THE DAILY TARGUM
Volume 141, Number 58
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
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2009
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Today: Showers
GAMBLER’S PARADISE
High: 58 • Low: 41
Unbeaten on the road and having bested Syracuse by a combined 42 points the previous two years, the Rutgers football team is only an 8.5-point favorite for its trip north tomorrow to the Carrier Dome.
Students stand up for U.S. health care reform BY BRETT WILSHE STAFF WRITER
The New Jersey Public Interest Research Group held a presentation yesterday targeting students who face the uncertainty of health care coverage upon graduation. Equipped with statistics, visuals and an endorsement from Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D6, the group urged support for health care reform. The student chapter set up shop in front of Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus despite the chilly, overcast weather conditions. “The current health care system is failing America’s youth,” said NJPIRG intern Sophia Fishbane, a School of Arts and Sciences student. “Americans aged 18 to 24 are the most likely people in the country to lack health insurance.”
Students who graduate and lose coverage from their parent’s insurance plans often rely on credit cards to pay medical bills. When they do, they accrue an average of $13,000 in debt, she said. The information comes from a new report unveiled by NJPIRG called “Uncovered: How America’s Health Care System Fails Young People.” The report looks at the rising cost of health care and how inaccessible it can be for young adults. “Young workers typically have to deal with temporar y or lower paid jobs, high job turnover, periods of unemployment and employers who are less likely to offer health benefits,” report author Michael Russo said. “It’s not that young people care less about health care, it’s that ever y
COURTESY OF NJPIRG
Adam Helgeson, Livingston Council legislative affairs chair and a School of Arts and Sciences first-year
SEE REFORM ON PAGE 4
student, tells of his struggles with health care yesterday at a forum on the College Avenue campus.
State releases former mayor after 39-month sentence BY KRISTINE ROSETTE ENERIO STAFF WRITER
Former state Senator and New Brunswick Mayor John A. L ynch Jr. was released from federal custody this past Friday after ser ving a 39-month sentence for public corruption.
INDEX UNIVERSITY
After being incarcerated for three years, Lynch is looking forward to spending the holidays with his family, said Middlesex County Democratic Par ty Chairman Joe Spicuzzo, a close friend of Lynch. When it comes to politics, Spicuzzo believes Lynch, who is
banned from holding public office, will not try to reestablish his power in Middlesex County. “I don’t think he’s going to push his views on anybody,” Spicuzzo said. “If he’s asked, he’ll give his opinion.” Lynch pleaded guilty in Sept. 2006 to counts of mail fraud and tax
evasion for the year of 1999, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release. He spent his first 33 months in a facility in Loretto, Penn., and was transferred to a residential re-entry center this past June, said Federal Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Felicia Ponce.
SEE MAYOR ON PAGE 4
Campus voice gains strength in age of activism BY MARY DIDUCH
During the holiday season, feasting is an activity many are lucky to participate in. NJPIRG alerts the community on the seriousness of poverty in America.
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
METRO According to the latest statistics from the Bureau of Labor, the unemployment rate in the city is currently lower than the state’s average of 9.6 percent. UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . 3 METRO . . . . . . . . . 6 OPINIONS . . . . . . . . 8 DIVERSIONS . . . . . . 10 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . 12 SPORTS . . . . . . BACK
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He was then sentenced to home confinement in August, where he served the rest of his sentence. Lynch’s arrest, along with the arrests of other notable politicians, was a key factor that influenced Governorelect Chris Christie’s victory in this
COURTESY OF RUTGERS SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Spurred by the tensions of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement, the University in the late 1960s faced the beginnings of an era defined by protests, demonstrations and cries for change. As several on-campus groups demonstrated against the Vietnam War, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps’ presence on campus and for civil rights, the University’s president at the time, Mason Gross, welcomed dissent. “The students have every right in the world to object,” wrote Gross in the 1969 yearbook, the Scarlet Letter. “They should make their case clear and indicate the basis of their objection. Then the authorities in the college should jolly well listen to them.” Faculty teach-ins, where teachers would speak about controversial issues well into the night, attacks on ROTC buildings and other on-campus demonstrations in the streets were common, said University Archivist Thomas Frusciano. History Professor Eugene Genovese, a Marxist, spoke out against Vietnam in 1965 at a teach-in, he said. Gross did not dismiss him despite facing external pressure. Several anti-war groups, such as Students for a Democratic Society, often protested to move ROTC off-campus, he said. Three students also showed their hatred of the war by burning their Selective Service cards in front of a crowd, according to the 1968 Scarlet Letter. Frusciano said the polarization of those in favor of the government’s efforts and those against them was strong at the University as
University students in 1969 hold a symposium in the College Avenue Gym to raise awareness for the civil rights movement. On-campus demonstrations and teach-ins were common as the administration was open to peaceful dissent.
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CORRECTIONS In yesterday’s front-page article “Pedestrian death spurs debate in City Hall,” it was incorrectly stated that the family of 15-year-old New Brunswick resident George Coleman Jr. did not wish to attend Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Members of the family attended the meeting, but did not wish to speak.
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WEATHER OUTLOOK Courtesy of the The Weather Channel SATURDAY HIGH 59 LOW 41
SUNDAY HIGH 56 LOW 46
MONDAY HIGH 52 LOW 42
TODAY Showers, with a high of 58° TONIGHT Mostly clear, with a low of 41°
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141ST EDITORIAL BOARD JOHN S. CLYDE . . . . . . . . . . EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANGELINA Y. RHA . . . . . . . . . . MANAGING EDITOR CAITLIN MAHON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEWS MATTHEW STEIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPOR TS ANDREW HOWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHOTOGRAPHY MATT STEELE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DESIGN MARGARET DARIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE BEAT MEGAN DIGUILIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OPINIONS ADRIENNE VOGT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COPY SARA GRETINA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UNIVERSITY HEATHER BROOKHAR T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . METRO LAUREN CARUSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSIGNMENTS AMOS JOSHUA SANCHEZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ONLINE DAN BRACAGLIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MULTIMEDIA RAMON DOMPOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY CARISSA CIALA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE DESIGN KYLE FRANKO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE SPOR TS SAM HELLMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE SPOR TS AMANDA RAE CHATSKO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE COPY TOM WRIGHT-PIERSANTI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE INSIDE BEAT JOHNATHAN GILDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE ONLINE MARY DIDUCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE NEWS ARIEL NAGI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSOCIATE NEWS
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1ST PRIZE: 4 Tickets for Chris Brown at Starland Ballroom 2ND PRIZE: $50 gift arrangement from Thomas Sweet including fudge, chocolates, candy covered pretzels, & more! 3RD PRIZE: RU Sports gift basket 6
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Trivia bowl quizzes hundreds from U. community BY KAYLA DURAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
University affiliates answered questions, text messaged and tested their knowledge Wednesday night at the Cook/Douglass Recreational Center. Styled after “Jeopardy!,” contestants of the 22nd annual “Trivia Bowl” answered questions to rounds such as sports, presidents, “name that tune,” enter tainment and human anatomy. Throughout the night, bonus questions allowed participants a chance at different prizes. “I enjoyed the categories. They were a little bit tougher this year than last year. Overall, it was fair,” said Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy student Kenneth Biason, whose team placed in second last year. A new portion of the event included a text message battle. “We included a new twist on trivia [by] adding [a] speed texting competition, which would be a feature event in the upcoming months,” said host Paul Fischbach, associate director of University Recreation. The winning team this year included three University alumni:
ISIAH STEWART/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
More than 90 teams jump up during Wednesday night’s “Trivia Bowl” in the Cook/Douglass Recreation Center. The event, in its 22nd year at the University, attracts a following of current and former students.
Daniel Benovitz and husband and wife duo Michael and Rachel Bal. Benovitz and Michael Bal have been competing in the event for the past 15 years, and Rachel Bal joined the team permanently four years ago. They won in 2007. “We’ve made the final every year for the past four years
except for the last year,” said Michael Bal, a Rutgers College and Graduate School of Education alumnus. The event, which had more than 90 teams, including University students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members, incorporated ways to be
more interactive. New to this year’s “Trivia Bowl” was a grading system based on the honor code, where teams graded each other’s answer sheets. The new grading system was integrated so that teams could interact with each other and the event could r un quicker,
Fischbach said. It also helped the organizers with the final tallies. “I like that [the text messaging competition] sped it up. Usually we’re here really late,” said Rachel Bal, a Rutgers College and Graduate School of Education alumna. Members of the winning team received a $50 Visa gift card, a $15 iTunes gift card and movie tickets. After two rounds, one team won the raffle prize of three portable DVD players. Other bonus prizes included Frisbees, University rain jackets and more. University Recreation organized the event, and the studentrun group Recreation Activity Crew was also enlisted to help. Group members helped super vise the scoring of the event and assisted in developing some of the categories. Former group member Tim Carreras created the event in 1987. “He proposed a trivia event that could be held here, similar to ‘Jeopardy!’ but interactive, fun and enter taining,” Fischbach said. The “Trivia Bowl” is traditionally held every year on the week before Thanksgiving, he said.
