot of criticisms of Rutgers athletics,” McCormick said. “[There were media outlets] questioning our transparency and they identified some things we had done wrong.”

McCormick cited examples the University failed to make public, such as the components of head football coach Greg Schiano’s contract.

“There was no intention to deceive, but there was a lack of publicity and a lack of transparency,” he said. “Tim has shown himself to be absolutely committed to solving that problem.”

Pernetti began by spending 90 days with Deputy Athletic Director of Finance and Administration Richard Costello, restructuring head football coach Greg Schiano’s contract and making clarifications to head women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer’s.

Pernetti and McCormick agree: The department took extra steps to make sure everything was black and white and easily understandable, both for athletics and the University.

“I felt like there was a gap between the University and athletics when I got here, and I set out to bridge that gap,” Pernetti said. “I think we’ve done a better job creating glass walls so that you can see into what we’re doing and understand what we’re doing.”

Brought in to clean up the department’s finances, Pernetti now faces economic turmoil in the wake of the University’s budget cuts from Trenton, something he admits will affect the athletic department, but is still unsure of exactly how.

To counteract that, the success of the men’s basketball team — the second-highest grossing

SEE DIRECTOR ON PAGE 4

2

APRIL 1, 2010

DIRECTORY (732) 932-7051 PHONE: (732) 932-0079 BUSINESS FAX: eic@dailytargum.com E-MAIL: www.dailytargum.com WEB:

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

WEATHER OUTLOOK Courtesy of the Weather Channel FRIDAY HIGH 72 LOW 49

SATURDAY HIGH 72 LOW 53

SUNDAY HIGH 70 LOW 49

Come to our office at 26 Mine St. Sunday to Thursday after 5 p.m. to get involved.

EDITORIAL DIRECTORY: Editor-in-Chief Neil P. Kypers Managing Editor Mary Diduch BUSINESS DIRECTORY: Business Manager Katie Gattuso Marketing Director Steve Jacobus

732-932-2012 x110 x101

(732) 932-7051

THE DAILY TARGUM

126 College Ave., Suite 431, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 x600

142ND EDITORIAL BOARD

x604

NEIL P. KYPERS . . . . . . . . . . EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARY DIDUCH . . . . . . . . . . MANAGING EDITOR

Advertising Classifieds Productions

x601 x603 x622

©2009 TARGUM PUBLISHING CO.

The Daily Targum is a studentwritten and student-managed, nonprofit incorporated newspaper published by the Targum Publishing Company, circulation 17,000.

The Daily Targum (USPS949240) is published Monday through Friday in New Brunswick, NJ, while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters. No part thereof may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the consent of the managing editor.

Display and classified advertising may be placed at the above address. Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Postmaster: Send address corrections to The Daily Targum c/o Business Manager, 126 College Ave., Suite 431, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

CORRECTIONS The Daily Targum promptly corrects all errors of substance. If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, send an e-mail to eic@dailytargum.com.

TODAY Sunny, with a high of 70° TONIGHT Clear, with a low of 47°

ARIEL NAGI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEWS EDITOR STEVEN MILLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPORTS EDITOR JOVELLE ABBEY TAMAYO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR TAYLERE PETERSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DESIGN EDITOR STACY DOUEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE BEAT EDITOR ALEKSI TZATZEV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OPINIONS EDITOR NANCY SANTUCCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COPY EDITOR KRISTINE ROSETTE ENERIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UNIVERSITY EDITOR ARTHUR ROMANO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ONLINE EDITOR AYMANN ISMAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MULTIMEDIA EDITOR RAMON DOMPOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR BILL DOMKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR ALEX JANKOWSKI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR EMILY BORSETTI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR MICHAEL MALVASIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE INSIDE BEAT EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS — Tyler Barto, Anthony Hernandez, Katie O’Connor, Chris Zawistowski SENIOR WRITERS — Matthew Stein, Steven Williamson CORRESPONDENTS — Kyle Franko, Greg Flynn, Sam Hellman, Colleen Roache, Rinal Shah, Devin Sikorski SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS — Dan Bracaglia, Andrew Howard

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT K ATIE G ATTUSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B USINESS M ANAGER S TEVE J ACOBUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M ARKETING D IRECTOR L IZ K ATZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O PERATIONS M ANAGER S IMONE K RAMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C ONTROLLER P AMELA S TEIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A SSISTANT M ARKETING D IRECTOR S ARA B USOLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C LASSIFIEDS M ANAGER TAMMER IBRAHIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IT ASSISTANT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES — Jateen Chauhan, Jen Falcon, Pat McGuinness, Chelsea Mehaffey EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS — Jennifer Calnek, Amanda Crawford, Allison Montellione ACCOUNTING ASSISTANTS — Laura Avino, Justin Chan, Liliya Dmitrieva, Minh Nguyen

PRODUCTIONS M ICHAEL P OLNASEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P RODUCTIONS D IRECTOR E D H ANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C REATIVE S ERVICES M ANAGER GARRET BELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIGHT PRODUCTIONS MANAGER JONATHAN ZIPF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OFFICE MANAGER PRODUCTIONS ASSISTANTS — Dan King, Corey Perez, Mike Maroney, Kelsey Schwartz

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

APRIL 1, 2010

UNIVERSITY

PA G E 3

U. puts immigrant support services on map

BY AKANKSHA ARYA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Since the beginning of America, the roots of New Jersey have been inextricably tied to immigration. Yet relatively few research projects tackle the task of studying the large immigrant presence.

Inspired by New Jersey’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Immigrant Integration in 2007, the Rutgers Immigrant Infrastructure Map is an effort to spot communitybased organizations throughout the state that help immigrants integrate and transition into their new homes, said Anastasia Mann, program manager at the Eagleton Institute of Politics’ Program on Immigration and Democracy.

“Too often, immigration is an issue where people bring a lot of passion but not a lot of information,” Mann said. “The goal of the project is to bring data and information necessar y to the issue.”

By building an online database of community-based organizations for immigrants, this project aims to collect data that will allow beneficiaries to learn from individual organizations and from the landscape of organizations in the state, Mann said.

Yet because there are so many small organizations throughout the state, it can be hard for individuals to locate specific groups, she said.

The map will offer a searchable online database that can help a variety of navigators including individuals, policy makers, service

providers, funders and researchers, Mann said.

The government used to play a large role in funding programs to integrate immigrants, but welfare reform in the 1990’s made many of these resources unavailable, she said. Community-based organizations arose to help meet immigrant needs.

RIIM accounts for the broad unit of immigrant-related, not-forprofit or non-government community-based organizations throughout the state, Mann said.

Groups range from economic organizations to soup kitchens and sports leagues.

“The difference between the RIIM and other projects similar to this is that other researchers were only looking at official nonprofit [organizations] … which need to have at least $25,000 in assets, while we are looking at smaller organizations as well,” she said.

Including these smaller organizations allows for a broader range of organizations in RIIM such as those will fewer funds or grants, Mann said.

Such organizations may have advantages because they are more connected to individual communities, she said.

Mara Sidney, a RIIM investigator, said the project consists of three stages — identifying and collecting information from the organizations, mapping them and conducting future case studies to study immigrant interaction with the organizations.

“We anticipate student involvement in each stage of the project, be it through class,

being hired, working for credit, or, through independent study, designing a project within this project,” said Sidney, a Rutgers-Newark political science professor.

The project is now in the data collection phase, said Christine Brenner, an academic advisor to the governor’s Blue Ribbon panel.

Faculty and students find organizations through tapping into social networks and searching top-down through

“Immigration is an issue where people bring a lot of passion but not ... information.”

ANASTASIA MANN Eagleton Program on Immigration and Democracy Program Manager

files of large organizations, Brenner said.

Fieldwork includes work at grassroots level. For example, Brenner has taught many classes that had students who were immigrants themselves or connected to immigrants. These students were able to aid in reaching community-based organizations.

A challenge the project faces is that individual organizations are not willing to fill in a sur vey if they do not know the source, Mann said.

Investigators are also working through intermediar y

organizations to meet with individual organizations.

Questions asked in these surveys include topics such as the funding sources and missions of the organizations and how have they changed over time, and the language of staff, she said.

The surveys also ask how the organizations have been affected by financial crises and the current needs of the organizations.

More than 700 organizations are listed on the map and more are yet to be found, Sidney said.

Investigators hope to launch the public dimension of the map in the summer and will continue to do field work, Mann said. Because small organizations may change or disappear, the map will continue to be updated online.

“We are waiting to see what the data says itself,” said Brenner, an assistant professor of public policy and administration at Rutgers-Camden.

Besides helping researchers understand how immigrant nonprofits are different from other nonprofits, the map will show what services are available and what services may be needed, Sidney said.

Once the project nears completion, a series of meetings with stakeholders in immigrant integration will be planned to show what the map offers and talk about what could make it more useful, she said.

After mapping, areas with organizations may be selected to do case studies on how organizations integrate with immigrants, Sidney said.

Fieldwork for this would include inter views with people in the organizations, immigrants and local leaders, as well as attending events to obser ve participant dynamics first-hand, she said.

Sidney said presentations about the project are being done to scholarly audiences because they want academics to see the map has scholarly value.

“We have heard in conferences from people in other states who might want to do something similar — if not in a state, then in a city,” Brenner said. “Our work may encourage others to try to see how they can do this for their communities.”

New Jersey is the first state to take on the project, she said.

Though this posed challenges similar to those faced by previous projects in other communities but also different challenges due to geography, the team has been committed to completing the project.

“When you get a group of faculty members from different disciplines, they find different ways to approach topics, which has been an asset,” Brenner said.

RIIM, which is the largest project Eagleton has to date, has been a University-community partnership and an opportunity for people to think through how to create a project for the community by the community, she said.

Brenner hopes it will build social networks across organizations that might not have been the same otherwise.

“We hope Rutgers can play a role in bringing these groups together,” she said.

Registration for the Fall 2010 Term begins Sunday, April 4th at 10:00 pm - 2:00 am for graduate students and for all undergraduate students with 105 or greater degree credits.

For registration schedules and other information, please access: http://nbregistrar.rutgers.edu/undergrad/f10prereg.htm or email questions to: gradreg@rci.rutgers.edu or reghelp@rci.rutgers.edu

4

U NIVERSITY

APRIL 1, 2010

DIRECTOR: Pernetti aims for transparency in sports continued from front program at the University — is essential.

Pernetti believes college athletics are about opportunity, oftentimes a last chance for a student-athlete to compete in an organized sport.

“You don’t have 24 sports because 24 sports make money,” he said.

But the men’s basketball program does.

“It’s critically important, not only for the business behind the department but for our overall viability and visibility, to make men’s basketball successful at a high level,“ Pernetti said.

After the team’s fourth consecutive losing season under head coach Fred Hill Jr., the pair sat down to put an end to the rumors of his future that persisted since January.

The meeting ended with the same coach who compiled a 4777 record in his first four years with the University.

If fired, the University would owe Hill just over $1.5 million.

“If you’re asking me if the economics factor played into the thought process, of course it did,” Pernetti said. “At the same time, no one factor puts you over the line. But it was kind of interesting timing that I was sitting in Trenton, listening to the Gov. [Chris Christie], the day before I met with coach.”

After the meeting, Hill mentioned Pernetti’s proposed upgrade to the RAC as a central piece to his program’s development.

“One of the big things is the facilities and the renovation of the RAC and the addition of a practice facility,” Hill said. “We have great suppor t in this administration — for them to go out and be able to raise the money to move this for ward.

This is a very exciting time.”

In an economy where debts soar and budgets are cut, Pernetti oversaw the final stages of one and announced his plans for another costly project — the expansion of Rutgers Stadium and the renovation of the RAC. In fundraising, he sought to create new businesses with the

“The priority that I put at the top of my list every day is just one word: Vision.”

TIM PERNETTI Athletic Director

athletic department and generate a revenue stream that never before existed, he said.

But to help fund “the renaissance of the RAC,” Pernetti looked to the project he inherited, Rutgers Stadium’s expansion, for some ideas.

