TUITION Decline in academic conditions of the University do not justify increases in enrollment costs SEE OPINIONS, PAGE 6
WOMEN, RACE AND POLITICS Political panel talks midterms, 2020 and shifting the conversation SEE INSIDE BEAT, PAGE 8
ROWING The Varsity 4 boat wins Big Ten Boat of the Week honors SEE SPORTS, BACK
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InfoWars ‘Gun Girl’ interviews students BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN NEWS EDITOR
Kaitlin Bennett is a libertarian gun rights activist and reporter for InfoWars, who became famous on social media after tweeting last summer in favor of gun rights. On Monday, she came to Rutgers and interviewed students on various topics. BENJAMIN CHELNITSKY
Kaitlin Bennett, the Kent State “Gun Girl” who became famous on social media for an open-carry demonstration, came to Rutgers University—New Brunswick on Monday to interview students on student debt for InfoWars, she said to The Daily Targum. “I love being on college campuses because there are tons of people and lots of crazy opinions,” Bennett said. “And so I love to capture them.” She was in the area because she was visiting her fiancee’s family, who live nearby, she said.
“I’ve found that a lot of students are super intolerant to me being on campus, they don’t want me here,” Bennett said. “They’ve told me to go home, they’ve interrupted my conversations with people, they’ve got in front of (the camera) just shouting into the microphone.” But she also said that she found a number of respectful students, more than maybe on any other college campus she has visited. “When there is a campus full of people who scream at others who disagree with them, they have no place to go for dialogue,” Bennett said. SEE STUDENTS ON PAGE 4
Ex-inmate serves as peer health navigator for opioid patients APARNA RAGUPATHI CORRESPONDENT
Joseph Hughes, who works as a peer health navigator for the Intensive Recovery Treatment Support program at Rutgers, said he sees the impact on recovering inmates. YOUTUBE
On August 27, Joseph Hughes, a Camden resident and former inmate, will have completed his first year as a peer health navigator for the Intensive Recovery Treatment Support (IRTS) Program. The program ser ves New Jersey inmates diagnosed with opioid disorders and utilizes an
untraditional team approach to help inmates access medication, treatment and other recover y ser vices, said Rena Gitlitz, director of Community Outreach Programs at Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare. “It is the exact opposite of the traditional medical model in that it is a peer-driven model of services,” Gitlitz said. “The peer health navigators who are hired to assist individuals in
their reentry into society have either lived experience with incarceration and successful reentry, substance abuse and recovery or both.” It is important that those providing the majority of the services also be in the same position at some point in their past as the individuals they now serve, Gitlitz said. This finding is evidence-based. SEE PATIENTS ON PAGE 4
Rutgers announces new vice chancellor in email
Dr. Enobong Branch, before coming to Rutgers, previously served as associate director for Equity and Inclusion, chief diversity officer and professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. RUTGERS.EDU
Dr. Enobong Branch will become the Rutgers—New Brunswick vice chancellor for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement and professor in the Department of Sociology in August 2019, said Chancellor Christopher J. Molloy in a University-wide email. “Dr. Branch will have responsibility for enhancing diversity and inclusion in recruitment, retention, curriculum, research and community engagement across Rutgers University—New Brunswick,” according to the email. She will also work to expand and strengthen Rutgers’ partnerships with the external community to support the University’s institutional goals of inclusion and equity in those relationships, the email stated. Branch will report directly to Molloy.
VOLUME 151, ISSUE 56 • UNIVERSITY ... 3 • OPINIONS ... 6 • INSIDE BEAT... 8• DIVERSIONS ... 9• SPORTS ... BACK
Before joining Rutgers, Branch served as associate director for Equity and Inclusion, chief diversity officer and professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, according to the email. “Her significant accomplishes in this role include leading the integration of diversity throughout the campus strategic plan, executing the university’s campus climate sur vey and creating diversity infrastructure through climate advisors in executive areas and diversity offices in schools and colleges,” the email stated. Branch’s hiring is due to the findings of the members of the vice chancellor for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Search Committee, the email stated.