Health care forum considers congressional, national motivations BY ANDREW GOLD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A comprehensive singlepayer health care system is not in the cards for Americans, but its specter still dominates some discussions surrounding health care reform. Members of the general public and University community exchanged opinions, personal experiences and a few verbal jabs at a forum on health care sponsored by the Rutgers University Chapter of Amnesty International Wednesday night at the Douglass Campus Center in order to discuss the proper way to move forward with health care reform.
CALENDAR NOVEMBER The Unplugged Rutgers Board Game Club will be having its weekly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Busch Campus Center Room 174. Come by to meet new people, chow down on food and try some board games that you have never seen! They play everything from chess to “Last Night on Earth,” a zombie-survival horror game.
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Be prepared to have your face melted by the musical stylings of Jagazine’s greatest stars at 8 p.m. in Trayes Hall of the Douglass Campus Center. Jagazine will be hosting their first ever “JAGAFEST.”
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To have your event featured on www.dailytargum.com, send University calendar items to university@dailytargum.com.
Ellen Whitt of HealthcareNOW! said a single-payer system would lower prescription drug costs, lower administrative costs and would generally be more efficient. “This is more economical than anything that is being proposed in Congress right now,” Whitt said. The House of Representatives and the Senate have their own respective proposals on the table, but Thomas Knoche, a volunteer from Healthcare-NOW!, has problems with the legislation currently being discussed in Congress. “It does not make health care a human right,” he said. “We can have immigrants here doing
work we won’t do, but we won’t give them health care coverage. … Most alarming is that it strengthens corporate health care providers.” One particular amendment to the House bill drawing ire from pro-choice organizations is that of Rep. Bart Stupak, D-MI, and Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, R-PA. The amendment provides that federal funds are in no way used to fund abortions for those receiving government subsidies to buy insurance. Maretta Short of the National Organization for Women strongly disapproved of the House proposal, citing its hostility toward women’s reproductive rights.
“This bill will primarily hit low-income women of color,” Short said. NJ Citizen Action Health Care Campaign Coordinator Eve Weissman expressed disappointment with the fact that the only bill being seriously considered in Congress at the moment is an inadequate one. “Dealing with something this big ... it is almost impossible to get it right the first time,” she said. She deemed the bill imperfect but ultimately better than nothing, insisting on the need to think realistically and improve on the bill that will actually become law.
Both proposals provide for the creation of a public option, but one that will be in competition with private insurers. “We usually have a more international focus but we decided to shift our focus on U.S. human rights with this event,” said Stephanie Murray, a School of Arts and Sciences junior and Amnesty member. Adriana Crawford, a School of Arts and Sciences junior and Amnesty member, would have liked to see a higher turnout but was still pleased with the event. “It’s important for people to be informed, so that was good,” she said of the range of opinions presented on the issue.
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VOICE: Tensions increased as minorities entered U. in 1960s continued from front it was across the nation, but it was not the only contentious issue on campus. At the time, the University was also contending with the integration of an increasing minority population, said Rutgers College Class of 1969 alumnus Bruce Hubbard, student representative to the Board of Governors at the time. “There were only about 30 black students on the whole campus when I got there,” said Hubbard, who was the first black member of the Chi Psi fraternity. While the University did not have violent civil rights riots, there was still tension as the minority population on campus rose. By Hubbard’s junior year in 1968, there were hundreds of minority students and the atmosphere had changed. “There is no growing problem with minority students when there aren’t any,” Hubbard said. When Hubbard joined Chi Psi, the president quit, he said. The 1968 death of Martin Luther King Jr. also sparked increased tension on campus, Hubbard said. Students demonstrated often in the streets.
MAYOR: Governor-elect put Lynch in jail for corruption continued from front year’s gubernatorial election, said University Political Science Professor Ross Baker. During his time as U.S. District Attorney, Christie won convictions and guilty pleas from 130 public officials, which Lynch was one of the biggest.
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Frusciano said the arrest of Donald Harris, a black University graduate who had been arrested in 1963 Georgia for organizing minority voter registration, also raised civil rights awareness in New Brunswick. On the Newark campus in 1969, minority students took over Conklin Hall, demanding awareness and rights, Frusciano said. Black student leaders also held a symposium in the College Avenue Gym to presented a set of demands such as having more minority students, scholarships, faculty and programs. Hubbard was also part of a campaign to name the newly built Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue Campus after Paul Robeson, one of the University’s most accomplished alumni. The Board of Governors denied this request, as they accused Robeson of Communist ties, but Hubbard countered with claims that the University Provost Richard Schlatter was also a Communist. “I had a real tough fight with the president at the time,” Hubbard said. Despite the controversy and the student center never being named after Robeson, Hubbard said Gross understood why he had done what he did. “He was a wonderful man, and he was a very good friend of mine,” he said.
The student demonstrations for civil rights on campus helped spur the creation of the University’s Africana Studies Department in 1969, said one of the founders Associate Professor Leonard Bethel. The department formed out of the urban mission of Livingston
“Chris Christie wouldn’t have been anything without the convictions that he got with John Lynch and several others,” Spicuzzo said. “His name was synonymous with correct government in New Jersey, and people were looking for a change. People were tired of corrupt government.” Although Christie’s victories in court strengthened his credibility, it was not what helped him win the election, said David
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College, which opened in the fall of 1969 after the University purchased Camp Kilmer, where the campus now stands, from the government, Bethel said. “It was hard because we had to protest to do it,” Bethel said of starting the unique department. If not for the student protests, the department would not have started, he said. “Student protests brought consciousness to the fact that we needed to include the African-American and
Caribbean and African experience into the curriculum. It was not by the good will of anybody, it was through student protests,” Bethel said. In its 40th year, the multi-disciplinary program remains one of the most unique at the University and opened the doors to other minority studies programs on campus. “People didn’t think it was going to last, because it started the way it started … [but] we emerged as one of the most solid programs in the countr y,” Bethel said. School of Arts and Sciences Executive Dean Douglas Greenberg, Rutgers College Class of 1969, said when he was a student, the campus was active, but not as much as other campuses around the nation. “It was very politically active, but it wasn’t universal,” Greenberg said. “Not every student was politically active, but there was a core group of students who were.” For example, many fraternity members were conservative politically, he said. But students did demonstrate on a variety of different issues, from civil rights and the Vietnam War to creating more public housing for residents in New Brunswick with low income, he said.
“It was a time of great upwelling of tension and anxiety of what was happening in the country,” Greenberg said. The tolerance of the administration helped diffuse the tension, and therefore there were no riots, he said. “I never felt the kind of hostility at Rutgers that I read about at other universities,” Greenberg said. Because of the small size of the all-male school and Gross’ popularity on campus, the president maintained active contact with students, often letting in demonstrators on Old Queen’s campus to hear their demands, Greenberg said. “[Gross] kind of instilled this calmness that he didn’t call in the National Guard … if there was an assemblage of students getting ready to protest,” Frusciano said. Hubbard said the majority of the administration and students were open to change, a shift from when he entered the more conservative University in 1965. “When I first came to Rutgers, it was a beer-drinking, frat-boy place,” Hubbard said. When he left, students had long hair, and the flower children culture had bloomed. “It was a wonderful time,” Hubbard said. “I enjoyed it. I think back on my college years fondly.”
Harris, a former member of the University Board of Governors. “[Christie] never campaigned in Middlesex County saying ‘Look, I put John Lynch in jail,’ because Lynch is still more popular in Middlesex County,” Harris said. “Even though Christie did win Middlesex County … he won it on his anti-tax increase platform.” Lynch, who was highly influential in the county, has delivered the votes of Middlesex County to
the Democrats in the past and would have turned them over in favor of incumbent Gov. Jon S. Corzine, Baker said. “If John Lynch was still around [during the election] and was free, Middlesex County would not have gone Republican,” Baker said. Despite Lynch’s arrest, Spicuzzo said people should never forget what Lynch did for the city. As mayor of New Brunswick, Lynch was known most for the
revitalization of the city and the decision of the Johnson & Johnson corporation headquarters to remain in New Brunswick in 1974, Harris said. “He was a political leader who did what he had to do to move his agenda, and he wasn’t someone that you wanted to be in a political fight with,” Harris said. “If you were his friend, there was nothing in the world he wouldn’t do for you.”