“We look at what we’ve done in football, and we’ve created this club-seat section that generates a good amount of revenue that was a completely new revenue stream for football because it didn’t exist,” Pernetti said. “We need to do the same thing here: We need to create premium experiences and clubseating that will generate new

revenue that the depar tment doesn’t currently realize.”

Rutgers Stadium can ser ve as a model because one year into the expansion project’s 30year payment plan, ever ything is on schedule.

The main avenue through which the University offsets the project’s debt is football ticket revenue, which was at an all-time high, courtesy of two major factors — increases in price and seating capacity.

The expansion added 11,412 new seats, and in seven home games, average attendance was just over 8,000 more than the stadium’s previous capacity.

“The additional seats, obviously, were a part of it, but 9,000 of those seats were students [who receive free tickets or purchase season tickets],” Pernetti said.

The football team is not only the University’s most high-profile program, but also one of its most successful. Of the 24 varsity sports, the football team was one of only six to experience a winning season in Pernetti’s first year on the job.

The most high-profile of the 18 teams without a winning record is the men’s basketball squad.

But the plan to renovate the team’s home cour t, which received several significant commitments from individual donors, according to Pernetti, will impact 19 sports, not just the most visible, and allow fundraising to come from a number of areas.

Still, the basketball programs are at the center of it. While the Rutgers Stadium payment plan is on pace because of the attendance numbers, men’s basketball averaged 1,000 less guests per

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Athletic Director Tim Pernetti oversees about a $56 million budget, which makes up 3 percent of the University’s budget. season under Hill than in the four years his prior. “[The renovation of the RAC] will be feasible if Tim creates or identifies the resources, from a combination of private giving and new revenue from ticket sales,” McCormick said. “It’s not going to be able to be done with state resources, but if Tim can raise the money, and I believe he will, then Rutgers will do that project.”

Pernetti is seeking another form of revenue after putting out a request for proposal to companies interested in purchasing naming rights at both venues.

Meetings with those companies took place this week to look into the matter even further.

“He’s a visionary guy, he’s a for ward-looking guy,” McCormick said. “Transparency and integration into the

University — those things have been fixed. But even more important about Tim is his ability and his vision to move forward.”

When Pernetti sat down, a week before his one-year anniversary as athletic director — the day when he reflected on his first steps to his office and the changes he made since — much of his conversation was about the future.

It is the reason Pernetti was brought back to the University, and it is something that the first-year athletic director takes to heart.

“The priority that I put at the top of my list every day is just one word: Vision,” he said. “Where is [the athletic department] going to be and what are the things that I can do now, every single day, to help us get there? That, to me, is the No. 1 priority.”

ALUMNUS REMAINS IN COMA AFTER APPARENT SPRING-BREAK ATTACK University graduate Joseph “Zeke” Rucker is fighting for his life after apparently being severely beaten during a vacation in Mexico, The CW Philly reports.

Rucker is suffering from severe head trauma, according to an article on cbs3.com. After spending several days in a hospital in Mexico, he was flown to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami where he remains in a coma.

“He has two, huge skull fractures in the back of his head and he has internal bleeding in his brain and hematoma,” Rucker’s father Joseph said in the article.

Rucker, a 21-year-old student studying law, went to Cancun with a friend to celebrate his graduation. The Sewell, N.J., resident arrived in Cancun on March 15, went out that night, and after separating from his friend to return to their rooms for the night, Rucker decided to sleep on a lounge chair near the hotel’s swimming pool, according to the article.

Police then found him injured in the grass around 4 a.m. on March 16, about 40 feet away from the pool.

According to the article, Rucker’s friend said hotel personnel informed him that a security guard spoke to Rucker at about 3 a.m.

While police are not sure exactly the cause of Rucker’s injuries, his parents believe he was beaten.

“It’s heartbreaking. His eyes are open, but not focused,” Rucker’s mom Anne said in the article. “We don’t know if he even knows who we are.”

— Ariel Nagi

Visit the Multimedia page on dailytargum.com for news videos and features

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Adultery has roots in psychology, biology

BY HENNA KATHIYA

cheating, people still find it to be harmful in relationships and potentially psychologically damaging.

This past year has become the If a person wants to cheat, year of adultery, with the media they should get a divorce, said constantly reporting on the School of Arts and Sciences sennewest adulterous adventures of ior Ben Hopper. The main reason high-profile celebrities such as people cheat is because they are Tiger Woods and Jesse James. At not getting the physical attention the University, one professor is they need from their spouse. researching the science behind “Cheating serves as an escape adultery and infidelity. for people, which is why I think a Helen Fisher, a visiting lot of people are bound to cheat,” research professor in the Hopper said.

Department of Anthropology Deborah Carr, an associate who has studied adultery and professor in the Department of infidelity for 35 years, has found Sociology, said arrogance could biological and psychological rea- play a big role in adultery. sons as to why people have a Men do not plan to cheat on propensity to cheat. their spouses, Carr said. But if There are numerous psycho- the opportunity is available, they logical reasons for adulter y, may take it — especially if they Fisher said. Some people may believe they will not get caught. want to supplement a marriage, This could be the same for solve a sex problem, garner more women as well. attention, seek revenge or have “In the past, it seemed that more excitement in the marriage. women would cheat because they But based on Fisher’s were truly in love with the other research, there person or to seek also is a biological revenge,” Carr “We, as people, have said. “But in modside to adultery.

“The brain is ern times, women the ability to say actually set up to are gaining more make adulter y independence, and no and overcome somewhat easy,” their reasons for these obstacles.

Fisher said. “We cheating begin to have two brain closely resemble HELEN FISHER systems: One of men’s reasons for Anthropology Professor them is linked to cheating.” attachment and Adulter y can romantic love, and then there is be compared to other harmful the other brain system, which is acts like drug or alcohol abuse, purely sex drive.” which can be controlled, she said.

Sometimes these two brain “The bottom line is, through systems are not well connected, research and different studies, which enables people to become we get to learn more about the adulterers and satisfy their sex various human conditions, and drive without any regards to their like drugs and alcohol, adulter y attachment side. can fall into this categor y,” Based on Fisher’s research, Fisher said. “We, as people, there is data of an actual gene have the ability to say no and that enables humans to cheat. overcome these obstacles.”

Researchers in Sweden isoFisher is a member of the lated a “cheating” gene, vaso- Center for Human pressin, in a study of 552 pairs Evolutionar y Studies in the of twins and their spouses, Depar tment of Anthropology.

Fisher said.

She is also the chief scientific “There were some variations advisor to the Internet dating of the gene,” she said. “If people site, Chemistr y.com, a division had two copies of this gene, they of Match.com. were more likely to have a crisis Fisher also wrote several in their marriage, whereas peo- publications on topics relating ple who did not have a copy of to sex, marital dynamics and this gene at all were more likely love. Some of her publications to have a happy marriage.” include “Why We Love” and Although there is biological evi- “The First Sex,” to name dence behind the motives of a few.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

VETERANS TO RUN IN HONOR OF FALLEN SOLDIER Rutgers-Camden student group Veterans for Education is planning a two-mile run to honor University students and alumni who died serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The “Jeremy Kane Benefit Run” will raise funds for a memorial on the New Brunswick campus and is scheduled for 10 a.m. on April 25 at the Cherry Hill High School East in Cherry Hill, N.J., according to a University Media Relations press release.

Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $10 via sponsorships or donations.

“This is important because soldiers die for their country every day in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Matt Steffen, vice president of Veterans for Education, in the release. “There’s always enough time to pay tribute to these men and women.”

The run is a namesake of Cherry Hill resident Jeremy Kane who was killed by a suicide bomb attack in January while on patrol in Afghanistan.

Kane was 22 years old when he died. He was a criminal justice major and a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps.

Marine Corps veterans will lead the run, which will end at Kane’s place of worship, the Congregation M’kor Shalom on Evesham Road.

Kane’s mother will speak at the conclusion of the run.

— Kristine Rosette Enerio

APRIL 1, 2010

5

6

U NIVERSITY

APRIL 1, 2010

PETITION: Professor thanks students for response continued from front in the history department, who left the University to conduct a research project at Princeton University, he said.

“They needed someone to continue teaching Middle Eastern study classes. I was completely aware that I would only be here for two years as a replacement for Professor Jones,” Valenti said. “I knew from the get-go that May 2010 would probably be, in all likelihood, my last time here.”

Valenti also made a point of saying the budget was only a factor in his situation when the department tried to keep him on staff.

“The only connection to the budget is if they will be able to keep me on longer, beyond the two years,” he said. “If the budget doesn’t open up full-time positions, there is only so long I can stay here.”

Valenti said, when he realized the department would not be able to keep him on staff, he looked elsewhere. This proved to be unsuccessful.

“I know what the job market is like,” he said. “The job market’s been so terrible that there’s really no possibility I’d get offers anywhere else.”

Valenti said, although he does not agree with many of the department’s priorities, he understands it is the way most school systems work.

“This is why you have administrators that have to make difficult decisions. I don’t agree with all the decisions they make, but

obviously we’re in a budget crunch,” he said. “We know humanities aren’t the big moneymakers for the University so more money will go to science and so forth.”

Vice Chair of the histor y department Jennifer Jones said the department would love to keep Valenti on as a full-time professor. But it just did not work out that way.

“We were absolutely delighted to hire Peter, but it was always just as a temporary measure for

“Budget cuts will happen regardless of who is in office.”

SIDRA SATTAR School of Arts and Sciences junior

replacing Toby Jones’ courses,” she said. “We actually fully expected that he would get a tenure tract from another university. Because of the terrible job market, he didn’t.”

Sattar said losing a professor like Valenti is not acceptable, especially because of his teaching style.

“He has charisma and the intelligence and knowledge to go along with it, and that’s a perfect blend for a professor,” she said. “I always say passion is contagious and, when a professor is very passionate about something, the students do feel it.”

Valenti does not develop a student following because of a laidback grading style or reduced workload. In fact, he said some of his classes are quite demanding.

“I never make things easy or simple. I am always complicating things. I want students to critically evaluate historical narratives in textbooks [and] my narratives in class,” he said. “Don’t just accept it — push it, prod it, compare and contrast it — I encourage that all the time.”

Sattar said the students should have a voice in whether excellent professors like Valenti are kept on.

“Budget cuts will happen regardless of who is in office, but students should be questioned about what they want to be cut,” she said. “Evaluations should definitely be on the table of which professor should be cut or not.”

Abbas made a similar comment, saying her favorite professor should not be left out of the University.

“I just felt like it was a little ridiculous they would do that when he is a great professor,” she said. “Students should have a say in who gets to stay or go.”

Valenti, although flattered by the effort of the petition and Abbas, said he did not want the grassroots movement to be seen as a conflict of interest.

“I didn’t want that impression to remain among people,” he said. “That’s why I’ve definitely tried to keep my distance.”

Jones said a similar situation happened to her as an undergraduate, when one of her favorite professors was denied tenure.

“We were so distraught, we had black armbands and we signed a petition. I realize now, in hindsight, 30 years later, that I didn’t understand anything about the whole process and the hierarchy,” she said. “All I knew is that a professor we really loved was denied tenure.”

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Older sibling prostitutes self, 7-year-old sister THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TRENTON— It started with a party invitation to a 15-year-old girl from some men she knew.

She took her 7-year-old stepsister to an apartment down the street from their home near the Statehouse, where the girls had been hanging around outside on a Sunday afternoon.

For the younger girl, police say it quickly descended into a horrifying ordeal in which she was gangraped by as many as seven men as her sister not only watched but got paid by those who did it.

Their parents, none the wiser, thought maybe they had run away.

“We’re talking about a kid who told her sister to go into an apartment and let people rape her,” said Trenton police Capt. Joseph Juniak. “It’s unfathomable.”

The teen has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, promoting prostitution and other crimes. Her name was not released because of her age, but the county prosecutor plans to ask the court to try her as an adult. In the meantime, she is being held at the Mercer County Youth Detention Center.