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May 1, 2019
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Campus Calendar WEDNESDAY 5/01 The Department of Nutritional Sciences presents “Promoting Just, Sustainable Food Choices Through Behavioral Nutrition Education” at 2:30 p.m. at Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Building East on Cook campus. This event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Geology Museum presents “Environmental Technology Late Night” from 4 to 8 p.m. at Geology Hall on the College Avenus campus. This event is free and open to the public. Rutgers Athletics presents “Rutgers Baseball vs. Rider” at 3 p.m. at Bainton Field on Livingston campus. This event is free and open to the public. THURSDAY 5/02 Mason Gross School of the Arts presents “Rutgers Symphonic Winds” at 7:30 p.m. at Nicholas Music Center on Douglass campus. This event is $5 for students. FRIDAY 5/03 Animal Sciences presents “Interactions between Zinc Status and Environmental Stressors across the Fifespan” from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. at Foran
Hall on Cook campus. This event is free and open to the public. SATURDAY 5/04 Department of Physics and Astronomy and Henry R and Gladys V Irons present “2019 HENRY R. AND GLADYS V. IRONS LECTURE IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY” from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Physics Lecture Hall on Busch campus. This event is free and open to the public. Mason Gross School of the Arts presents “Rutgers University Glee Club: A Festival Song to the Artists” at 7:30 p.m. at Nicholas Music Center on Douglass campus. This event is $5 for students. SUNDAY 5/05 The Catholic Center presents “Roman Catholic Mass” from 6 to 7 p.m. at Catholic Center on the College Avenue campus. This event is free and open to the public. MONDAY 5/06 Department of Genetics and Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey present “Genetics Seminar with Speaker Neil H. Shubin, Ph.D.” from noon to 1 p.m. at Life Sciences Building on Busch campus. This event is free and open to the public.
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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 email to eic@dailytargum.com.
May 1, 2019
UNIVERSITY
Page 3
Professor analyzes Notre-Dame Cathedral fire STEVEN OZORIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Notre-Dame Cathedral, an example of Gothic architecture built in France in the 12th century and the tallest church built at the time, holds layers of history that are incorporated into its structure, said Laura Weigert, the director of Medieval Studies at Rutgers. “The Notre-Dame Cathedral has a lot of historical significance for people who live and visited Paris, for France and for the entire world,” she said. The cathedral was built on the site of an earlier church that had been constructed in the Merovingian period and then reconstructed in the Carolingian period, Weigert said. In the 12th century, the Gothic cathedral was built. It was noted as remarkable for the height of its nave and the use of flying buttresses, which were considered new and innovative constructions at the time. The 12th-century church was enlarged in the 13th century, making the medieval sections of the cathedral belonging to both of those periods. The process of renovation and reconstruction in the 19th century transformed the
church and the spire that were in the news today, Weigert said. The cause of the fire that partially damaged the cathedral on April 22 was possibly due to some mechanical issues that were ironically connected to a renovation project, and the wood timber in the roof burned extremely quickly, making the response time longer for the firefighters to recognize what was actually happening, she said. “Any fire alarm in the cathedral had to be verified first by an individual before the firefighters are called in. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but they are looking into whether or not the notification of the fire was part of the problem,” Weigert said. When being asked if it was possible to restore or replace the structure, she said this brings up a lot of questions about what restoration means and whether those things are different from the reconstruction. These are questions that really need to be thought out carefully. The wood roof, that is referred to as “the forest,” was essentially 100 meters of wood beams and would be extremely difficult to replace in the same
form, Weigert said. There are conversations about reconstructing with a metal frame, but that certainly is not considered restoration even though it is reconstructing the roof. There are various problems with reconstructing with wood such as finding the sufficient amount of timber to reconstruct and the environmental issues that are related to finding and using that amount of timber, she said. The information that is provided with these 12th and 13th-century wood timbers, is about medieval engineering and information that is now lost, Weigert said. Since the roof is not visible, it is something that at this point, in her opinion, would not make sense to reconstruct because it might not be beneficial for environmental, practical or economic reasons. The extent of the damage of Notre-Dame is something that we still do not know, Weigert said. What we do know is that the roof structure with the 12,000 oak beams was destroyed, as well as the spier, or pointed tower, that had been reconstructed in the 19th century. “There’s a lot of information that we still don’t know, and we
Laura Weigert, the director of Medieval Studies, attributes the cause of the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire to possible mechanical issues. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS also don’t know the extent of the damage of the structural walls of the cathedral,” she said. “Overall, many elements of the architecture
were destroyed and for people who have studied Gothic architecture, it was particularly difficult to see the cathedral burning.”
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May 1, 2019
STUDENTS Bennett says some students at Rutgers were more welcoming than any other college she has visited CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Madison Roveda, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year, said this past weekend Bennett posted online that New Jersey was a communist state and that she thinks nobody should live here because we have high taxes, no guns and weird accents. “I really don’t think she should even be here, I mean, she has a right to be here but
I don’t really understand her point,” Revita said. “She’s asking people why they think taxation is theft, she’s basically just giving leading questions and statements and she’s tr ying to get people to agree with her. I think she’s just going to end up compiling it into a YouTube video that makes Rutgers look like it doesn’t know what it’s talking about and not use any quality content.”