REFORM: Most speakers
Assembly John Aspray questioned the efficacy of student voices. “Due to past legislative moves statewide, there have actually been clauses to limit students’ ability to affect legislation in New Jersey. I think removing these barriers to participation is the key to creating a new generation of young leaders who have a vested interest in having mechanism to makes changes in this country,” said Aspray, a School of Arts and Sciences junior. The bill is being debated in the Senate, and some students are unhappy with the way its opponents represent it. “Some people connect the bill to words like ‘rationing’ and ‘socialism,’” School of Arts and Sciences junior Chris Pflaum said. As the event wrapped up, NJPIRG Co-Chair Katie Hubschmitt read a letter from Pallone thanking the various groups for organizing the event. Acknowledging the different student representatives, Hubschmitt, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, smiled and said, “It’s a myth that young people don’t care.”
“It was a time of great upwelling of tension and anxiety of what was happening in the country.” DOUGLAS GREENBERG School of Arts and Sciences Executive Dean
are not affiliated with NJPIRG continued from front piece of our system makes it harder for them to get the care they need.” Although NJPIRG put the presentation together, most of the speakers were not affiliated. Representatives of numerous student groups took the stand. Legislative Affairs Chair for Livingston Student Council Adam Helgeson said he was deemed ineligible for coverage due to a preexisting condition and spent a year with pain and discomfort. “At the same time that I noticed my condition, my mother was laid off,” said Helgeson, a School of Arts and Sciences firstyear student. “With no insurance and little income, I had to deal with that pain.” President Barack Obama’s health care bill would restrict insurance companies from arbitrarily denying coverage due to preexisting conditions. Legislative Affairs Chair for the Rutgers University Student
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NJPIRG puts hunger awareness on table BY AMBIKA SUBRAMANYAM
The media also ignores famines in distant parts of the world, such as the Great Chinese University students assumed Famine in 1959, which caused the roles of people of all national- more than 30 million deaths, she ities and socioeconomic back- said. Despite their large populagrounds Wednesday night to tion, some people also tend to simulate the discrepancies in ignore the poor because they do food availability between differ- not have a voice. ent classes. “As long as the media remains New Jersey Public Interest silent about hunger in the United Research Group’s Hunger and States, hunger will fail to be recHomelessness Campaign fed ognized as a part of society,” students at their “Hunger Nucci said. Banquet” at the Cook Campus Rubenstein said the governCenter to spread awareness ment decides a national poverty about poverty issues. level, and people who fall slightly Lead Intern of the Hunger and above this level are often ignored Homelessness Campaign and turned away when they Stephanie Naling said some stu- request help. dents think hunger and homeThe national poverty level is lessness is a distant problem only $33,000 a year for a family of found in impoverished third three, which is not always appliworld countries. cable to every state, he said. “The campaign wants to be New Jersey has a higher cost the voice of the hungr y and of living than a state like homeless in New Brunswick,” Nebraska, and the average cost of said Naling, a Douglass living in Middlesex County is College senior. above $57,000 a year for a family More than 2.5 billion people of three, Rubenstein said. live in poverty around the world, The two biggest costs for the and 35 million Americans live poor are food and housing, and below the poverty even people who line, she said. work multiple jobs “You may cannot always “The campaign think hunger is afford these costs. wants to be the about there There are 49 milbeing too many voice of the hungry lion people in people in the America who canand homeless in world and not not consistently enough food, but get enough to eat New Brunswick.” really, there is every day, he said. enough food STEPHANIE NALING Students do not Lead Intern of the Hunger and to feed every sinalways have Homelessness Campaign gle person on money to donate, this earth,” but their time Naling said. spent volunteering The real problem lies in the is far more valuable than any unfair distribution of food, she said. donation, he said. The attendees were assigned The Hunger and a different socioeconomic back- Homelessness Campaign believes ground and then divided into an basic human rights, such as food upper class, a middle class and a and shelter, are fundamental and low class. non-negotiable, Naling said. The The upper class members campaign is working to ensure were served dinner first, were every single person in the counseated at an elegant table and try has these basic rights. given unlimited servings of food, “The problem of hunger is Naling said. The middle class more critical now than people members ate next, given unlimit- realize because of the current ed vegetables, rice and beans but state of the economy,” NJPIRG only one small portion of chicken, Intern Alexandra Popovski said. she said. Finally, the lowest class Many people do not have was served only rice and beans enough to eat in New and asked to sit on the floor. Brunswick, and that is not “Are they serious? We don’t acceptable, said Popovski, a get any chicken? But I need Cook College junior. meat,” said Linda Kwon, a Cook “It [might] be more effective College senior, who was to teach students about hunger assigned to be a member of the and homelessness if they were lower class. actually made hungry and homeThe upper class members, less for a day,” said Ali Salfuddin, including lawyer and University a School of Arts and Sciences political science Professor Harold first-year student. Rubenstein, handed out individThe main purpose of the event ual servings to the members of was to show students what it felt the middle class and gave the like to not have accessibility to lower class just one serving to food due to social class, even share among themselves. though there is sufficient food for The only way food can be everyone, Popovski said. equally distributed in the world Most of the attendees are part right now is if the members of the of organizations that work to help upper class, about 15 percent of the hungry and homeless locally the people in the world, decide to and internationally and have give food to people who cannot some background on the issue, afford it, Naling said. Naling said. University Professor of the At the “Hunger Banquet,” Food Policy Institute Maya Nucci attendees had the chance to said the media tends to ignore actually experience how it would and overlook hunger problems feel to be discriminated against, by painting a picture of food she said. accessibility. This can cause dis“It is hard to get out of the isoconnect between Americans and lation and comfort of Rutgers,” the realities of food, such as the Rubenstein said. “[It is also diffiway it is manufactured and the cult] to look around and realize unattainability of food many peo- that even thousands of people in ple face, Nucci said. New Brunswick need help.” STAFF WRITER
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NOVEMBER 20, 2009
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NOVEMBER 20, 2009
City banks on construction projects to boost job growth BY ARIEL NAGI ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
In the midst of the economic recession, city officials are hoping that initiatives toward various construction projects will help revive New Brunswick. New Brunswick City Spokesman Bill Bray said because of efforts like the Gateway Project, the city is expecting a decent amount of job growth in the coming years. “A lot of what the city has done, the construction over the past two decades, has brought jobs to New Brunswick,” Bray said. “These jobs are being filled by the New Brunswick residents.” Bray said several businesses opening downtown, like Chipotle, and more job opportunities in health care and retail are also moving the city forward despite the economy. He said connections with the University are also helpful. “All of that activity and interconnectivity is helping New Brunswick and New Brunswick residents,” Bray said. While the unemployment rate in the state and nation as a whole is fluctuating, New Brunswick’s unemployment rate is dropping. The city’s unemployment rate is down for the third straight month. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site, the unemployment rate was 9 percent in June. It then dropped to 8.8 percent in July,
8.4 percent in August and is at 8.3 percent as of September. This is lower than the state average, which is projected at 9.6 percent as of September, according to the site. But one University professor does not think this number is accurate. Many factors, such as immigrant workers, are not projected in this number, said Professor Norman Glickman of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Any immigrant workers who are hired for low-wage jobs will not be depicted in the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s data, but these numbers are growing. “There are a lot of unconventional ways to look at it,” he said. “The numbers of [immigrant] workers has increased a lot. That’s a good measure of [a] lowwage market.” Glickman said while construction of the Gateway Project might help increase job growth, the city has to realize there is not much they can do locally because this is a national problem. “We have to be realistic on what the city can do. We’re facing a tough battle,” he said. “I think the city is doing a great job in terms of the Gateway Project, but it’s a tough road to hoe. There’s relatively little they can do.” Glickman said while the unemployment rate in New Brunswick is dropping slowly, he still believes it will get worse before it gets better, just like the rest of the countr y.
JOHN PENA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Development of the Gateway project, which is situated between Easton Avenue, Somerset Street and Wall Street, may help spur more job opportunities in New Brunswick. “All of this is happening in the midst of [the first] recession in over 70 years,” he said. Glickman said the stimulus package is also something that should be helping the economy and unemployment rates in the coming years, but it cannot be solely relied on. School of Arts and Sciences senior Cody Martin said while the unemployment rate in New Brunswick is dropping, he does not think this affects students at the University, because many of them will probably move after they graduate.