When the girls didn’t return home by 4:30 Sunday afternoon, their parents called police, believing the older one had run away from home and taken her younger sister with her.

In fact, they were down the street inside a 13th-floor apartment at Rowan Towers, a high-

rise complex so dangerous that police are hired as security guards at night.

“They keep it clean on the outside, but it’s what’s on the inside that you have to worry about,” said neighbor William Johnson, who says police are coming out of the building all the time.

Inside apartment 13-C, police said, the 7-year-old was soon left alone as her sister headed to a back bedroom to sell sex to several men. When she came out into the living room, she handed her 7-year-old sister money and encouraged her to let the men touch her.

“It went from touching to straight out assault and rape,” Juniak said. “They threatened to kill her if she screamed or told anyone.”

Afterward, the child put on her clothes and left. Her sister stayed behind with the men.

Two women found the child crying outside the apartment and walked her home, where police were waiting.

The child told them what happened and was treated at a hospital. When police located the 15year-old later that night, she also told them what happened and was arrested.

Palmer said the crimes are among the worst he’s seen in 20 years as mayor.

“It’s sickening,” he said. “The police are taking this personal. I know there’s a place in hell for all the people that participated in this and I’m sure they will get there.”

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

CALENDAR APRIL

1

Those who want to teach fun science projects and arts and crafts to middle school students are welcome to attend a Rutgers in the Community meeting at 9 p.m. in Room 112 of Murray Hall on the College Avenue campus. For more information, contact Sean Lo at seanlo@eden.rutgers.edu.

2

All interested photographers are welcome to attend The Daily Targum photographers’ meeting in Room 407 of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus. The meeting will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. We will be holding a weekly photographers’ meeting to discuss important housekeeping business, assign events and facilitate several workshopping activities.

The semester’s last Responsible Drinking Happy Hour will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Cook Campus Center Café and Merle V. Adams room. The event seeks to build and strengthen the faculty, staff and student relationship outside the classroom as well as build a foundation for the learning community. Come and enjoy an evening of free food and music. Do not forget to bring identification.

5

The Board of Governors’ Committee on Academic and Student Affairs and the Committee on Finance and Facilities invite all interested members of the University community to appear before them to comment on budget, tuition, fees, and housing and dining charges for 2010 to 2011 at a hearing. The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cook Campus Center Multipurpose Room. The committee members will take the comments received from the University community into consideration in formulating their recommendations to the Board of Governors. To make a request to speak at the hearing, call (732)-932-7434 or email Secretary@oldqueens.rutgers.edu, before 12 p.m. on Monday, April 5. Comments regarding the University’s budget, tuition, fees, and housing and dining charges for 2010 to 2011 can be submitted online at http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/hearing_1011.shtml. The comments will be compiled and shared with the University administration and the Board of Governors’ Committee on Academic and Student Affairs and the Committee on Finance and Facilities. Comments will be accepted online until April 1.

6

The Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Student Conduct are sponsoring a public conversation on campus violence. “NOT ON OUR WATCH: Fighting, Bullying, Hazing or Stalking” will begin at 8 p.m. in the Lucy Stone Hall Auditorium on Livingston campus. All are welcome to attend.

7

Editors from The Daily Targum will hold a writers meeting for current and prospective writers at 9:30 p.m. in the S-Lounge on the fourth floor of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus. They will assign stories and answer questions about writing articles. No previous writing experience is required, and anyone interested is welcome to attend.

8

Come support the Residence Hall Association in their RHA “Wendy’s Get Together” event. Pick up a coupon from an RHA representative who will be present at the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus during the evening, and present it to the sales clerk when you purchase your food.

10

Teams of six are invited to join RU CARE for their indoor soccer tournament, CARE CUP. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Cook Recreation Center. Winner of the tournament will receive a trophy and a cash prize. All proceeds will benefit Deborah Heart and Lung Center, which helps people living in poverty all over the nation get life saving surgeries.

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

APRIL 1, 2010

7

8

APRIL 1, 2010

U NIVERSITY

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

FACILITY: Center gives LGBTIQQ students safe space continued from front Schuster said. “But I’m glad it’s finally here.”

This year is the 40th anniversar y of LGBT activism on campus, which began when Lionel Cuf fie, a student, founded the Rutgers Homophile League, the first openly homosexual organization in the state of New Jersey.

“As we move more deeply into the 21st century, vigilance is evermore crucial as we struggle toward liberation,” Livingston Dean of Students Cheryl Clarke said. “We need to know that having a center requires that we move beyond the safe space mentality … to allow ourselves to be on the edge, to continue to challenge institutional heterosexism and homophobia.”

Vice President for Student Af fairs Gregor y S. Blimling, who worked with Clarke while planning the beginning stages of the center, was proud to see it come to fruition.

“The way that you become a member of the Rutgers University community is that you become a member of one group,” he said.

“This program is very much a part of that fabric of who we are as an institution and contributes to the quality of this institution.”

Jenny Kurtz, acting director of the center, said she is glad to see it survive the tough economic climate, where no part of the University is immune from budget cuts.

“I’m very aware that this is not an easy year to get anything,” she said. “I know it’s going to have long-lasting implications for our community.”

In addition to speakers from the University, singer Miche Braden and spoken-word artist Athens Boys Choir entertained the audience with music and poetr y.

“You’ve got a center where you can be yourself, and I’m praying that you’ll be more than just gay when you walk through that door,” Braden said. “Do something good and change this world for me.”

Carlton Harris and Michael Passaro, School of Arts and Sciences first-year students who live in the Social Justice LivingLearning Community on campus, said their experiences at the University are different from what was available to them in high school.

“There were [LGBTIQQ groups], but they were very lowkey and not paid much attention to,” Passaro said. “Coming here and seeing how much attention is brought to events like this is a big change. It’s inspiring. It was very good to feel accepted and integrated with everyone.”

Harris said he enjoyed the speakers’ remarks and was glad to see many people show their support for LGBTIQQ groups at the University. He, like Passaro, said the ceremony provided a positive atmosphere.

“The event was amazing,” he said. “It was good that everyone was visible about who they were and why they’re here. We’re at Rutgers just taking initiative.”

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

U NIVERSITY

APRIL 1, 2010

9

Building pride: Gaypril kicks off with new center

The new Center for Social Justice officially opened last night in Tillet Hall on Livingston campus with speakers, food, music and spoken-word artists.

The center seeks to provide a safe space for those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning community. The center’s opening marks the start of Gaypril, the University’s month-long celebration of gay pride.

— Photos by Marielle Balisalisa

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

PA G E 1 0

METRO

APRIL 1, 2010

Parkinson’s awareness month showers upon state

BY GLEN GABRIEL STAFF WRITER

April will mean more than just flowers and warm weather this year since the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution last Friday that makes the month nationally recognized as Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

In support of the resolution, Gov. Chris Christie and freeholders from all 21 counties will also sign a proclamation for the state, said the New Jersey Chapter President of American Parkinson’s Disease Association Vicki Collier.

Although the APDA experienced periods of low membership in the past, Collier said this proclamation is a major step in the right direction for the New Jersey chapter.

“The more people that are aware, the more people we can help, [and] the more people can help contribute to our fundraising which can keep [our Parkinson’s programs] going,” Collier said.

The aim of APDA is to make people aware of all the effects of the disease and to prompt future medical research on its treatments, she said.

APDA’s plan really is twofold, Collier said. They look to help those already dealing with the disease along with

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHER EDITOR

Vicki Collier, president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler meet with Parkinson’s sufferer Allan Bleich.

educating those without it on all of its effects.

In the United States today, there are as many as 1.5 million individuals living with the crippling disease, according to the National Parkinson Foundation’s Web site.

While it has been about 200 years since Dr. James Parkinson first released his essay on the disease and its symptoms, there is still no known cure, according to the Web site.

The Parkinson’s community has been tr ying for years to

appeal to the masses and distribute as much information as possible about the disease, Collier said.

For the state of New Jersey and the country as a whole to recognize the need for awareness is pivotal, she said.

The average person does not really know much about the disease, said Allan Bleich, a former municipal police officer and a Parkinson’s suf ferer. People tend to view Parkinson’s as a shaking syndrome.

Bleich, who is now 48, was diagnosed with the disease three years ago when he noticed he was having slight hand tremors.

Although there is no cure, Bleich takes medication to aid his fight against the disease and also maintains a rigorous workout routine he follows daily.

Through exercise and a proper diet, doctors told Bleich that he could slow the progression of the disease’s symptoms.

“I tr y to take it one day at a time,” Bleich said. “Ever y day I

go out and tr y to the win the fight against this disease. If I go out and have a good workout in the gym I feel that’s one more round that I’m beating this thing.”

Both Bleich and Collier said this disease mostly affects older members of society, but it does not mean younger people should not care.

Anyone diagnosed with the disease before the age of 50 is considered to have Young Onset Parkinson’s, which consists of roughly 10 percent of all suffers, Bleich said.

But the parents and grandparents of the average University student fall right within the age range of when the disease is first detected, he said.

School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Amanda Sabo said there is a lot of information on the Internet about Parkinson’s, but college students are not really the ones looking at it.

“Other than the few things I’ve heard or seen on [television], I don’t know anything about it,” Sabo said.

She said this month would hopefully allow people to get more information on Parkinson’s.

“It’s a nightmare this disease, not only the physical, but the mental too,” Bleich said. “It’s a debilitating and progressive disease. It’s just a nightmare.”

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

M ETRO

APRIL 1, 2010

POLICE BUST 22 NJ RESIDENTS FOR POSSESSION OF $400K IN HEROIN Police took down an alleged Middlesex County drug ring Monday with the apprehension of 22 people total, including a 15-year-old juvenile, and the confiscation of more than $400,000 worth of heroin.

Police seized a total of 600 bricks of heroin weighing three kilos, or 6.6 pounds, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said in a joint statement with Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest, in a The Star-Ledger article.

Police also confiscated small amounts of cocaine, two handguns, ammunition, six motor vehicles and more than $40,000 in cash.

“This was a significant quantity of drugs and a significant arrest of suspects,” Forrest said in the article.

Suspect Johnel Dunlap of Elizabeth, N.J., was charged as leader of the drug network, as well as conspiring to distribute heroin and possession of more than five ounces of heroin with intent to distribute.

Dunlap, 38, previously served a five-year sentence on drugs and weapons charges and was released less than three years ago.

He is being held at the Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick on $750,000 bail.

Fellow suspect William Newbill, 31, was charged with conspiracy to possess heroin and possession with intent to distribute, and also previously served a prison sentence for drug charges.

Newbill and suspects Joseph Mosley, 26, and Tehron Luster, 26, are being held at the Middlesex County jail on $250,000 each. All three are charged with possession of dr ugs and conspiracy to distribute.

Four other suspects were apprehended and charged with intent and conspiring to distribute.

The juvenile was released to his parents and is pending a court hearing.

Eleven other men and women were charged with buying or attempting to buy drugs, and all were released, pending court hearings.

— Taylere Peterson

11

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

OPINIONS

PA G E 1 2

APRIL 1, 2010

EDITORIALS

Fossil fuels trump green promises

P

resident Barack Obama has been at the center of multiple Republican attacks regarding health care and educational reform. Now his decision to unfreeze oil drilling off United States coasts has garnered critiques from both sides. According to the Associated Press, Obama announced his decision Wednesday to reverse the ban on oil drilling off most U.S. shores, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico, parts of Alaska and possibly parts of Florida and Virginia. At a time of the hurried greening of many initiatives around the world and the recent climate conference in Copenhagen, this decision can only be seen as wrong.

Obama states that reopening drilling would diminish U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil and create a domestic source of energy.

The fault in Obama’s plan is that the existence and volume of oil within U.S. territories are simple speculations. Amounts calculated by the president’s advisors and any numbers they come up with are hardly concrete results, and therefore decisions should not be made upon them. Our reliance on foreign oil, while risky to say the least, is still the safest option during this time of constant greening in all sectors.

