Language Matters Campaign is necessary to show students their words matter
Pokemon go Augmented reality, other existing technologies helped this game go viral
SEE opinions, page 6
football Rutgers rallies from early deficit to blow out Howard in home opener
SEE Science, page 8
SEE sports, back
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Dharun Ravi sees 2012 bias crime conviction overturned nikhilesh de and sophie nieto-munoz staff writers
Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi had his March 2012 conviction for Tyler Clementi’s death overturned after his defense maintained that the 2010 webcam incidents had nothing to do with Clementi’s suicide following an appeal by Ravi’s legal team. Clementi committed suicide in September 2010 after Ravi, his roommate, set up a webcam to film Clementi having a sexual encounter with another male, according to NJ Advance Media. Ravi said he had a video of the encounter on his Twitter page. During the trial his attorney, along with co-defendant Molly Wei’s attorney, said the video did not show Clementi having intercourse, according to NJ Advance Media. The video was not shared online or to others offline, according to the article. It was only seen on a single computer by Ravi and Wei, though Ravi did say he would go on to distribute the video on Twitter in 2010. Wei testified against Ravi as part of a pre-trial inter vention program, which cleared her record,
according to NJ Advance Media. Other conditions of the program included 300 hours of community ser vice and counseling on cyberbullying and alternative lifestyles. Ravi never intended to intimidate Clementi, Wei said. She also said Ravi did not dislike Clementi during the incident. At the time, Ravi informed his Twitter followers that he would livestream a second encounter he expected Clementi to have, according to NJ Advance Media. This attempted livestream did not work, and Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge shortly after. According to NJ Advance Media, the appellate court sided with Ravi’s attorneys, who argued his bias charges had no basis, and his conviction was reversed. Ravi has already served his 30day sentence and three years of probation after being charged. This overturned conviction will have no effect on his jail time, though it will clear Ravi’s record. The decision on this high-profile case comes four years after Ravi’s original conviction. He was charged on several counts of bias intimidation, hindering his own apprehension and
tampering with witnesses. This case also launched a national conversation about the problems of cyberbullying. Several celebrities spoke out against bullying and cyberbullying after Clementi’s death, including Ellen DeGeneres, Madonna, Owen Pallet and Monica Lewinsky. The band Rise Against included Clementi’s name in the bridge of their song “Make it Stop (September’s Children).” Ravi’s attorney, Steven Altman, told NJ Advance Media that the court cases are not yet completed, but he is “extraordinarily pleased” with the decision. “I haven’t spoken with the Ravi family yet, but I can only imagine they’re pleased as well,” he said. Altman said the New Jersey Supreme Court struck down “a portion of the state’s bias crime statute in a separate case,” in a previous NJ Advance Media article. The statute was deemed “unconstitutionally vague” and struck down by the New Jersey Supreme Court. Ravi was found guilty on bias intimidation charges among others. Altman appealed his conviction partly due to these charges See conviction on Page 4
Dharun Ravi, who was convicted of bias intimidation in the death of Tyler Clementi, won his appeal to have his record cleared. THE DAILY TARGUM / FEBRUARY 2012
RUPD officer suspended after comments about bird avalon zoppo managing editor
A former Rutgers University Police Department officer is involved in a dispute with the school after he told a University employee that a dying animal could be helped by “stepping on its neck.” The incident, first reported by New Jersey 101.5, began after Officer Edward Ruff responded to a call from a University employee about a dying bird on campus. Ruff allegedly said he could help the bird by “stepping on its neck or putting a bullet in it.” The employee then filed a complaint against the officer. Ruff allegedly attempted to conduct a criminal background check and warrant search on the employee, New Jersey 101.5 reported. Ruff was charged with nine police code violations as a result of the incident and the RUPD suspended Ruff for 80 hours.
Ruff has since left the RUPD and now makes $65,000 at the Verona police force, but he continues to appeal the Public Employment Relations Commission decision to not grant him arbitration, according to New Jersey 101.5. Ruff claims he was not given evidence before his pre-disciplinary hearing and that he did not have enough time to prepare his defense for his hearing, which was scheduled within two days of the the complaint being received. The officer is also suing the University and its police department in court, claiming his due process rights were violated, New Jersey 101.5 reported. He is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and a court order to overturn his 80-hour suspension, which he claims should have been 40 hours because he was charged with a “minor complaint,” but given the punishment of a “major discipline.” A Rutgers spokesman declined to comment on the litigation.
A Rutgers University Police Department officer was suspended after suggesting that a dying bird could be helped by stepping on its neck or shooting it. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
School announces death of Rutgers student last week avalon zoppo managing editor
Three student groups honored the memories of victims from 9/11 by planting 3,000 flags at Voorhees Mall on the College Avenue campus. MATT CERISANO
Students commemorate Sept. 11 terror attacks sophie nieto-munoz staff writer
Fifteen years ago, Marlena Bhame walked into her first grade classroom thinking it would be a normal morning. Just minutes into the school day, her teacher pulled all the students together to tell them that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers in New York City. Bhame’s father worked at the Bank of New York, a financial company that was near the World
Trade Center. Although her father survived the attacks, he lost friends and coworkers. “He spent the day with my mom today, but he’s definitely grieving to himself,” she said, adding that her father was in the area of the World Trade Center during a truck bombing in 1993 as well. The School of Arts and Sciences senior grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where many residents commute to New York City. See attacks on Page 4
VOLUME 148, ISSUE 63 • University ... 3 • opiNIons ... 6 • classifieds ... 7 • sciEnce ... 8 • Diversions ... 9 • SPORTS ... BACK
A Rutgers student majoring in mechanical engineering, Phillip King, died on Sept. 4 — two days before the start of the fall semester. Rutgers—New Brunswick Chancellor Richard L. Edwards said he was “sad to inform” the community of King’s death in an email sent out to students. King was a School of Engineering junior and a resident of Bordentown, New Jersey. “Please join me in keeping Phillip’s family and friends in your thoughts during this difficult time,” Edwards said. Visiting hours for Phillip were held Sept. 10 at Saul Funeral Home at 3795 Nottingham Way in Hamilton. A funeral ser vice began at 7 p.m. at the same location. Counseling, ADAP and Psychiatric Ser vices are available for students affected by King’s passing. CAPS is located at 17 Senior St., and appointments can be made by calling (848) 932-7884.