“The effect isn’t felt by the student body,” Martin said. “I would have no idea [about New Brunswick’s economy]. I’m just here on the campus.” School of Arts and Sciences senior Puja Singh said she is not sure whether the unemployment statistics include students, who usually are new to the job market. “I just can’t imagine how hard it is for new people entering the job market,” Singh said. “I mean, even getting an internship is hard.” She said these rates probably reflect mostly workers who have
lost their jobs, and if people in New Brunswick are not losing their jobs as much, the unemployment rate goes down. Glickman said in the meantime, the city and students should look at what the larger employers like the University and Johnson & Johnson are doing before relying on data. Major budget cuts happening in these institutions will greatly impact the city and the state. “We have to keep that in mind,” Glickman said. “That’s a little cold water in our faces.”
T H E D A I LY TA R G U M
OPINIONS
PA G E 8
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
EDITORIALS
Laurels and darts W
ith the recent introduction of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue,” there are many who question her desire for presidential election candidacy. Her return to the spotlight has granted her a place on a number of political talk shows. It seems that Palin’s choice of shows has resulted in her appearance on primarily right-wing oriented programs. Perhaps she is trying to avoid an embarrassment of the ranks of last year’s Katie Couric debacle. But even such interviews seem to result in public humiliation for the former vice presidential candidate. In a discussion with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Wednesday night, she continuously mixed up Iraq and Iran. When questioned about what the United States should do about Iran’s nuclear proliferation, Palin responded by saying that we should get tough with Iraq. Who is Ahmadinejad again? Who should we stop from developing an unstable nuclear program? Palin’s lack of any knowledge of world politics warrants her a dart. Perhaps after reading this article, she will enroll in an “Intro to International Relations” class at the University. *
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The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is scheduled to open a showcase of Tim Burton’s iconic works. The creator of “Sweeney Todd,” “Big Fish” and other film giants has been an important contributor to film for the past 20 years. This exhibition considers Burton’s career as a director, producer and writer for live-action and animated films. Underlining his artistic approach within his movies, the MOMA displays artwork produced during the conception of his films and brings about a number of previously unknown pieces. According to the exhibition’s Web site, this includes student art, Burton’s earliest non-professional films and pieces of his work as a storyteller and graphic artist for non-film projects. A leading artist in the film industry, Burton has reinvented filmmaking as a more aesthetically pleasing display of acting and production. For this remarkable showcase, the MOMA and Tim Burton receive a laurel.
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France qualified for its fourth consecutive World Cup competition following their much scrutinized win over the Republic of Ireland. “Le Hand of God” helped Thierry Henry and company score an extra-time goal in the 103th minute. With Swedish referee Martin Hansson’s help, France avoided a penalty kick shootout and won on a 2-1 aggregate. The French had come away with a 1-0 victory in Dublin last Saturday. The ultimate goal, which sealed Ireland’s fate, came after Henry handled the ball before passing it to Gallas to score. Unlike American football, soccer does not allow video replays, which would have almost definitely proven the illegitimacy of said goal. “I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref,” Henry said. “I played it. The ref allowed it. That’s a question you should ask him.” Despite the fact that the ref should have called a handball in that situation, this does not excuse a royalty such as Henry from playing a different game on the field. His admittance to “Le Hand of God” only serves to degrade the game of soccer due to unsportsmanlike conduct. A dart goes to the ref who failed to call an obvious fact and to France’s Thierry Henry for pulling an act like that of Argentine football player Diego Maradona.
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Vladimir Nabokov’s final novel — and perhaps final masterpiece — came out this month. This work was written on index cards, as they were the basis for some of his other pieces such as “Lolita” and “Pale Fire.” The author’s unfinished “The Original of Laura” was completed and published by the sole literary executor, his son, Dmitri Nabokov. There had been much dilemma on whether it would be proper to publish an unfinished work after Vladimir Nabokov instructed it to be destroyed. On one hand, Dmitri was obliged to uphold his filial duty, but, he also said that it “would have been a brilliant, original and potentially totally radical book, in the literary sense very different from the rest of his oeuvre.” The New York Times asked which matters more: “the demands of the literary world versus the posthumous rights of an author over his art?” Despite these difficulties, the novel, which has had parts of it published in the Sunday Times Magazine, is now available to readers around the world. For this notable literary event and decision to publish the work that will hopefully surpass the “Twilight” series in sales, the Targum gives Dmitri Nabokov a laurel.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The current health care system is failing America’s youth. Americans aged 18 to 24 are the most likely people in the country to lack health insurance.” NJPIRG intern Sophia Fishbane, a School of Arts and Sciences student, on how America’s health care system needs change STORY ON FRONT
MCT CAMPUS
RU ready for a miracle? E
Jabbar, Julius Erving and ver since Fred Hill Jr. Bernard King. And don’t took over the basketsleep on current free agent ball program for Gary Stephon “Starbury” Marbury Waters four years ago, big and his cousin Sebastian things have constantly been “Bassy” Telfair. While the city expected. Quincy Douby was isn’t nearly as talent-filled as it the only real marquee player under Waters, while his supMATTHEW TORINO used to be, people like Marbury and Telfair are porting cast was mediocre at going other places. Starbury best and could not go anywhere in the best basketball conference in America, the attended Georgia Tech while Bassy was committed to Big East. Hill brought in highly-regarded recruits such Louisville before opting to become an NBA lottery as Hamady N’Diaye, Corey Chandler, Dane Miller and bust. They aren’t even considering schools close to Rutgers’ only McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario. their home state. One of two things has to happen for this team to But things haven’t exactly worked out as planned. N’Diaye never evolved any kind of offensive even gain any kind of acclaim for the basketball team: game, averaging 5.6 points per game last season in a huge head coach has to be brought in or the current 23 minutes per game. He’s the homeless man’s Ben staff has to completely hit the lottery for a couple of Wallace. But many college teams don’t have any players. Memphis got lucky with John Calipari comkind of real post presence. Couldn’t the defense be ing back to the collegiate ranks following his failed enough? Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet — who is stints elsewhere, and they were vaulted to within one on his way to becoming the biggest bust of the 2009 second-half collapse of the national title — Derrick Rose’s SATs not withstanding. The NBA draft — sure was in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas right situation last year, where he “The alternative is to get got former Florida and Illinois was flanked by very good offencoach Lon Kruger after he failed in sive players A.J. Price and Jeff really lucky with some the NBA. These really aren’t all Adrien. But even Thabeet averplayers as the football that uncommon. Rutgers would aged double figures. N’Diaye have to get lucky and could work if Rutgers had team did with guys like somehow hope one of those people came bombers from behind the arc like Douby, but Rosario is seemingly Mike Teel and Ray Rice.” here. But that probably won’t happen unless our school upgrades its the only perimeter player on the facilities from the Trapezoid of team worth anything. He was the only player on last season’s Scarlet Knights to aver- Death on Livingston campus to something somebody age double figures as Chandler went bust and was would want to go to. What recruit is going to be eventually thrown off the Binghamton basketball impressed by the Louis Brown Athletic Center? The alternative is to get really lucky with some team, following his transfer. Rosario’s clearly worth it, and we’ll see with Miller and Greg Echenique, but players as the football team did with guys like Mike this team doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. So Teel and Ray Rice. They were not that heavily recruited but turned into stars for the Rutgers football team. what’s the problem? Is it the coaching? Well, teams like Texas and Kansas This tends not to happen as much in basketball, as State have been fairly good in the past despite the fact the high-profile teams tend to have a Carmelo that Rick Barnes of Texas and Frank Martin of Kansas Anthony, Derrick Rose or Kevin Durant on the team have been regarded as mediocre to bad in-game coach- who is a five-star recruit. Lower recruits can fill the es, so that can’t be the sole reason — despite many role player positions, but every good basketball team needs at least a couple of stars. Sure, there are the Rutgers basketball fans’ minds that believe it to be so. A lack of star power probably has something to do Dwyane Wades and Andrew Boguts who come out of with it as well. When possibly the best player in school nowhere, but they are few and far between. The history was a fringe first-round pick in the NBA draft, University would need to hit the lottery. This team seems to be stuck in neutral for at least there is a problem. When teams like Kansas State, with no discernible basketball history whatsoever, can pull the foreseeable future, but the good news is that it players like Michael Beasley, one of the top recruits in only takes one or two super recruits to turn a team America, to a school that hadn’t made the NCAA around. For this team to go anywhere anytime soon, Tournament since 1996, the coaches have to be it basically needs Teen Wolf, Jesus Shuttlesworth blamed. Rutgers, with the exception of fellow floun- and Jimmy Chitwood to come out of the woodwork. dering school St. John’s and middling Seton Hall, is the And somehow I don’t see anyone on campus turning closest team to the greatest treasure trove of basket- into a werewolf. ball talent in the country — New York City. Matthew Torino is a School of Arts and Sciences Kids are playing on the playground for years and some of the greatest players in NBA history have junior majoring in political science. His column, come from New York City — including Kareem Abdul- “From the Sidelines,” runs on alternate Thursdays.