At the Copenhagen climate conference, Obama and other world leaders promised to decrease the world’s reliance on oil and oil-based technologies while temperatures are rising and global warming issues loom. The decision to open up drilling for fossil fuels in U.S. territories is a step back from agreements made in Copenhagen.

The health of the biospheres in the planned drilling spots would also suffer. While cleaner rigs and technologies have been introduced into oil drilling, the flora and fauna — especially in Alaska — could be destroyed by massive, man-made drilling platforms. Malfunctions, such as oil spills and the destruction of the biosphere, threaten the careful balance that is at the center of Obama’s plan for drilling.

The truth is the U.S. needs some sort of an alternate source of energy apart from foreign fossil fuels, and perhaps in the future, oil rigs should be built, if only to continue to rely on oil. But if we were to continue on this green path that we have vowed to take, reliance on oil must slowly be phased out — a move that directly opposes Obama’s decision to allow offshore drilling. Wind energy and other alternative energy sources could easily replace fossil fuels. We agree that realistic factors must be taken into question, but when it comes to the ethical question, allowing oil drilling off U.S. shores is a mistake.

Westboro abuses freedom of speech

T

he right to free speech has long been a question asked of the judicial system in the United States. In the case of Albert Snyder and his lawsuit against the Westboro Baptist Church, this freedom was taken a step too far. According to CNN, the Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, shouting, “You are going to hell” and “Thank God for dead soldiers.” His father, Albert Snyder, sued the church for privacy invasion and intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. Snyder lost the case and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Snyder to pay more than $16,000 in court costs spent by the church. This is simply a slap in the face for a soldier and his family, which have gone to serve our nation and subsequently have been hit with a barrage of insanity and hate.

The picketing occurred on public grounds, Westboro Baptist Church claimed, but that hardly gives them the right to disturb a private practice — the funeral of a Marine. We have seen and heard of what the Kansas-based church can do and how its practices are constructed of nothing but hate, but in this case, they have taken it too far. The shouts of “Thank God for dead soldiers” are hardly warranted even if freedom of speech seems to protect the church.

The problem is also the fact that if a racial slur were used, the scandal would have escalated much higher. This should be no different. Hate crimes do not only go against certain races and ethnicities, but as seen from this case, against anyone who is different or stands to suffer. The church’s shouts of hate brought just that.

Instead of a race being targeted, however, an already grieving family was hit.

The sad truth is that despite the freedom of speech’s presence in the Constitution, hate crimes such as these must not go unpunished.

To add insult to injury, the court ordered the family to pay $16,000 to the church — a mockery of the system in itself. The Supreme Court has agreed to take up this case and an eventual decision in favor of the Marine’s family is likely to follow, barring God’s hand coming down and slamming the judge’s hammer in favor of Westboro Baptist Church. The competitive First Amendment and privacy and religious rights of the mourners will face each other in court, and sanity and fairness should hopefully come out on top.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “The brain is actually set up to make adultery somewhat easy.”

Helen Fisher, visiting research professor in the Department of Anthropology, on a new gene found linked to cheating STORY IN UNIVERSITY

MCT CAMPUS

Let me listen to something real

S

stage name of o in case anyone didsinger/songwriter n’t know yet, Brand Christofer Drew. This kid New is playing achieved MySpace fame Rutgersfest. I know a slew of when he started posting his people who are stoked and super sappy, “emo-tastic” are just as surprised as I am songs on his page. He that Jesse Lacey and crew recently released his first have agreed to do this show.

MEGAN DIGUILIO full-length album, “What Is Brand New is one of my Love?” and after listening to favorite bands, because in it, all I can think is — WOW, THIS IS DISGUSTmy opinion I feel like they connect with a lot of peoING. The feeling the music strikes in me is nausea. ple lyrically. Some of the best lyrics I have ever With lyrics like, “everything you do is super-duper heard come from that band. Anyone who knows me cute,” you have to wonder if this kid ever gets or is my Facebook friend knows that I often quote angry at something. This is not to say that I only Brand New’s songs. My favorite: ”Seventy Times 7,” like angry music — I guess I just find angry music from “My Favorite Weapon,” which is about a person to be the most genuine. Not everyone has been in who basically just had his heart ripped out by a stulove. Not everyone has had a broken heart. But pid significant other. many of us have been mad at something in our lifeI also saw the movie “The Runaways” recently. time, thus making angrier songs something that The film, which is about some of rock music’s people may find more relatable. greatest women — Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie If you haven’t experienced this power of music, Currie — really made me think about the music I would suggest taking a listen to the Rutgersfest being produced these days. The songs written by artist that has so many people excitJett and her band were so raw. They ed. For those who are not aware of exemplified rock ‘n’ roll at its finest “... think about Brand New, whose members hail and spilled emotion and energy. The scenes of Jett writing and the hard- music today. Is there from Long Island, the band formed in 2000 and made it big in 2001 with ship she had to overcome as a musireally anything their album “Your Favorite cian were really inspiring to see as a Weapon.” Get your emotions runfemale musician myself. genuine being ning rapid and listen to “Seventy Both The Runaways and Brand New — bands from two different time written anymore?” Times 7.” This song is the most poetically written and angry song I periods, loved by two different generhave ever heard — it is what hapations — have one major thing in pens when a member of Taking Back Sunday gets common: They were genuine about what they were frisky with your girlfriend. This song is the perfect trying to express to their listeners. I feel like there soundtrack for the rock out session you need to really is no music today that is being written like this get out all your anger issues. Whether stressed or anymore. Nowadays, bands are too concerned with recently screwed over in any way, this song is perbeing seen as artists, being ridiculously obscure and fect for channeling your frustration. misunderstood by their audience or are commercial After taking a listen, think about music today. to the point where the songs they are putting out are Is there really anything genuine being written anyones that will pretty much activate anyone’s gag more? Aside from the slow death of the entire reflex. The state of rock music has slowly been music scene, I don’t want music to continue on the changing — it used to be so angry and raw. Anger disingenuous path it’s following. If you disagree fueled live performances and songs were written with me, please prove me wrong. Give me someabout being held down and breaking free. Rock ‘n’ thing real to listen to. I feel like music is all about roll and punk rock were all about sticking it to the boys in tight pants and American Apparel T-shirts, man and telling people where to shove their rules. performing whatever their record company gives Take a look at the artists who are considered them to sing about. I want nothing more than the popular today. Sure, there are some genuine songmusic scene to be built up again and supported by writers out there. Sure, people write songs that people who are ready to sing every single lyric to make some people think, “Gee, I can totally relate to a song that connects with every person on a difthat.” But that’s pretty much where the feeling ferent level. It’s time to bring back real music. ends. I need music that strikes a chord (no pun Who’s with me? intended) with me and elicits an emotion. There are so many songs written about the same subject matMegan DiGuilio is a School of Ar ts and ter, but only a few can really stand out as being Sciences junior majoring in journalism and media songs that truly mean something. studies. She is the former opinions editor of The An example that comes to mind is a new artist Daily Targum. out on “The Scene,” Never Shout Never. This is the

Dirty Pop

Due to space limitations, submissions cannot exceed 750 words. If a commentary exceeds 750 words, it will not be considered for publication.

All authors must include name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Anonymous letters will not be considered. All submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity. A submission does not guarantee publication. Please submit via e-mail to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication.

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

OPINIONS

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

APRIL 1, 2010 13

Genuine health freedom means more options for all Letter JOSHUA KIEL

T

his new bill has nothing to do with the care of patients in America … it solely enhances insurance companies and mandates insurance plan on all Americans. This sums up last Thursday’s column in The Daily Targum, “Reckless politics end health freedom,” on health care reform. The fears increasing taxes on all Americans and small businesses, government exchanges that will assign doctors to patients and be the ones who make all the important decisions patients and their families would be normally entitled to. To the columnist, this law is a blow to “freedom,” taking more money away from Americans and using it to build a system, which will run up deficits and become another bureaucratic failure.

Recently, the Christian Science Monitor, not a haven for secular leftist pundits and ideas, detailed the important aspects of the health care bill, simplifying its dense and confusing language so all of us could under-

stand what the bill actually does.

The following details come from the CSM’s article on the new law, available online: The immediate effects are moral and sensible: Children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage; children can remain under their parents’ insurance plan until they are 26; tax credits up to half the price for premium costs for small businesses that offer coverage to their employees; ending insurance companies’ abilities to revoke health insurance when people get sick; a shor t-term, high-risk insurance pool for those with preexisting conditions, and who haven’t had health insurance in the past six months. Exchanges and the individual mandate to purchase insurance, along with an end to denying insurance because of pre-existing conditions, do not come into effect until 2014. $940 billion dollars will be spent over the next ten years, yet the Congressional Budget Office says the law will cut the deficit by 2019. How? Individuals making over $200,000 a year and couples making over $250,000 will see increases in their

Medicare tax rates, up to 2.35 percent. These taxes do not come into effect until 2013, but are expected to raise over $200 billion. Drug manufacturers and insurance companies have promised to pay $16 billion and $47 billion respectively between 2011 and 2019. A less significant, yet humorous, tax is a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services, expected to raise another $2.7 billion from now until 2019.

“Government is not the problem, and it is not the solution.”

Companies with 50 or fewer employees are exempt from conditions for coverage. Those with more than 50 employees, who do not offer coverage, will pay a $2,000 fee for each worker, if just one employee receives federal subsidies to purchase an individual insurance plan.

Employees who work for companies offering insurance plans, but who earn less that 400 percent of the federal poverty line, and whose premiums are

between 8 and 9.8 percent of their income, can purchase insurance through the exchanges.

Again, these changes do not come into effect until 2014. The CBO estimates a large majority of working individuals will remain on their employer-based plan, with average premiums staying the same or possibly falling 3 percent.

Those who work for small businesses won’t see premiums raised by more than 1 percent and possibly decrease by 2 percent by 2016.

Cuts are made to Medicare Advantage (the private insurance-run alternative plans to Medicare), up to $132 billion, along with reductions in Medicare payments to home health care by $40 billion and some payments to hospitals by $22 billion until 2019. Medicare will now pay for annual wellness visits. The infamous “doughnut hole” is addressed, with the government offering $250 for prescription-drugs for those who have paid over $2,700 in a year, but do not receive more assistance from Medicare until they have reached $6,154. The percent-

ANTON MATVEEV

C

onvenience and consumption are the two words that describe the United States in the 21st centur y. We build fast food restaurants into train stations so we do not have to go outside when switching trains. We create iPhones and laptops so we do not have to move from our bed to the chair. We even created bottled water, which can be easily brought anywhere. It is light, cheap, convenient but yet wasteful. University of Por tland has already banned the use of bottled water on their campus and many others are following the initiative because of concerns about the

environmental impact of bottled water.

Bottled water use contributes to United States landfills with over 60,000,000 plastic bottles a day and 17 billion barrels of oil are

“We even created bottled water, which can be easily brought anywhere.” used each year to produce the 30 billion plastic bottles. Since, this produces about 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide pollution, which unfortunately does not take in consideration the transportation of bottled water worldwide, there must be an alternative.

Banning all bottled campus water is a significant start and Without Bottled Water (WBW) will begin by targeting the University. Similarly to the University of Portland efforts, our program is designed to eliminate all bottled water consumption on New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses.

Ideally, WBW will promote replacement for bottled water by replacing it with readily available water fountains, Brita filters and vending machines provided in dorm rooms, shower timers, as well as eco-friendly University canteens given free of charge at campus events.

Anton Matveev is a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences junior majoring in Biological Sciences.

Conservatism not black and white Letter MATTHEW SIMCHA

A

rrogance in Political Views is Astounding.

The column, “Liberal bias among students justified,” in The Daily Targum yesterday, reflects an all too common view among students these days — that liberals are intellectually superior to ever yone else. The author’s argument goes essentially like this: College students are generally better thinkers than most people, and college students are generally liberal, so liberal thinking must be better than other views. This argument almost seems too pretentious to truly be made, but let’s take a look at some of the things the author actually says.

He points out that on the on average, liberals have higher IQs than conservatives. While this fact may be true, using it to argue that liberal views make more sense than conservative views is no better than arguing that conservatives are better people than

liberals because they give more to charity.