From the Sidelines
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
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
9
Replenish your imagination P
aula Poundstone, that stand-up comedian from the ’90s with the short hair, said, “Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.” Not me. But I find myself agreeing with it on more than a comedic level. I was stuck for an idea for this week’s column at first, which got me to start thinking about ideas in general. If you have ever tried to have a conversation with a child six or younger, you know they are an endless stream of nonsensical fantasy-type ideas. On Halloween, for example, a young cousin informed me, “Everyone has a ghost inside of them and that is what makes them move.” These borderline creepy ideas seem to fizzle out and dissolve as we grow older, but why? It could just come with experience — we live and learn and realize what can actually happen compared to what belongs in the fantasy section of the library. It could also be that we still have these thoughts inside our minds wanting to get out and be shared with the
world — much like Remember, if children, who talk you will, the Grade non-stop about their Eight Proficiency imaginary friends’ Assessment — the and siblings’ advenGEPA. Weeks were tures. But society spent preparing for has successfully this benchmark test, suppressed those JOANNA CIRILLO instead of focusing ideas and taught us on the student’s what is normal to say, what scripts we should development as an individual learner. Some of follow and what will land us in the loony bin. us are lucky and have a teacher that Lifetime A majority of our imagination is quelled movies are made of and “Good Will Hunting” during our school career. Rote memoriza- is modeled after. There actually are teachers tion, fill-in-the-blank tests and military-like that challenge students to question what they procedures leave ver y little room for read, to create their own solutions and to young minds to create and imagine. If they research new connections between material. dare speak up, it is likely that punishment They are the exception to the rule, will follow for not following classroom though. Ironically, those are the skills that rules. It is around fifth grade, coincidental- most students will need to have in the new ly, that a middle school teacher told me she workplace we are entering. Imagination noticed students start to resent coming to and, above all, fresh ideas will soon be the school and see it as the enemy. Fifth grade most valued skill when all information can is when much attention beings to turn to be looked up with a few keystrokes. standardized testing. Students no longer need to memorize —
So Fresh So Green
Let people live their lives without judgment Letter KYLE MOORE
I
was struck recently by a column I read entitled “Smoking obviously bad for you,” a headline that leads us to wonder why, if it is so obvious, is it worth writing about? There seems to be a prevailing assumption that smokers are blissfully ignorant to the nature of their condition, that if only they were made to confront the horrible truths of smoking they would change. Our intrepid columnist, thus, charges herself with saving us from our “consciously pernicious” behaviors. She laments that “it doesn’t seem to be enough to confront smokers with the cold hard facts,” and proceeds to do just that, perhaps believing that if she only describes them with enough frightening detail they will stick this time — a rationalization which I imagine inspired medieval clergymen to make similarly fiery exhortations about hell. Much like her priestly counterparts, our heroic wordsmith is left confounded when she can find no word in her thesaurus disgusting enough to make her poor ignorant constituency stop sinning. “Why,” she muses, “do smokers so adamantly tighten their fingers around their precious packs of cigarettes, disregarding the elucidated health risks?” She proceeds to present to us a theory that belies a complete misunderstanding of human decision making. The assumption is made implicitly that the only motivation one could have for willfully disregarding such compelling information is cataclysmic mass denial. Clearly, they either believe themselves invincible or they do not believe the facts because they do not actively see themselves deteriorating. What other reason could there be? So again, she sets out to dispel these “presumptuous and fraudulent” beliefs with some more fire and brimstone and a few more $5 words. The reality, though, is that nobody actually entertains these beliefs, or, if
they do, they’re in the minority. Humans are fundamentally logical creatures, by which I mean their behaviors are predictable and explicable, not that I agree with them. Smoking, like all other decisions, is the result of weighed factors. Your average smoker is not an idiot, nor have they shunned reality and sound reasoning. A single cigarette, very simply, represents a risk and a reward. The risk is physical harm, and the reward is physical pleasure and relief of stress or any number of other desirable sensations caused by smoking. When an individual decides that the reward outweighs the risk, they smoke; it is neither strange nor shocking. In a simple, one-dimensional world where your happiness is directly propor tional to your physical health, the choice is obvious. But our world is neither simple nor one-dimensional, though one of the things that make it a nice world to live in — at least here in America — is our ability to make such judgments for ourselves. For some there is no logical impetus to take up smoking. For others, life is less about being buried in pristine condition at a ripe age and more about drawing the most from your experiences, even at the expense of physical health. Is it the best philosophy? Maybe not. But we are free, autonomous citizens and we have ever y right to adhere to it if we choose. What our noble concerned citizen does not seem to recognize is that if the surgeon general’s warning emblazoned on every pack has not been enough to change minds, a snarky, condescending column will likely do no better. The smokers know the facts and they make their choice anyway. Perhaps, then, instead of accosting the smokers among us, we should start attempting to understand them better. Kyle Moore is a Rutgers College senior majoring in English.
they need to analyze. Their creativity should be encouraged as much as possible when it is at its highest and ideas can be fostered, so when they enter the workplace, they can bring fresh ideas to an economy that is shifting into a new kind of service base. The most heralded adults are those with great ideas. Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, E.E. Cummings and Benjamin Franklin are examples. These inventors of the new are products of an education system, but managed to maintain the belief that the world is not a scantron test, and it can be improved if the status-quo is questioned. They did not have to ask any younger siblings for career ideas, because they charged full-steam ahead to answering their own questions, and they kept imaging people being moved by ghosts. Joanna Cirillo is a School of Arts and Sciences junior majoring in journalism and media studies. Her column, “So Fresh So Green,” runs on alternate Fridays.
T H E D A I LY TA R G U M
DIVERSIONS
PA G E 1 0
Horoscopes / LINDA C. BLACK
Pearls Before Swine
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
Stephan Pastis
Today’s Birthday (11/20/09) Opportunities arise from distant locations ... so distant, in fact, that you may find yourself traveling to take advantage of them. Focus on practical wardrobe items that travel well and transition from day to evening, with the addition of appropriate accessories. 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 6 — Passions take you in many directions. Getting together with your partner involves focus and the creative use of ever y moment. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Use emotional energy to break records. You have the strength. Now find balance. Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 6 — Close your mouth and open your heart. The resulting change in your attitude will astonish you. Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 7 — No subtle adjustment will accomplish your goal. Up front and obvious works much better. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — Smile like you mean it. Clean like there’s no tomorrow. Rest knowing your work is done. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — You benefit from activities that take place behind closed doors. There’s less embarrassment that way, and more gets done.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Some adjustment is necessary today regarding your partner or associate. Choose your words with success in mind. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 6 — Other people supply plenty of ideas. Do you have time for all of that in one day? If not, there’s always tomorrow. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6 — You probably wish you were somewhere far away on vacation. If you can’t be there, plan a trip for sometime soon. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Social activities fill your thoughts. Get work done early so you have more time to dress for an evening out. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 6 — Your partner requires attention. In fact, you have to adapt to his or her needs if you want the day to end well. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 6 — Creative play could result in the adaptation of an idea. Balance gamesmanship with thoughtful note-taking.
Dilbert
Doonesberry
Happy Hour
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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
Last-Ditch Ef fort
Get Fuzzy
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NOVEMBER 20, 2009 11
Pop Culture Shock Therapy
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Non Sequitur
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H. ARNOLD & M. ARGIRION THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.