He asser ts that conser vatives view the world in blackand-white distinctions, while liberals see things in “a more dynamic light.” This kind of heavily biased generalization of how people arrive at their political views removes any objectivity from the subject. To

“I implore all political-minded people not to change their opinions ...” properly analyze political issues, one must carefully consider all viewpoints, rather than dismiss all those that differ from their own.

The author’s worst offenses come in his conclusion, where he states that in college, “We are taught to be inquisitive, open-minded and logical, but

are exposed to conser vative thought by individuals who do not exhibit any of these qualities.” It is rather bold to assert that conser vatives cannot be inquisitive, open-minded or logical without backing it up.

Even more insulting and appalling, though, is the author’s final sentence, which states that, “Today’s conservatism asks that you surrender both [your hear t and your brain].” Childish hyperboles like this have no place in an intelligent political discussion.

Liberals claim to be the most enlightened and open-minded of the bunch, yet many can’t even open their minds enough to give objective consideration to other political views. I implore all political-minded people not to change their opinions, but at least examine others without a smug sense of superiority clouding your thought process.

Matthew Simcha is a School of Arts and Sciences junior majoring in economics and statistics.

Joshua Kiel is a School of Arts and Sciences senior majoring in political science and history with a minor in cinema studies.

Make honest effort to respect Judaism

Eliminate plastic bottles for good Letter

age the government pays will continue to increase; by 2020, it will cover 75 percent of costs within the “doughnut hole.”

Those who are not well off and cannot af ford insurance (tens of millions of people) now have less expensive options. As the CSM states, this is the tradeoff: “Help for the poor and additional burdens on the rich, with little effect on most working Americans in the middle.”

The New York Times says this law represents the “federal government’s biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago.” This inequality is the product of an unfair economic system, and the insurance and pharmaceutical companies share in that responsibility. Government is not the problem, and it is not the solution; it is simply a means, not the means, to producing a healthier society, and to “promote the general welfare” of our beloved countr y.

Letter ROB KLINE

I

want to start this off by saying that I am not angry, but I am a little frustrated. I am not writing this because one of my rights has been violated. The issue is not a natural, perceived or legal one. The issue I would like to discuss is respect. Respect for others is lacking in the Jewish community and the way people interact with it here at University.

I am a conservative Jew. For those who do not know what this means the simplest way of putting it is that there are three “levels” of Judaism based on how strictly you follow scripture. The first is the reform movement, which is the least concerned with following the stricter tenants of Judaism. The second is the conservative movement, which I will discuss later. The third is the orthodox movement which is concerned with following scripture as close as possible.

Conservatism in Judaism is what happens when you have people who try to be as strictly religious as they can, while understanding that the culture they live in may make this very difficult.

This is not to say that reform Jews are not religious or that Orthodox Jews do not try and live peacefully with other cultures. All that I am saying is that being conservative means that my perception of being religious means that I try and balance normative societal rationality with internal intrinsic morality.

Simply put, I realize that wearing a yarmulke in public and never eating at the dining hall would make it hard to fit in with my non-Jewish friends, but I still want to try and keep Kosher and observe many of the religious tenants I believe to be important.

The reason I am frustrated is that I make an attempt to compromise with both groups, and yet neither seems to do the same for me and I did not really realize it until the holiday Passover began. The

dining hall here at the University offers a kosher selection for Passover. There is a table with kosher for Passover food, and there are supposedly kits that you can pick up. Although, when I went to the dining hall it was made clear that the table prepared had been done so quickly and without much consideration. There were meat and cheese on the same table, — a taboo in Judaism since we are not supposed to combine the two — there was soup with no ladle only a spoon, the meat had been left out at room temperature for long enough for it to go cold and I remember from last year that the vegetables they put out at lunch time were rotten. As for the kits, I made sure to call one in more than an hour in advance, but when I showed up to collect it I was told that the table was the only kosher food there.

The Jewish community itself dropped the ball. I have Jewish friends on campus, and neither they nor I have heard of any programs to adopt Jewish kids for the holiday and feed them, which is an actual tradition of the holiday. I was a kibbutz, or a communal settlement, worker for half a year in Israel, and when Passover time came people went out of their way to offer you a place to stay and a warm meal if you were Jewish.

The reason that I am not mad is because I am very happy that the dining hall is making the effort to make accessible food during Passover, and I am glad that there is a strong Jewish presence on campus. This is not the pogroms or the ghettos, this is a very nice atmosphere filled with tolerance. I am sure that there is no offense meant by any of these things done, and that is why I am not offended. I would though appreciate a little more effort on everyone’s part to really try to learn what a hundred miles feels like in someone else’s shoes.

Rob Kline is a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore majoring in political science and philosophy.

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

DIVERSIONS

PA G E 1 4

Horoscopes / LINDA C. BLACK

Pearls Before Swine

APRIL 1, 2010

STEPHAN PASTIS

Today's birthday (4/1/10). Communication is the root source of your success this year. Whether romance, work or family is involved, you'll be wise to carefully consider responsibilities and figure out how to share them with significant others. Relationships thrive as a result of your efforts. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Pretend that you're in charge of the world.

Everyone else acts that way today, so you may as well, too. Use your creativity for practical results.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 6 — Keep your eye on the prize. Visionary ideas feed into your practical assessment of the situation. An older person supplies necessary logic.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 7 — All good ideas today come from actions behind the scenes. Channel everyone's thoughts into one logical plan.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 6 — Prepare to change your mind in a big way today. Opportunities come from several directions. Don't try them all. Choose carefully.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Early indications suggest grabbing opportunities and making adjustments later. The initial ideas are strong, but they benefit from a dose of logic.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — Make time for sympathetic communication.

By helping others resolve their difficulties, you put your own troubles in perspective and boost your self-esteem.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — What seemed like a lot of mental work yesterday becomes a balanced, practical plan today. Two people agree with your assessments and move forward wholeheartedly.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Most of your work involves direct contact with others today. The impact is a heartfelt, private matter.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 2 — Today is an 8 — Circumstances put a wrinkle in your plan. Gather the team to consider practical options. Solutions may come from an unexpected source.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — You get the results you deserve. Hopefully, this means that today's opportunities fall into place to produce a satisfying result.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 6 — Somehow responsibilities seem distant or vague. To clarify your position, use practical language and follow the logic. Put it in context.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 5 — Your favorite person embarks on a new plan, and you feel left behind. As you to catch up, you realize they're waiting for you. You'll make it.

Dilbert

Doonesberry

Happy Hour

© 2007, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

www.happyhourcomic.com

SCOTT ADAMS

GARY TRUDEAU

JIM AND PHIL

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Last-Ditch Ef fort

Get Fuzzy

D IVERSIONS JOHN KROES

APRIL 1, 2010

Pop Culture Shock Therapy

15

DOUG BRATTON

DARBY CONLEY

Non Sequitur

WILEY

Jumble

H. ARNOLD & M. ARGIRION THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

Peanuts

CHARLES SCHULTZ

DULEE ©2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PEWID

TOWPUN

Ph.D

J ORGE C HAM

NEW BIBLE Jumble Books Go To: http://www.tyndale.com/jumble/

by Mike Argirion and Jeff Knurek

GINOUT Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

Ans: Yesterday’s

Sudoku

© PUZZLES BY PAPPOCOM

Solution Puzzle #37 3/31/10

Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

THE (Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: MADLY NOBLE ZODIAC PAYING Answer: When he caught Junior playing with matches, Dad was — BLAZING MAD

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

CLASSIFIEDS

PA G E 1 6

APRIL 1, 2010

How to Place an Ad:

Policies:

1.Come to Room 431 of the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue

• NO REFUNDS FOR CHANGES.

2.Mail ad and check to: The Daily Targum 126 College Ave Suite 431 New Brunswick, NJ 08903 Attn: Classified Manager 3. Email your ad to: classifieds@dailytargum.com

4.CHARGE IT! Use your over the phone or by coming to our business office in Rm 431 RSC Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

• 3.00 PER DAY FOR CANCELLATIONS.

Adoptions • Birthdays • Events Greek Forum • Lost/Found Meetings • Parties • Travel Miscellaneous

Help Wanted • Internship Job/Career Opportunities Services • Volunteers Wanted Wanted • Miscellaneous

Apartment for Rent House for Rent • House for Sale Room Available • Roommate Wanted Sublet • Miscellaneous

Rates:

12

Small classified: up to 20 words, each additional word 30¢ per day DEADLINE: 12:00 p.m. one (1) business day prior to publication

Large classified: up to 25 words, $8.50 each additional inch (11 words) DEADLINE: 12:00 p.m. one (1) business day prior to publication

THE DAILY TARGUM

Display classified:

126 College Ave., Suite 431 New Brunswick, NJ 08903 732-932-7051, x603

Typeset with border; contains graphics, logos, etc.

Cash Rate–$10.15/column inch • Billed Rate–$12.15/column inch DEADLINE: 3:00 p.m. three (3) business days prior to publication Delivery person needed to delivery outdoor

THE BEST

patio furniture using our company box

SUMMER JOB!

1day

3days

5days

10days

$8.00

$7.50/day

$7.00/day

$6.00/day

Student rate–$5.00 per day

$21.00

$19.00/day

I have two English Bulldogs puppies for

worker willing to help in our retail store selling

Interview Now.

pool chemicals when not doing deliveries.

Call 732-446-4100

Will train, weekends a must.

Summer Day Camp

Call 732-297-1244, Rte 27 North Brunswick.

Great Salary/Hours

Flexible hours p/t or f/t

FUN SPIRITED STAFF.

Driver: good communication, detail oriented,

Hiring:

clean license, people friendly, some heavy

Photography

lifting. $10-$12/hr. Flexible schedule. Party

Sports Coaches

Rentals, Matawan/Oldbridge.

Life Guards

732-687-8186.

Painting

and they are still adorable. Ready to

Earn $1000-$3200 a month to drive our

Counselors

brand new cars with ads placed on them. become your babies, contact me for more

www.YouDriveAds.com

information about the bulldogs at jaydensilvester@lieve.com.

Jeri Bauer

APARTMENT FOR RENT BIRCHWOOD TERRACE

Country Roads Day Camp

Now accepting

732-446-4100 Manalapan

applications for

Check out our web site: Front desk receptionist for busy physical

www.Countryroadsdaycamp.com

therapy office and fitness center. 2-3

June, July, August,

MALE AND FEMALE English bulldog

evenings per week 4-9pm. Rt.27 in Edison.

September Openings.

puppies AKC registered, free to a good

Please email resume to billing@jcpt1.com

2-4BR apartments

home. EMAIL :Peterjerry00@live.com

or call Caroline 732-777-9733

INTERNSHIP

The Rutgers Club 199 College Ave Servers

Marketing Interns for Local CPA firm to focus

INTERNET!

on business development. Email Resume

272 Hamilton St. Apt. 91.

to njCPA@juno.com

Lunch Shifts available Mon. Tues. Thurs.

Apply in person between 3:00pm- 5pm

(732) 828-5607. www.thebirchwoods.co

and Fridays 10:00 am- 4:00 pm Dinner Shifts Available Thursday

available.

FREE WIRELESS

Help Wanted

m

TUTORING

Ask for Nancy or Ray

HELP WANTED

Restaurant experience Preferred But Not Required

New Brunswick Apartments for rent $25-45 Per Hour! SAT Tutors Wanted!

efficiency apartments from 695.00 1

Need 680M, 680V plus CAR.

BARTENDER APPRENTICE No exp pref. We train!

Clubs/Sports Bars Restaurants Hiring Now FT/PT + Weekends avail.

Up to $300 a day

$$$$$ Join the RU Telefund Team!

Just across from Rockoff Hall Earn $10.00/hr to start Flexible Hours Fun Atmosphere Build Your Resume APPLY NOW! www.rutgerstelefund.com 732-839-1449

guaranteed (732) 388-4323

1-215-820-2361. mypeakscore@aol.com

$300/day potential

to College. Apartments available starting

through graduate!

in June 2008. Please call 908-722-7272

Former Rutgers professor.

732-220-6820, sjherschko@netscape.net.

in secure building on a quite street. Utilities Tutoring for MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS, and PHYSICS by college and graduate school professor. Offered at all levels.

732-322-0711, alan.steif@yahoo.com

Jersey Area. Nights/Weekends. Valid

available Laundry facilities in building Walking distance to the center of Highland Park and public transportation Available May 1st or sooner

Income Tax Preparations

HOUSE FOR RENT

license required. Start immediately.

Mature/Responsible individuals.

CPA firm located close to Rutgers. Student

908-874-5454.

Friendly. 10% Student Discount.

Part time - critical thinker, organized, good

129 SOMERSET STREET.

5 PEOPLE.

9am-7:30pm Mon-Fri.

5 ROOMS. 2 KITCHENS/ BATHS/

Contact Rich (732)-220-8550

WASHERS/ DRYERS. PORCH. YARD. ADT SECURITY. AVAILABLE JUNE 1.

decision maker, team player, quick learner, likes dealing with public. Flexible hours.

Unable to lose weight? Would you like to

$10-$12 per hour. Matawan/Oldbridge.

lose 30 lbs or more? Call (732) 543-1558

(732) 687-8186.

for details on how we can help.

Physical Therapy Aide Positions Available.

Welcome back RU students. From now until

old with language & social delays. Previous

FT/PT Summer/Fall. Practice in Edison on

April 30, 2010 receive a 20 min

ABA work a plus.

Route 27. Call Caroline 732-777-9733

complimentary massage.

Call Jonathan (917) 514-1302.

www.jcpt1.com

Call 732-543-1558 for details.

609-799-5639.

Four Bedroom House for June 1st. Renting

in Monmouth County/ Princeton for school/camp program for 8- or 11- year

are included Additional Storage space is

SERVICES

Training Provided. Age 18+ ok

Behavioral Instructors: Energetic, PT/FT

Spacious studio apartment with balcony

PARKING ATTENDANTS

No Experience Necessary

800-965-6520 ext. 173

cooking gas. Excellent Service 1 block

Physics, Econ, MS/OR. Kindergarten

FT/PT Great money, Parking Cars. Central !!Bartending!!

bedrooms from 900.00 and 2 bedrooms from 1,200 all include heat, hot water and

DON'T PUT IT OFF! Tutoring in Math, Stats,

$14.00/day

“It was so good I will never use another paper to advertise!

The response was tremendous, with qualified applicants.”

Drama

adoption. We have a male and female

$16.00/day

University billed accounts–$22.00, Student rate–$12.00 per day

trucks. Flexible, self starter, independent

ADOPTIONS

Electronics Items for Sale Items Wanted Wheels

for $1870 per month. Year Lease. 1.5 month security. Parking. 131 Bayard St. Contact bayardst@verizon.net or 732-545-9110

The Daily Targum will only be responsible for errors on the first day run; advertisers must call by noon with corrections. Only advertisers with an established credit account may be billed.

All advertising is subject to the approval of the marketing director and business manager.

The Daily Targum has not investigated any of the services offered or advertisers represented in this issue.

Readers are encouraged to contact the Better Business Bureau of Central New Jersey for information concerning the veracity of questionable advertising.

Better Business Bureau of Central NJ 1700 Whitehorse Hamilton Square Rd Trenton, NJ 08690 (609) 588-0808

S PORTS

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

JOB: Pernetti made tough choices in first year in charge continued from back had ever seen. The two met shortly after a five-conference-win campaign concluded and Pernetti — who said he went into the meeting without a verdict in mind — settled on ushering in round five of the Hill era.

Pernetti acknowledged how difficult the decision was and that the remainder of Hill’s contract played a role, but there was not one overwhelming factor that keyed the decree.

“The hardest part for me was I need to be objective and the hard part is not that people are in your ear, because that’s never going to change,” Pernetti said. “When I’m with an alum and they say to me, ‘I’m concerned about the men’s basketball program,’ my response is, ‘Well, so am I.’ I’m an alum too, I want our men’s basketball program to be successful, just like you do.

Being unemotional is the difficult part, because you hear it from every angle, but that was probably the more difficult piece.”

Harping on the men’s basketball program is convenient because of its exposure and visibility, but it is also extremely important because of what drives the entire athletic department — money.

Aside from football, men’s basketball is the flagship program of the school, garnering the most national television publicity and also has the ability to drive home revenue from the in-house attendees.

The Hill situation had to be treated so carefully because of the

potential ramifications on all ends of the issue. One glance at the coaching searches from St. John’s and DePaul should say enough about public relations disasters.

Pernetti handled it in-house, smoothly and quietly, ultimately making the right decision. If there was no clear-cut better candidate ready and willing to take the job immediately, the conundrum becomes that much harder to relieve Hill of his duties. There was no need, especially at this important budget juncture coming from Trenton, for a coaching vacancy to become such a sideshow.

“I read a stat the other day that over 200 programs have been cut at various universities over the last three or four years,” Pernetti said.

“To me, it’s sad because college sports are all about opportunity.

You don’t have 24 sports because 24 sports make money. There are some that drive revenue in to support everything else, but for most college student-athletes it’s about an opportunity to compete, and that opportunity may never continue beyond that.”

Pernetti said contraction is not an immediate concern, but that’s one of the next steps. No one can predict how the impending budget cuts will affect the athletic department, but Pernetti finds himself in yet another unenviable position when the figures arrive.

If his first year on the job was any indication, he will handle it with flying colors.

He was always the right person for the job.

— Matthew Stein accepts comments and criticisms at steinma@eden.rutgers.edu.

APRIL 1, 2010

17

18

S P O RT S

APRIL 1, 2010

WOES: Pair of conference unbeatens collide in Piscataway continued from back .500 for the first time this season with a 12-10 record.

A lot of their current success is attributed to facing the top-tier talent they saw to kick off the year.

“It really put things into perspective for us,” said freshman Steve Nyisztor. “We faced some of the nation’s best teams and it really prepared us to face teams that maybe aren’t as strong.”

The second baseman and his fellow Knights took care of one of those weaker opponents last weekend when the team traveled to Georgetown, taking the bark out of the Hoyas with a convincing three-game sweep.

Nyisztor almost won Sunday’s game single handedly with a grand slam in the third inning that accounted for nearly all his team’s runs in the 5-3 victor y. The Big East named Nyisztor to its Weekly Honor Roll for his efforts.

“The sweep was really big for us,” the Toms River North product said. “It’s hard to beat a team three times in a row, and we real-

ly battled in all three games — none of them were easy wins.

Now we have some momentum going forward and we have to continue playing hard.”

As a third-year starter, first baseman Jaren Matthews understands the importance of getting off on the right foot in the Big East.

“We have a lot of confidence at the moment,” the junior said.

“We are at the top of the Big East standings. It’s still early, but we are where we want to be and now we have to work on staying there.”

The next step in returning to Big East prominence comes in the conference home opener today against No. 24 Pittsburgh. The Panthers prove to be a more formidable opponent than the Hoyas, entering the weekend series with an 184 record. They are 3-0 in the Big East.

“It’s too early to tell where we fall in the conference this year,” said head coach Fred Hill Sr. “You can go out and lose three just as quickly as you can win three. I think if we battle hard against Pitt and win some games, then Rutgers will be back to where it should

have been the past couple of years.”

The three pitchers that will take the mound against the Knights own a combined record of 14-0 with ERAs all under 3.00. But it’s not like Rutgers has not faced tough pitchers yet this season, and a quick look at the Panthers’ schedule raises an eyebrow at the tr ue meaning behind those numbers.

Pitt scheduled their opening to the season against opponents such as SUNY Albany, Youngstown State and Fordham.

These are teams any Big East squad should put away easily compared to the caliber of opponents the Knights’ faced early on.

Last year, Rutgers traveled to Pittsburgh and came back with only one win out of three games played.

Although he does not believe that a home-field advantage makes a difference against a team like Pitt, Matthews likes his team’s chances more this time around.

“We are a totally different team than last year,” he said. “As long as we play the way we have been playing recently and execute, we can win these games.”

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

MARIELLE BALISALISA

Freshman second baseman Steve Nyisztor is tied for second on the team with a .349 batting average and started all 22 games thus far.

S

eton Hall officially introduced the new head coaches yesterday for their men’s and women’s basketball programs. Former Iona head coach Kevin Willard and former WNBA coach Anne Donovan spoke to several media outlets at Seton Hall’s morning press conference.

Donovan said she would coach the New York Liberty for one more season prior to coaching the Pirates.

PITTSBURGH

INKED HEAD

men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon to a contract extension.

The deal employs Dixon with the Panthers well past the 20152016 season — the last season of his initial contract.

Dixon coached Pitt — who Big East officials picked to finish near the bottom of the conference in 2009-2010 — to a 25-9 record and a visit to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

BIG TEN COMMISSIONER Jim Delany announced yesterday that an NCAA Tournament expansion to 96 teams is “probable.” A decision on the basketball expansion must be made this summer and the NCAA asked television networks earlier in the month for their opinions on the move to add 32 more teams. The NCAA can choose to opt out of the remaining three years and $2.131 billion remaining in its contract with CBS after this season.

The next meeting of the NCAA board is slated for April 21 in Indianapolis, the site of this year’s Final Four.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES closer Brad Lidge received a cortisone shot yesterday in his right elbow.

S P O RT S

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

SKYLA POJEDNIC

Senior No. 3 singles player Katherine Arlak defeated her opponent 6-0, 6-3 yesterday in the Knights’ 6-1 victory over UConn.

VICTORY: Knights win fourth straight in conference continued from back defeated their opponents 6-4, 7-5 and 6-2, 6-1, respectively. Zhang now sits at 12-3, while Arlak’s win gives her 10 on the season.

Sophomores Jen Holzberg and Leonora Slatnick chipped in with hard-fought three set victories.

Slatnick got the better of her opponent in nine consecutive matches, a stretch in which the team went 7-2.

“I’ve been playing well,” Slatnick said. “Today was definitely a tougher match and I let the second set slip away. But I’m glad I was able to come back and take the third.”

The combination of Holzberg and Zhang, along with senior Caitlin Baker and freshman Michelle Green led the Knights to a 2-1 advantage in doubles play.

There are nine women on Rutgers’ roster. Seven of them contributed to the team’s point total versus UConn.

“We’re pretty happy with ever ything right now,” Green said. “Feeling very good about

our record at this point and about the way we’ve been playing.”

Rutgers’ record on the road is now back to .500 at 5-5. It’s vitally important the team remains on the upswing away from home, since three consecutive conference road matches lie ahead.

After participating in seven contests over the past three weeks, Rutgers is off until Tuesday, when it travels to Seton Hall. Slatnick believes her teammates will use the down time to their advantage.

“We’re going to have practice [today] but then we’ll have a few days off to rest up and catch up on school work.” she said. “It should help us finish strong.”

Rutgers needs its strength in April, when it rounds out the regular season with five crucial conference matchups. The Knights effectively tossed the Huskies out of Big East contention yesterday, while asserting themselves among the pack of conference frontrunners.

“Each win that we pick up boosts our confidence, especially when it comes in the Big East,” Arlak said. “Nobody wants to lose in the conference so you’ve got play tough and we did.”

ISIAH STEWART

Sophomore Leonora Slatnick won her match in three sets, good for her ninth straight victory in a stretch when the Knights are 7-2.

APRIL 1, 2010

19

20 APRIL 1, 2010

S P O RT S

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

T HE DAILY TARGUM’S

OUT

of

BOUNDS WITH

T OM S AVAGE

Targum Sports Editor Steven Miller chats with the sophomore quarterback and special guest junior lineman Art Forst about videgames, mediocrity, the finer things of the Philadelphia suburbs and Facebook friends ...

Steven Miller: Is there something about you people don’t know?

Tom Savage: I’m a big videogamer. I play video games a lot.

SM: What’s your top game?

TS: Call of Duty.