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S PORTS
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
13
Size doesn’t matter with Stringer’s 55-press BY SAM HELLMAN ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
For those who thinks that size matters, tr y convincing the Rutgers women’s basketball team and its 55-defense. Head coach C. Vivian Stringer’s patented full-court press WOMEN’S BASKETBALL nullified BOSTON COLL. 53 the size advanRUTGERS 59 tage of Boston College’s 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-6 starters last night at the Louis Brown Athletic Center and propelled the Scarlet Knights to a 5953 victory. “[Our 55-defense] always saves us, but you could see that we had some people tired,” Stringer said. “It stops you dead in the tracks. It’s a killer.” Sophomore for ward April Sykes led RU in scoring for the first time in more than a year with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and two-of-three from long range. Six assists and 10 points from senior guard Brittany Ray supported Sykes’ offensive outburst for the win. Things looked dim for RU early in the first half. The Knights committed nine turnovers in the first 10 minutes and could not hit a shot, allowing Boston College to build a 20-8 lead before Stringer had enough. After a quick timeout, she called for the 55-defense. As quickly as the Golden Eagles built their lead, it vanished because of the full-court
RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Myia McCurdy, right, and Rutgers shifted the momentum of its game against Boston College when it went to the 55-press. press and a little help from freshman forward Monique Oliver. During RU’s run for nine straight points that cut the score to 20-17, Oliver scored five points and forced two turnovers defensively, but sophomore forward
Chelsey Lee capped the comeback. Her offensive rebound off of a missed jumper by Ray evened the score at 22 points with 2:29 to go in the half. “That [pressure] was definitely important. That’s the thing that
spurred our offense,” Ray said. “I think that helped a lot. Especially [senior] Myia McCurdy, she’s one of your best defensive players and she helps us off the bench.” By the time the halftime buzzer sounded through the RAC, the Knights led BC 27-25 behind 13 forced turnovers, a five-point rebound advantage and eight points from sophomore guard April Sykes. “I thought the difference in the game was that in the first half they were crashing the boards very well,” said Boston College head coach Sylvia Crawley. “They pressured us a little bit, but for the most part, I thought the rebounds hurt us more than anything else. They’re always going to be tough.” Coming out of the half, RU went back to a traditional defense and suffered for it. A 7-0 run for Boston College cut the score to 3836 and the two teams fought neckand-neck for the next 10 minutes until Ray started to take over. Her interception of a sloppy pass and following layup with 2:03 left in the game put the Knights ahead 56-48 The Knights effectively shut down 6-foot-6 Carolyn Swords and held 6-foot-4 Stefanie Murphy from taking over for the Golden Eagles (0-2). Swords, who played just 20 minutes because of constant foul trouble, scored seven points and pulled in just four boards. Murphy, a junior power forward, stepped up in Swords’ stead with a team-high 15 points. The Georgia Bulldogs are up next for the Knights (2-1) as they hit the road Monday for the first time this season.
Early road test may set tone for season BY ALEX JANKOWSKI CORRESPONDENT
The Rutgers wrestling team found success last weekend when it traveled to upstate New York, WRESTLING and the SPRAWL AND BRAWL S c a r l e t Knights BINGHAMTON, N.Y. hope for SUNDAY, 9 A.M. much of t h e same result Sunday when they travel to Binghamton, N.Y., for the Sprawl and Brawl Dual Meets. RU (1-0) faces off against three opponents starting with No. 17 Penn State (1-1), then Sacred Heart (0-3) and ends with Northern Iowa (1-2). “Sunday will be our first time from a dual meet standpoint that we are wrestling some of the best teams in the countr y,” said head coach Scott Goodale. “Our tough schedule is a reason why kids come to Rutgers in the first place. We are excited for the challenge, and we will prepare for one match at a time.” The bout with Penn State is the most intriguing, not only because of the rankings, but also because of the history between wrestlers on both teams. “They have a lot of kids from New Jersey that our guys are familiar with,” Goodale said. “Being one of the better programs in the countr y and having such a highly regarded coach as [Cael] Sanderson, they are going to get ever ybody’s best shot.” Sanderson, in his first year at Penn State, coached three years at Iowa State after going
F
ormer Rutgers men’s basketball standout Phil Sellers will be honored during the second media timeout of the Scarlet Knights’ Sunday afternoon matchup against Vermont. Sellers was a two-time AllAmerican while at Rutgers and helped lead the Knights to the 1976 Final Four. The game against Vermont is part of the Legends Classic, with Sellers serving as RU’s “Legend of the Game.”
THE RUTGERS
SWIMMING
and diving team continues its season tomorrow in the Harvard Invitational. The meet comes on the heels of a 159-125 home victory in a dual meet against West Virginia. In the win over the Mountaineers, senior Catherine Whetstone earned Big East Swimmer of the Week, winning the 100 and 200-yard backstroke.
WITH
NO SELECTIONS FOR
the NCAA Championships, the Rutgers men’s cross countr y team wraps up its fall season Saturday in the Bronx at the IC4A Championships. The Scarlet Knights are no strangers to the Bronx, as this marks their fourth race at Van Cortlandt Park this season. In two out of the three races, a Knight was the first runner to make it across the finish line.
RUTGERS
BASEBALL HEAD
coach Fred Hill Sr. announced yesterday the signing of seven new players. The group includes infielder Nick Favatella, outfielders Joseph D’Annunzio and Brian O’Grady, catcher Michael Zavala and pitchers Charlie Lasky, Slater McCue and Andrew Sullivan. “We are very excited about this recruiting class,” Hill said in a statement. “We feel we addressed a lot of different positions with this group. We always like to build our team with the top talent in New Jersey and have branched out to the Philadelphia area in this class.”
RUTGERS RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Dominick Russo, right, is coming off a first-place finish at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament that moved the sophomore up to No. 10 in the national rankings. RU participates next in the Sprawl and Brawl. 159-0 — you read that correctly — in his four collegiate years with the Cyclones and winning an Olympic gold medal in 2004. By hiring the best wrestler in NCAA histor y as a head coach, Penn State became one of the primer wrestling programs in the nation. After the match with Penn State, the Knights have a small break to get hydrated before they take on Sacred Heart for the second time this season. The Pioneers have not gotten on track since their seasonopening loss to the Knights — falling to Drexel and Pittsburgh in their next two matches.
Although its record might not show it, Northern Iowa is going to be a formidable opponent for RU, Goodale said. “They are consistently one of the top-20 teams in the country,” Goodale said. “They are going to be a great test for us.” After winning the heavyweight bracket of the Oklahoma Gold Tournament Saturday, redshirt junior Dominick Russo rose to 10th in the nation this week in the InterMat rankings. This weekend presents another tough test for the Netcong, N.J., native, with two of his opponents ranked in the top 20 — No. 15 Christian Brantley from Northern Iowa
and Penn State’s No. 19 Cameron Wade. “Between matches I will try to sleep, as easy as that is in a crowded and noisy gym,” Russo said. “I’ll get up 30 minutes or so before the match, jump around a bit, and I’ll be ready to go.” In other news, redshir t freshman Jesse Boyden is back and ready to wrestle after sitting out last week’s tournament with an illness. “I can almost guarantee that our lineup against Sacred Heart will be different than the one we put out two weeks ago,” Goodale said. “The idea is to try and get as many people as possible in these matches.”
TENNIS
COACH
Ben Bucca announced Tuesday the addition of two recruits for next season. Stefania Balasa from East Brunswick High School and Vanessa Petrini from Stamford, Conn., signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Scarlet Knights next season. “With this year’s class, we have the premier players from New Jersey and Connecticut,” Bucca said in a statement. “Their presence on the team will only enhance our depth and continue the improvement of our program.”
S AN F RANCISCO G IANTS ace Tim Lincecum took home his second straight Cy Young Award, beating out St. Louis Cardinals star ters Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
14
S PORTS
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
Duo returns to where it all began KNIGHT NUGGETS BY MATTHEW STEIN
BY THE NUMBERS
SPORTS EDITOR
October 13, 2007 is a date that will always stay in the memories of two of the Rutgers football FOOTBALL team’s biggest playmakers. The Scarlet Knights’ 38-14 win over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome was not much more than a notch in the left column for an eventual 8-5 football team, but juniors Jonathan Freeny and Joe Lefeged have personal ties to the Knights’ fourth win of the season. It was how they first made their marks on the RU defense. “It was my first week starting, and to tell you the truth I was real nervous,” Lefeged said. “I was playing nickel that week. I just tried to do my job and play the best that I could.” Lefeged’s best ended up being a key reason the Knights took control after falling behind 14-0 early. The safety laid a powerful hit on then-Syracuse quarterback Andrew Robinson that forced the first fumble of his young career in the second quarter. Later, Lefeged’s continued pressure off the edge forced Robinson into an errant throw that resulted in an interception en route to being named Big East Defensive Player of the Week. Freeny was the benefactor of both, picking up the loose ball and snatching the first — and thus far only — interception of the defensive end’s career. “Mr. Joe Lefeged came off the edge and hit the quarterback pretty hard,” Freeny said. “The ball bobbled in the air and just fell into my hands. Pretty much the same pressure earlier, he came off the edge and hit the quarterback. The ball came out, it was on the ground, and I fell on it.” Freeny just loves playing against Syracuse; he earned the first sack of his career against the Orange at Rutgers Stadium. “For so long I was like ‘It’s so hard to get a sack,’” he said. “Then last year I finally got my first. It was exciting and everyone was congratulating me. It was a really good feeling.”