SM: Modern Warfare Two? TS: Yeah.

SM: Xbox or PlayStation 3?

TS: PlayStation 3.

SM: Madden or NCAA? TS: NCAA. SM: Who is your team?

TS: Of course you have to play with Rutgers every once in a while, but my team was Oklahoma — I’m a big Sam Bradford fan.

SM: Is your rating high enough?

TS: I don’t even know what it was.

Sam Hellman: It’s a 78.

TS: Seventy-eight? I’ll take it.

Art Forst: You accept mediocrity?

TS: No, I’m saying if that’s what they’re going to give me, I’ll take it.

SM: Maybe it’ll go up this year.

SM: Is there something about Mohamed Sanu that people might not know?

TS: Mohamed Sanu is a lovebird. He’s an R&B kind of guy that falls in love fast.

SM: Do you two have a nickname or a motto?

TS: Eh, we’ve said “Seven to Six,” but that’s not really a motto.

SM: Do you still talk to Mike Teel?

TS: Yeah, I talk to him a lot — every week.

SM: Do you have a favorite fat sandwich?

TS: Nah, I normally just get breakfast sandwiches there.

SM: What’s your favorite sports movie?

TS: I like “Varsity Blues.”

SM: Do you have a favorite dining hall on campus?

TS: Busch.

SM: How about a place to get food off-campus?

TS: Hansel ’n Griddle.

SM: Sub or hoagie?

TS: Hoagie.

SM: Wawa, 7-11 or QuickChek?

TS: Wawa.

SM: Good answers. Do you like my Phillies sweatshirt?

TS: I love it, absolutely love it.

SM: You have to represent the South Jersey-Philly area up here, right?

TS: Oh yeah, you have to rep it up here because those New York fans are pretty tough.

SM: What’s your Facebook friends count at now?

TS: I think it’s in the 4,000’s now.

SM: Have you ever said ‘no’ to someone?

TS: Nah, I don’t ignore people.

S P O RT S

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

APRIL 1, 2010

21

SPRING PRACTICE NOTEBOOK

S OPHOMORE

BY SAM HELLMAN CORRESPONDENT

For speedy sophomore Duron Harmon, things are finally starting to slow down.

After earning Delaware Player of the Year honors as a senior, the 6-foot-1 safety moved quickly from graduation, to training camp, to moderate playing time as a true freshman.

PREPARES FOR MORE PLAYING TIME He played in 12 of the Rutgers football team’s 13 games as a true freshman last year, registering nine tackles on special teams, but never got a chance to slow things down and truly learn the system.

Spring gives him the chance.

“After not having pads on for so long, you just get excited to come out here and play football,” Harmon said after the team wrapped up its fourth of 15 practices. “Doing it in the spring is

good because we get to work on fundamentals and everything is slowed down so, with me being a freshman last year, it allows me to get in the game and in the system.”

Harmon, with Zaire Kitchen graduating and sophomore Khaseem Greene likely moving into a starting role, expects a significantly increased role next season.

“It’s going to be different because I’m used to learning behind Zaire and now I know I have to step up to the bigger role that’s coming towards me and I have to be ready to play when coaches call me,” he said.

Head coach Greg Schiano said that Harmon is “getting better,” but is not on the same improvement plane as some other players.

Harmon said he’d like to target some of the smaller parts of his game for improving.

“I need to get better mentally. I think my whole physical part is going to take care of itself,” he said.

“I think I should be good with a bigger role because I’m well prepared and I’m really working hard.”

THE

SAM HELLMAN

Sophomore safety Duron Harmon played special teams last year, but is readying himself for a bigger role in the secondary.

KNIGHTS FINISH NINTH AT HOYA INVITE The Rutgers Women’s Golf team hit the links on Monday WOMEN’S GOLF a n d Friday in Beallsville, Md., for the G e o r g e t o w n Hoya Invitational.

Of the 17 teams in competition, Rutgers placed ninth with a 650, faring with a 321 total on Monday and a 329 on Tuesday.

Junior Jeanne Waters improved tremendously from her 240-card (81,78,81) from the UC Spring Invitational. The West Sayville, N.Y., native tied for fourth in the 90player field, shooting a 153 (74-79) for the Scarlet Knights on four birdies and 24 pars through 36 holes.

Freshman Brittany Weddell, from Buzzards Bay, Mass., continued her solid play from the UC Invitational — where she led the Knights with a 233, placing 25th out of the 100player field.

Weddell played well on the par 72course this time around,

carding a 164 (83-81) to finish tied for 34th.

Sophomore Lizzy Carl, a Mendota Heights, Minn., native, scored a 165 (8382) to finish tied for 39th and fellow sophomore Kristina Lee posted a 171 (81-90) to place 59th.

Sophomore Elisa Mateer rounded out the scorecard with a 174 (86-87).

Nova Southeastern captured first at the par-72 Members Club at Four Streams with a 612.

Mar yland was four shots off the lead to finish in a close second place.

Upcoming Big East adversaries Georgetown (647) and St. Johns (670) placed sixth and 11th, respectively.

Head coach Maura Waters-Ballard’s team looks to rebound after back-to-back ninth place finishes when the Knights travel to Connecticut on April 12 for the Hartford Invitational.

— Jason Brogna

WIDE

RECEIVERS

continue to pull in balls and impress this spring after they were a major concern for the Knights going into last spring.

Schiano singled out sophomore Quron Pratt as someone showing improvement and spoke highly of sophomore Tim Wright.

“He’s gotten much better.

Tim’s a guy that’s making strides,” Schiano said. “He’s playing football better. Everything that he’s done, he’s just raised his game so hopefully he can continue to do that.”

Sophomore quarterback Tom Savage also praised Wright.

STEVEN MILLER/ SPORTS EDITOR

Sophomore wideout Tim Wright earned the praise of Greg Schiano as a player who made strides in his game since the season.

“He’s just big, strong, fast and physical,” Savage said.

“He’s got them big hands and catches everything I throw at him. He’s smart — he’s a student of the game. You can be the most talented person in the world, but you have to understand the game and he does that well.”

SOPHOMORE

MARCUS

Witherspoon was not at yesterday’s practice after dealing with personal issues, Schiano said.

“He’s having some issues personally,” the head coach said.

“We’ll see. Hopefully it’s not too much.”

I NCOMING

FRESHMEN

linebackers Sam Bergen and David Milewski along with incoming freshman quar terback Chas Dodd and wideout Jordan Thomas all attended yesterday’s practice.

“It’s always good to see those guys,” Schiano said.

“Some of them are around on Spring Break and they’re in our meetings and hanging with our players and stuff.”

22

S P O RT S

APRIL 1, 2010

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW GRAVES, SHAMAR : 6-FOOT-2, 228 POUNDS 14 CATCHES, 159 YARDS, 1 TOUCHDOWN

SHAMAR GRAVES

BY MATTHEW STEIN SENIOR WRITER

In Shamar Graves’ mind, it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

The Rutgers football team’s tight end said he was preparing for the upcoming season. But just weeks after his Scarlet Knights won their fourth consecutive Bowl game in St. Petersburg, he got somber news from head coach Greg Schiano.

“Coach just said my eligibility was up,” Graves said at Rutgers’ Pro Combine two weeks ago after working out for NFL scouts.

“Two weeks after. We didn’t even go to the NCAA, coach said it was up and that was it.”

Graves split time with D.C. Jefferson last season and Kevin Brock the year before, accruing 386 yards and four touchdowns over the two campaigns. Graves had three receptions in 2007 and did not catch the ball in 2006.

Expecting to be back in a Rutgers uniform this fall, Graves was not on the radar as a tight end prospect until very late. Game film is relatively scarce considering he split time on the field and he has yet to have any private workouts with professional clubs.

Graves said he was approached by a number of scouts after working out at Pro Day, all of which said they were surprised he was leaving Piscataway.

“Was I OK with it? I think anybody would be lying to you if they said they were OK with it,” a somber Graves said. “They would feel kind of disappointed if they didn’t know that was going on, disappointed that something like that was going to happen out of nowhere. But I’m the kind of person that says ‘What’s the next step?’

“I’m going to be playing in the NFL anyway, so I just have to work hard and get there a year earlier.”

Graves is in the same boat as nearly every other former Scarlet Knight that worked out inside the bubble — which was still inflated at the time. While left tackle Anthony Davis and cornerback Devin McCourty are projected as early picks, players like Kevin Haslam, George Johnson and Jack Corcoran are sitting on the bubble between the NFL Draft’s late rounds and going undrafted.

JEFFERSON, D.C.: 6-FOOT-6, 245 POUNDS 12 CATCHES, 108 YARDS C ARREZOLA, PAUL: 6-FOOT-2, 250 POUNDS T RAHAN, T ONY: 6-FOOT-5, 225 POUNDS B USH , MALCOLM: 6-FOOT-4, 230 POUNDS Johnson, who overcame numerous injuries to have a successful final three years on the Banks and played in every game along the way, projects as either a linebacker or defensive end at the next level.

“I’m not worried about what the scouts are thinking,” he said. “If I look at what Mel Kiper is saying, then I start thinking ‘OK, maybe I’m not that good.’ But its not up to him, it’s up to the scouts.”

Haslam has an advantage in that he has played every position on the offensive line. His athleticism and versatility make him an intriguing late-round prospect, as do his gaudy numbers.

The 6-foot-5, 304-pounder notched 29 inches on his vertical leap and put forth 24 repetitions on the bench press — three more than Davis, a potential first-round pick.

While Haslam said he has yet to hear anything in-depth from scouts, former Scarlet Knights and Tampa Bay guard Jeremy Zuttah has been in his ear throughout the process.

“He’s been a big help for me, teaching me how to do things and showing me how they do it in Tampa Bay,” Haslam said.

“He’s really been there to give me advice.”

After learning from now-Cincinnati Bengal Brian Leonard, easily the most prolific fullback in Rutgers history, Corcoran has his sights on the next level as well.

Unlike Leonard, however, Corcoran will not be selected in the second round.

“It all depends on what system I’m in,” said Corcoran, who put up an impressive 30 repetitions on the bench press despite his undersized frame. “I just have to find a good system, maybe like a West Coast system where I can be athletic and a little bit smaller. But if they want me to bulk up, I’ll bulk up.”

Just like Corcoran, Graves has a long road ahead of him to make the professional ranks. Needing to overcome size and latch on with a team — most likely as an undrafted free agent — the Woodbridge, N.J., native said he is fully prepared to do so.

“I can do anything they want to do,” Graves said. “Anywhere they want to put me, I’m going to go balls out and get it done for the team.”

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Tight end Shamar Graves lost a year of eligibility, one he expected to retain, after the end of the season and began his preparations for the NFL Draft.

D.C. JEFFERSON

PAUL CARREZOLA

SAM HELLMAN

Sophomore tight end D.C. Jefferson is practicing at tight end for the first time during the spring after he was part of a quarterback competition last year.

BY STEVEN MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

D.C. Jefferson is no stranger to a little competition during spring practice.

The sophomore found himself battling with three others during the Rutgers football team’s spring season last year, and has another trio of competitors this year.

The only difference is the position.

Before the era of Tom Savage began, Jefferson was a part of the Scarlet Knights’ quarterback competition, but after a year of playing experience and a handful of summer practices, Jefferson is now a tight end. “[A year ago] I was trying to learn my plays and get ready to play quarterback right now,” the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder said, before admitting that it is a significant change. “I know what I’m getting into now. I know what I need to focus on.”

Jefferson, who learned the job on the fly last year after earning the starter’s role for Rutgers’ second game against Howard, needs to work on everything.

But the focus this spring is to make stationing tight end become second nature.

“I feel I can catch and I feel I can block, but both things need improvement,” he said. “I need to do everything faster and learn everything so I’m not out on the field thinking about what I need to do.”

Jefferson admits last year was a struggle at times.

That is why the spring — when Jefferson can hone in on the intricacies of tight end rather than force himself to absorb as much as he can about his opponent and his new position — is such an important time for the Winter Haven, Fla., native.