CLASS: Freshman matures into leadership role continued from back with each other and, with the running backs and the receivers and the line, everything’s really clicking and we’re all comfortable and starting to mesh a little.” Most importantly for a Rutgers team based on defensive prowess, Savage consistently shows an ability to make smart decisions and avoid turnovers. “Our defense and our running backs and ever ything, they’re so talented that my goal is just to not do anything to mess up,” Savage said. “They want me to take chances, they want me to take risks, but with the plays that we call, you just go through progressions. There aren’t too many where you have to force it in there.” Savage has just two picks this season. Barkley from USC, the only true freshman quarterback with a record comparable to Savage’s at 7-3, has 10. It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Savage, however, as he will be the first to tell you.
Rutgers beat Syracuse by a combined 42 points in the past two games. Last season, sophomore Joe Martinek scored on a 45-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation.
The Orange took early 14-0 leads before the Scarlet Knights came roaring backto win 34-18 and 35-17 over the past two seasons. Quarterback Mike Teel threw for 586 yards and five touchdowns.
Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage’s .857 winning percentage as a true freshman quarterback is the best in the country, besting USC’s Matt Barkley’s 7-3 mark.
Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus is one of just 20 athletes to start at least 100 games for the Duke men’s basketball team. Paulus tranferred to Syracuse after four years in Durham.
42
.857
14 20
BIG QUESTION
Can Rutgers go undefeated on the road for the first time in the Schiano era?
GREG SCHIANO HEAD COACH
THE DAILY TARGUM
Defensive end Jonathan Freeny scooped a fumble and recorded his first career interception in 2007 against Syracuse as a freshman. As a bit of a subplot, Robinson will once again line up against Lefeged, this time as a tight end. But as is the norm, the reserved Lefeged said what happened two years ago would not come into play tomorrow. “I haven’t really thought about it or paid too much mind to it,” he said. “I don’t talk too much during the game.” While the Syracuse offense is missing key parts with injur y and has a number of new players since RU saw it last, the futility remains the same — and that plays right into the Knights’ cards. A defensive unit that forced 28 turnovers in its previous eight games is licking its chops eyeing an Orange offense that is among the national leaders with 25 giveaways, including 14 interceptions tossed by starting quarterback Greg Paulus. “They have a lot of injuries, so it’s hard for them to get
going, but ever y week they’re still playing hard against teams,” Freeny said. “Both quar terbacks are extremely good in the pocket. They know how to escape tackles and make people miss in the backfield and get the ball downfield.” Freeny and Lefeged return to the Carrier Dome for the first time as true playmakers on the RU defense. Freeny leads the Knights and is among the Big East leaders with 7.5 sacks. Lefeged is atop the team’s stat sheets with a pair of forced fumbles as the starting free safety. As much as the two have evolved as players in the two years since their first impact games in scarlet and white, those 25-month-old memories have not disappeared. “It makes me happy,” Freeny said. “Just going back up there again, getting to play in the Dome where I [had my first big game], it’s exciting for me.”
“When I first got here, in the twominute drill, I struggled,” he said. “My worst thing was the two-minute drill here. I just kept throwing pick after pick after pick and I didn’t know what to do. But then I realized that watching the tape, how fast everyone was. You have to anticipate the windows. That’s my goal.”
I’m starting to feel more comfortable and I’m just gaining the trust of the team.” When Savage arrived at Rutgers fresh out of Cardinal O’Hara (Pa.), he did not immediately emerge as a vocal guy. Head coach Greg Schiano said he still isn’t there yet, but he still has the presence of a leader. “I think he’s kind of the same guy,” Schiano said. “I think he talks with his play. He may when I’m not around but he’s pretty quiet around me, which is OK.” Savage’s defining moment through nine games came Oct. 31 at Rentschler Field. With less than a minute to go, trailing by three points against Connecticut, Savage hit a streaking Tim Brown for 81 yards, the go-ahead score and the win. Since then, the Scarlet Knights have all the confidence in the world in the best statistical true freshman quarterback in the country. “He’s starting to lead this team and that’s what we like to see from a young guy,” said Brown, a senior wide receiver. “He can lead and really control the flow of the game. He’s not being down on himself when he makes a bad play and that’s what I like to see. He’s our quarterback and he’s our leader.”
“[Savage is] starting to lead this team ... He’s our quarterback and he’s our leader.” TIM BROWN Senior Wideout
To Savage, the next step in his evolution is his growth as a leader. He said going into tomorrow’s game that he wants to be more vocal. “Being a quarterback, you kind of have to be the coach on the field so you have to be comfortable,” Savage said. “You can’t show that you’re too nervous. I feel like at the beginning of the season I was a little nervous and a little rattled, but
With games at lowly Syracuse and Louisville before the season finale at home against West Virginia, the Knights could easily run the table away from Rutgers Stadium.
NCAA FOOTBALL 2010 SIMULATION The crowd noise at the omore Joe Martinek running for Carrier Dome had little to no 95 yards and a touchdown on just effect on true freshman quarter- 12 touches. De’Antwan “Rocket” back Tom Savage in this week’s Williams scored his first touchNCAA Football 2010 simulation down against an FBS opponent as Rutgers rolled over on a 49-yard run. Syracuse 38-10. The defense domiSavage, in his third nated an overmatched road start, eclipsed the Greg Paulus, sacking 300-yard mark for the him six times to go first time in his career, along with three interpassing for 306 and ceptions. Senior cornertwo touchdowns, comback Devin McCourty pleting 20-of-39 pass had two of the team’s attempts on the day. picks and took one Both of his touchdown TOM SAVAGE back for a score. passes went to true FRESHMAN QB Paulus finished freshman receiver with 174 yards and Mohamed Sanu, who compiled three interceptions, completing 126 yards on nine catches. 41 percent of his passes. Senior Tim Brown also had a The Daily Targum’s weekly strong receiving day with 117 simulation is 7-2 through the yards on just four catches. first 11 weeks of the season. The Scarlet Knights also succeeded on the ground with soph— Staff Report
RUTGERS WINS IF...
THE
SYRACUSE WINS IF ...
GAME CONTINUES
GREG PAULUS GETS COACH K TO
TO TRAMPLE THE
GIVE THE TEAM
ORANGE
SOME POINTERS
Rutgers ran for 207 yards vs. Syracuse last year and Ray Rice had 196 yards and three touchdowns the season before.
Last place Syracuse may have had a shot earlier in the year, but the team lost its best player in wideout Mike Williams.
RUNNING
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“[Turnovers] have been our lifeline. If this season has proven anything, it’s proven there’s nothing more important than taking care of the football.”
ART FORST SOPHOMORE LG
FINAL VERDICT
RUTGERS, 35-6 The Knights slaughter Syracuse and the shockingly-low point spread with ease for win No. 8
G A M E DAY
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
15
KnightsGameday RUTGERS VS SYRACUSE
GAME 10: Carrier Dome, 3:30 p.m. TV: ESPN360, RUtv RADIO: 1450 AM FAVORITE: Rutgers by 9.5
[ JOHN PENA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
INSIDE the NUMBERS
]
No. 25 SCARLET KNIGHTS (7-2)
SYRACUSE (3-7)
PASSING CMP YDS TD INT. AVG. T. Savage 55.1% 1535 10 2 191.9
CMP YDS TD INT. AVG. PASSING G. Paulus 65.8% 1,586 10 14 158.6
RUSHING NO. YDS TD LNG AVG. J. Martinek 146 729 8 61 5.0 58 277 4 57 J. Brooks 4.8
RUSHING D. Carter A. Bailey
NO. YDS TD LNG AVG. 4.4 194 852 9 58 4.7 47 222 0 18
RECEIVING NO. YDS TD LNG AVG. 40 860 6 81 21.5 T. Brown 37 396 1 37 10.7 M. Sanu 78 1 28 8 S. Graves 9.8 48 0 26 7 K. Young 6.9
RECEIVING M. Williams M. Sales D. Davis D. Carter
NO. 49 18 19 10
TKL SCK 0 56 1 48 35 6.5
DEFENSE
INT 1 1 0
YDS 746 191 188 111
DEFENSE
D. Smith K. Scott M. Stuler
LNG 66 24 24 22
AVG. 15.2 10.6 9.89 11.1
TKL SCK 81 6.5 21 0 71 1
INT 0 2 1
TD 6 3 1 1
Rutgers leads the nation in turnover differential at plus-21, thanks in part to an offense that has only turned the ball over four times since the season’s second game. Joe Martinek, above, has fumbled just once on 146 carries.
D. McCourty R. D’Imperio G. Johnson
Turnover margin best in nation
INJURIES Probable — OL D. Wynn (shoulder), OL D. Stapleton (leg) Out — RB K. Young (knee)
INJURIES Questionable — TE C. Catalina (knee), S M. Suter (arm) Out — NT A. Jones (knee), WR M. Williams (personal)
SCHEDULE Sept. 7 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 10 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 31 Nov. 12 Nov. 21 Nov. 27 Dec. 5
SCHEDULE Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28
BY STEVEN MILLER CORRESPONDENT
In 60 minutes and six seconds, the Rutgers football team turned the ball over four times to open the season. In the seven hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds since, the Scarlet Knights have the same number of turnovers. With an offense that oftentimes struggles to find the end zone, the Knights are able to do one thing consistently well: protect the football — something they look to continue tomorrow at Syracuse. “Obviously that’s been our lifeline,” said sophomore left guard Art Forst. “We’ve had some games where we haven’t played well, but we did a great job of protecting the ball. If this season has proven anything, it’s proven there’s nothing more important than taking care of the football. Minus one game, when we were at our worst, we’ve taken care of the ball.” RU’s eight turnovers are less than all but three teams in college football. Two of those teams, Cincinnati and Oregon State, are ranked ahead of the Knights. But the Knights lead the nation with a plus-21 turnover margin, and, while much is made of the defense’s ability to create timely takeaways, the offense has to protect the ball for that kind of a stat to exist. “To be No. 1 you have to get a lot, but you can’t give it away, so it’s
definitely a two-sided effort,” Forst said. “At this program, we really embrace that.” The Knights preach the words “high and tight,” and it works. RU fumbled the ball three times this year, but only one came in a typical situation. Sophomore Evan Lampert, typically a blocker, fumbled when returning a kickoff and freshman wideout Mohamed Sanu dropped the ball when attempting to pull the ball into his body. Sophomore tailback Joe Martinek fumbled once. “I had maybe three or four fumbles and almost a thousand carries [in high school], so I thought I had good ball security,” Martinek said. “When I looked at the film I realized I was all over the place with it. I started to transition to how they teach it and it was hard at first, but since then I’ve improved in ball protection.” But most impressive statistically is quarterback Tom Savage. Savage threw just two interceptions, despite the built-in excuse of inexperience that comes with being a true freshman. “Part of taking care of the football is also delivering the ball to the right person and reading things out the way you’re supposed to,” said head coach Greg Schiano. “He’s been able to read things out the right way.” And although Savage escaped his share of close calls, he continues to make smart decisions with the ball.
“He’s doing a great job,” Martinek said. “But when he stepped in people probably wouldn’t have expected that, especially as a young kid stepping into hostile environments on the road and in front of big crowds.” No road game presents a bigger challenge to Savage this year than the Orange. Not because of the Syracuse defense, which has six interceptions on the season, but because of the Carrier Dome. The 49,250-seat stadium creates noise and lighting difficult to prepare for. “The Dome is the Dome,” Schiano said. “It is a little different with the lighting and noise. I am sure they will go out there and throw a little bit before we even go through warm-ups just to get used to looking up and seeing it.” The defense must also prepare to see quarterback Greg Paulus — someone they are more used to watching in March than November. The former Duke point guard started every game since his summer transfer, but Ryan Nassib gets snaps as well. “That’s a great stor y,” Martinek said. “I’ve heard he was a tremendous high school athlete and playing for Duke, that’s the dream of a lot of high school basketball players. It really seems like he picked up where he left off [in football].”
L, 47-15 Cincinnati W, 45-7 Howard W, 23-15 FIU W, 34-13 Maryland Texas Southern W, 42-0 L, 24-17 Pittsburgh W, 27-10 Army W, 28-24 Connecticut South Florida W, 31-0 TBA Syracuse TBA Louisville West Virginia TBA
Minnesota L, 23-20 L, 28-7 Penn State Northwestern W, 37-34 W, 41-24 Maine South Florida L, 34-20 West Virginia L, 34-13 W, 28-14 Akron L, 28-7 Cincinnati L, 37-10 Pittsburgh 10-9 Louisville TBA Rutgers TBA Connecticut
Key Matchup Rutgers S Joe Lefeged vs. SU TE Andrew Robinson Last time Joe Lefeged played in the Carrier Dome, he knocked out then-quarterback Andrew Robinson with a brutal hit. Since then, Robinson transferred to tight end, which could make for a interesting blocking assignment if he squares off against Lefeged.
STARTING LINEUP: OFFENSE
TIM BROWN Wide Receiver
ANTHONY DAVIS Tackle
ART FORST Guard
RYAN BLASZCZYK Center
HOWARD BARBIERI Guard
KEVIN HASLAM Tackle
D.C. JEFFERSON Tight End
MOHAMED SANU Wide Receiver
TOM SAVAGE Quarterback
JACK CORCORAN Fullback
JOE MARTINEK Running Back
Senior 5’-8”, 210 lbs
Junior 6’-6”, 325 lbs
Sophomore 6’-8”, 310 lbs
Senior 6’-4”, 295 lbs
Junior 6’-5”, 300 lbs
Senior 6’-7”, 295 lbs
R-Freshman 6’-6”, 245 lbs
Freshman 6’-2”, 215 lbs
Freshman 6’-5”, 230 lbs
Senior 6’-1”, 230 lbs
Sophomore 6’-0”, 215 lbs
STARTING LINEUP: DEFENSE
GEORGE JOHNSON Right end
CHARLIE NOONAN Tackle
SCOTT VALLONE Tackle
ALEX SILVESTRO Left end
DAMASO MUNOZ Linebacker
RYAN D’IMPERIO Linebacker
ANTONIO LOWERY Linebacker
DAVID ROWE Cornerback
JOE LEFEGED Strong Safety
ZAIRE KITCHEN Free Safety
DEVIN McCOURTY Cornerback
Senior 6’-4”, 260 lbs
Junior 6’-2”, 270 lbs
R-Freshman 6’-3”, 270 lbs
Junior 6’-4”, 260 lbs
Senior 6’-0”, 220 lbs
Senior 6’-3”, 245 lbs
Junior 6’-2”, 225 lbs
Sophomore 6’-0”, 195 lbs
Junior 6’-1”, 205 lbs
Senior 6’-2”,215 lbs
Senior 5’-11”, 190 lbs
T H E D A I LY TA R G U M
SPORTS
PA G E 1 6
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
Dome Daze THE DAILY TARGUM
HEAD OF THE CLASS Savage matures into leader as statistics place him among elite freshmen quarterbacks
The Scarlet Knights are protecting the football, committing only four turnovers since the opening minute of the season’s second game against Howard. pg. 15
BY SAM HELLMAN ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
Through the first 11 weeks of the 2009 college football season, nine teams have true freshmen starting at quarterback. Of the nine, only six have more FOOTBALL touchdowns than turnovers and only two quarterbacks have a winning record. One is Southern California’s Matt Barkley, the consensus best quarterback recruit in the country on a team ranked No. 4 to open the season. The other is Tom Savage. Savage, the starting quarterback for the Rutgers football team, leads all true freshmen in the nation with his .857 winning percentage (6-1 as a starter), passer rating (134.82) and touchdowns per interceptions ratio (5:1). “I think Tom’s matured very well over the season,” said senior center and team captain Ryan Blaszczyk. “He really inspired the rest of the offense. It’s weird saying that about a true freshman, but he’s the quarterback and he’s the leader on the team, and we need the quarterback to be our leader. “When it gets tough out there, he really kind of calms everybody down. He just brings it back. On the sidelines he’s very vocal and he can rally the troops.”
KNIGHTS GAMEDAY
STARTING BLOCKS
JOHN PENA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tom Savage’s .857 winning percentage is the most among freshmen quarterbacks this season. His 1,535 passing yards and 10 touchdowns are also tops for his class. Savage won the starting job after a threeinterception performance by fifth-year senior Dom Natale against Cincinnati and proceeded to smash a series of Rutgers freshman records. Savage’s six wins are the most ever for a true freshman on the Banks. He has the
most passing yards and touchdown passes with 1,535 yards and 10 touchdowns. “I just think we’re clicking a lot more,” Savage said. “I think we’re more comfortable
SEE CLASS ON PAGE 14
Defensive playmakers Jonathan Freeny and Joe Lefeged first made their marks with big performances as true freshmen at the Carrier Dome in 2007. pg. 14