“It’s a whole lot easier because I know what I’m getting into — I know what I have to do better to be a tight end,” Jefferson said. “I’m not out there just trying to figure it out on the go.”

When Jefferson first made the transition, Shamar Graves was there to help him.

Then, he was there to battle for the starting spot. The pair went back and forth — Jefferson made nine starts while Graves claimed five. Both were expected to be back

this year, but Graves lost a year of eligibility that he expected to have following an injury.

The loss gives a new look to the tight end position for the Knights and a new set of competitors for Jefferson.

“It makes us a lot younger,” said redshirt freshman Paul Carrezola. “A lot more youth means an opportunity to meet the expectations. I mean, [Jefferson] played last year, so we have some experience, but we’re still pretty young as a group.”

The group includes Jefferson and Carrezola, along with sophomore Tony Trahan and redshirt freshman Malcolm Bush. Junior Evan Lampert also has experience as a blocking tight end.

Carrezola, Bush and Trahan all joined Rutgers last season, with the former two on scholarship. Although Trahan was a walkon, he was the only one to see the field.

A summer hamstring injury delayed Carrezola’s progress, but this spring the Langhorne, Pa., native is fully healthy.

“He didn’t really get a lot of repetitions because he was not healthy during camp and then we went to scout teams, so this is really his indoctrination,” said head coach Greg Schiano. “I think Paul will keep getting better.”

Although Carrezola spent the season working with the scout team, he said he made the most of his redshirt.

“I still had a shot, but I wasn’t up to par with where I should have been,” he said.

“I came in a little light, so I put on weight and am getting stronger by working hard in the weight room.”

Now, Carrezola and fellow redshirt Bush are able to focus on the Scarlet Knights’ playbook after a season of playing scout.

But Jefferson remains the veteran of the group.

Fighting for a starting spot is nothing new to him, and a year later, neither is his position. But Jefferson does not believe it is his spot to lose — it is an open field.

“All of us are starting with a clean slate,” he said. “With all of us, you don’t know what’s going to happen. As far as me, I’m just trying to get better. I want to play college football — I don’t really think about the competition. I just go out there and perform.”

S PORTS

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

APRIL 1, 2010

23

Trip to Hoosier State kicks off Big East play With the impending trip to South Bend, Ind., beginning at the crack of dawn this morning, the SOFTBALL Rutgers softball RUTGERS AT t e a m NOTRE DAME, d o e s TODAY, 6 P.M. not just f a c e the tall task of a 24-6 Notre Dame team.

It isn’t just about the Fighting Irish’s conferenceleading .348 average with eight star ters batting higher than .300 and ace Jody Valdivia’s 183 record.

The Scarlet Knights, after 27 assorted road games in tournaments and double-headers, finally open Big East play.

“The Big East is a whole different kind of game, but I feel like we’re still just going into each game looking for a win, looking to beat the other team and making the other team beat us, not beating ourselves,” said senior pitcher Nicole Lindley. “I feel like it won’t be that big of a transition. We’ll just go in and do the things that we need to do.”

Lindley, who holds a 5-8 record with a 4.05 ERA, already experienced three years worth of conference play as a starter.

It might just be more games to her, but it’s a different stor y for the younger players on the team.

“I think the whole season, we’ve been working toward the Big East,” said freshman second baseman Jennifer Harabedian, who has a .225 batting average in 27 starts. “We’re not training differently or any-

SAM HELLMAN

Ace hurler Nicole Lindley sports a 5-8 record and a 4.05 ERA this year. The lone senior on the Knights, Lindley is set to face a Notre Dame squad that leads the Big East with a .348 team batting average. thing. It’s definitely exciting crop in the Big East. Fresh of f But the difference this year is going into the Big East — espe- a home-sweep of Seton Hall that Rutgers has already seen cially as a freshman.” with an average win-margin of teams of this caliber.

Facing Notre Dame is a 10 runs, the Irish are rolling.

They feel ready. clear case of going into the fire.

Four of ND’s six losses this “That’s one of the reasons As in many Olympic spor ts, season came in the first tourna- we’ve gone to such tough tournaNotre Dame represents the top ment of the season. ments,” said head coach Jay

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRARPHY EDITOR

After missing Rutgers’ Pro Day earlier this month, offensive tackle Anthony Davis held a private workout Tuesday for NFL scouts.

DRAFT PROSPECT DAVIS HOLDS PRIVATE WORKOUT FOR NFL SCOUTS Former Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis held a private workout Tuesday for 11 NFL teams, including the N e w FOOTBALL Y o r k Giants and Jets.

The Piscataway native did not participate in Rutgers’ Pro Day in March because of a tweaked hamstring and illness.

Davis received criticism from draft exper ts for missing the Pro Day, but agent Sunny Shah said he is not concerned.

“I think that was overblown,” Shah told The Star-Ledger. “It was something that we planned on doing the

whole time. [Missing positional drills] had no bearing. Not at all. He did all the things that teams wanted him to do [Tuesday]. He’s 100 percent healthy. A sore hammy was the reason he wasn’t able to work out [three weeks ago].”

Shah confirmed that his client has numerous visits and interviews schedule prior to the late April 2010 NFL Draft, but would not disclose with which teams.

The left tackle is widely considered a first-round prospect along with cornerback and teammate Devin McCourty.

— Staff Report

Nelson. “The Big East is very good. I think we’re ranked sixth out of 30 or 31 conferences, but when we went out and played Oklahoma State and Arizona State, it prepared us.

“I don’t like to put an extra added emphasis on conference play. We should play every game the same and that’s really what we’re trying to do.”

The teams in the Arizona State Tournament beat the Knights around, outscoring Rutgers 50-1, but by the time an equally tough Oklahoma Tournament rolled around, the team improved significantly, winning two games and holding Oklahoma State to two runs.

“That was a big wakeup call, going to Arizona and getting our butts kicked,” Lindley said. “We saw teams that knew what they were doing and they went in and did it and we were like, ‘You know what? That’s the team we want to be.’ We want to be the team to beat.”

The Knights (12-15) are a changed team since the first blowout.

Just ask any party involved.

Rutgers is 12-10 since the first tournament, 11-6 since the second and 5-1 in their last six games.

Sophomore Holly Johnson already added a no-hitter to her résumé and Lindley took a perfect game into the fifth inning.

“We’re really playing together as a team and we’re excited to be together and play,” Lindley said.

“That’s something that’s really changed. It’s something that we really pinpointed and wanted to work on in the beginning of our season. It was really about not being selfish and doing what we need to do in games.”

Time: 00:00 p.m. Ext. 6XX Time: 00:00 p.m. Term. Pro x

CORRESPONDENT

Designer: klh Paginator:

BY SAM HELLMAN

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

PA G E 2 4

SPORTS

APRIL 1, 2010

One year in, Pernetti proves right choice for job Mind of Stein MATTHEW STEIN

A

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

In his first year, Athletic Director Tim Pernetti (above) navigated his departments through tough decisions, including the employment situation of men’s basketball coach Fred Hill Jr.

sk the Rutgers women’s soccer team if Tim Pernetti was the right choice.

One of the most successful Rutgers programs over the last few seasons invited the University’s new athletic director down to South Carolina for the NCAA Tournament in November, but Pernetti could not make it because of prior commitments.

So he got in his car in the wee hours of the morning and drove to the airport.

“They had like a 5:30 a.m. flight out of Newark,” Pernetti said during a half-hour private interview last week. “I got up at my house at 3:30 and I drove to Newark and greeted the team; they didn’t know I was coming. I got very close with that team all year and I wanted them to know they had my support even though I couldn’t go on the trip.”

Better yet, ask students in Brower Dining Hall. They might have seen Pernetti eating lunch on a bench table in a suit, welcoming all those who wished to approach him with questions, comments or concerns.

He would love to hear from you.

“I’ve taken advantage of that and gone in and just sort of, like my old days as a student, plop my tray down,” Pernetti said. “People will see me and come over and sit and talk and you hear everything, but that’s not something you would hear if you didn’t make forceful interaction with the students. I think that’s important because you can understand what’s going on at your level and what’s going on on the ground, and only then can you do the job the right way.”

It’s been one year since University President Richard L. McCormick and the Board of Governors deemed it necessary to find a new athletic director to clean up

Robert E. Mulcahy’s mess, Pernetti has done ever ything he possibly could to instill change to a department that badly needed it and negate the doubters who called him a “Schiano crony.”

“I never bought that,” McCormick said.

“It is true, Tim and Greg have had a great relationship for many years and Greg Schiano even coached Tim, way back when, but I always knew that he would be the leader of the whole department. I see his rapport with Greg as an asset.”

Pernetti preached transparency and improved communication. He brought that.

Every challenge Pernetti faced along the way, he handled remarkably well — at least to what those on the outside can tell.

Rutgers required a swift decision on the future of the men’s basketball program and embattled head coach Fred Hill Jr. Check.

The payment plan for the football stadium needed to be ironed out.

Ahead of schedule.

Only six athletic programs across the department finished their previous seasons with winning records.

Well, a solution for that issue remains to be seen.

“When I started, we got to the end of that first year very quickly; we ended up with 24 programs and six winning teams,” Pernetti said. “In my mind, that’s not acceptable and I shared that with the coaches — as a group and individually. If we’re going to invest and make a commitment to all of these things, then six out of 24 is not good enough. We constantly have to be doing whatever we can to make progress.”

Bob Reasso met with Pernetti after the conclusion of his 29th season at the helm of the men’s soccer team this fall and ended up giving his letter of resignation. Saint Louis coach Dan Donigan was swiftly ushered in, and just like that the first coaching change was completed.

Many thought Hill was next after compiling one of the worst four-year records the Big East

SEE JOB ON PAGE 17

Early season woes paying big dividends

Knights put down Huskies in road victory

BY ALEX JANKOWSKI

BY TYLER DONOHUE

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

Poised to win its first game of the season, the Rutgers baseball team was one out from upsetting Miami — the then-No. 12 team in the BASEBALL country — right in the Hurricanes’ PITTSBURGH AT backyard.

RUTGERS But it wasn’t TODAY, 3 P.M. meant to be.

A three-run walk off a home run in the bottom of the ninth stole the victory from the Scarlet Knights’ grasp and induced a slide that caused Rutgers to limp into their first home game.

Sweeps at the hands of Miami and Georgia Tech, now ranked third in the nation, along with a tough outing at the Big Ten/ Big East Challenge, left the Knights with a 1-8 record to start off the year.

But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

“We started the year off facing some of the best pitchers in the nation,” said senior outfielder Jarred Jimenez. “Nobody that was pitching to us was throwing under 90 miles per hour. But that really prepared us for the rest of the season, and the transition boosted us.”

After the Georgia Tech debacle, Rutgers won 11 of their last 13 games and are over

The Rutgers tennis team entered March searching for consistency. On the first day of April, the Scarlet TENNIS Knights are a model RUTGERS 6 of it.

RU overwhelmed UCONN 1 Connecticut 6-1 in Storrs, Conn., yesterday afternoon, picking up a much-needed road win and extending its conference unbeaten streak to four. The team put its road struggles to rest as Rutgers earned its first Big East win beyond the Banks this season.

Though the Huskies (3-8, 1-4) entered the contest as one of the conference’s doormats, they won three of the last five matches, including a decision over Providence last Thursday. UConn played sharp, but the Knights (10-5, 4-1) were up to the challenge, according to senior captain Katherine Arlak.

“UConn is a lot better than they were last year,” Arlak said. “Physically though, I think we were fitter and we hit more consistently than they did. That made the difference. Everyone played very tough. Many of us had close matches and were able to come out on top.”

Rutgers’ No. 3 singles player Arlak was one of three Knights to win their match in straight sets. Arlak rolled 6-0, 6-3, while junior Amy Zhang and sophomore Maryana Milchutskey

SEE WOES ON PAGE 18

JEN KONG

Junior first baseman Jaren Matthews and the Scarlet Knights got off to a 1-8 start, but turned up the heat, winning 11 of their past 13 games, including a Big East sweep.

SEE VICTORY ON PAGE 19