PATIENTS Peer health navigators employ treatment strategies including face-to-face visits CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“The most impactful lesson we have learned is how effective and life altering the provision of peer-driven ser vices can be,” she said. “Peer-driven ser vices are an evidenced-based practice and we are excited to take the lessons we have learned, the data and the outcomes to further expand that evidencebased practice.” The population the program aims to ser ve — individuals leaving incarceration — are the most at-risk population for opioid overdoses in society, Gitlitz said. This is because change can be frightening for addicts. In jail, individuals are accustomed to eating three meals a day, taking medication and having a roof above their head, Hughes said. This leads to a culture shock when they are released. “A lot of times it’s frightening for these guys when they come out and they don’t have that … the only thing they know they do is what landed them in jail before. Anything new is frightening to an addict. Even if it’s bad, at least we know what to expect. It’s bad,” he said. Hughes began dealing drugs and using them recreationally at 13 years old. His life spiraled out of control, he said.
“They say if the drugs don’t kill you, the lifestyle will. The summer after I graduated college, I got caught with 164 bags of cocaine and after that I was in and out of prison for 13 years. I’ve been shot, stabbed and my substance abuse escalated from alcohol to marijuana to cocaine to heroin,” Hughes said. His own road to recover y helped him make the decision to be a peer health navigator, he said. “I had some people that took me under their wing. They were peer support specialists without even knowing it,” Hughes said. “They told the last part of my story has yet to be written, and next thing you know I’m graduating college with a 4.0. Now I help people because I know what it’s like to be lost.” For Hughes, the most important part of the job is to show unconditional love. “We think of people in recovery as the land of the misfit toys. We all have a broken, fractured personality. We tried to put it together with drugs and alcohol to numb our feelings,” he said. “I find that the best thing to do is to show unconditional love because everybody has a story.” Staff and peer health navigators, like Hughes, employ a variety of engagement and treatment strategies including a
After receiving a 911 call, officers from Rutgers University Police Department came to the Paul Robeson Plaza on the College Avenue campus, where Kaitlin Bennett was speaking to students to interview them on student debt. BENJAMIN CHELNITSKY
blend of face-to-face “high-touch” visits with the use of tele-health technology, Gitlitz said. For Hughes, the most fulfilling part of being a peer health navigator is seeing the program’s impact on former inmates. “Saying a person’s changed is nothing like actually seeing them. We would go in and they’re actually changing. Like yeah I know this guy, he was
a problem back then but not anymore. He went from being a dope dealer to being a hope dealer,” he said. The program, while helping current recovering inmates, also provides peer health navigators with a sense of purpose, Hughes said. He thought being in jail, a lack of education, treatment attempts and absences were failures, but realized they were
actually his experience and hope in disguise. Having spent so many years of his life in the dark, Hughes said he is grateful that he is able to shine light on somebody else. The IRTS program officially opened on February 1, 2018, Gitlitz said. Since then, it has been providing peer-driven services to more than 600 individuals throughout New Jersey.
Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, which is based in Piscataway, provides various health services. Some of the programs offered include intensive outpatient, chemical dependency and residential programs. RUTGERS.EDU
OPINIONS
Page 6
May 1, 2019
Students must support faculty, graduate union KAANOTATIONS KAAN JON BOZTEPE
L
ast week I was part of my first rally, which as most of you know, was for the lack of equal pay for Rutgers professors on all campuses, low wages, scheduling restrictions, inequality based on gender and a lack of diversity among hired professors. Luckily, the professors have reached an agreement as of right now, but the same cannot be said for multiple facets of the University, such as the teaching assistants, part-time lecturers (PTLs) and graduate students who make up approximately 30% of the professors that teach the students. Again, just to really make sure this is clear and to show just how ridiculous this is, 30% of the professors that teach our students — almost 50% of our staff essentially — have received zero changes, aside from a few alleged talks about a 2% increase in their wages. I cannot sit idly by while I realize the fact that the student body has grown an astonishing 70% within the last 10 to 15 years, while the number of full-time professors has not increased by even 1%. Today, we will discuss these injustices in length. I will lay out some suggestions on what the students — even if this did somehow not bother us — would worry about if our tuitions would go up. Before I dive in, I want to explain the importance of supporting your adjuncts and PTLs. As mentioned before, these PTLs teach approximately 30% of the Rutgers student body, but only .08% of the $4 billion budget Rutgers has is spent on the wages of 2,100 PTLs. Keeping in mind that the student body is only growing, the lack of new full time professors affects the level of education, the flexibility of schedules, the quality of in-class help and a limitation of further assistance if a student is part of a large class with just a professor and no teaching assistant. The current PTLs, adjuncts and graduate students are overworked, underpaid, disrespected and are not seen as valuable members of the Rutgers family. Let me remind my readers that the University would drop in quality and sustainability as a top state school without their help. Plus, a fair wage for them means more office hours and additional help for the students, along with easing the workload of a professor, as they would have an assistant. On April 8, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted: “I stand with AAUP-AFT Rutgers professors who are prepared to strike in order to defend affordable, quality higher education. When we organize and stand together, we win.” The fact that a presidential candidate tweeted regarding our strike shows just how strong our voice is and how valuable our University is. But, on the two occasions I joined in the strike with the other union members, we were seen as threats. Allow me to elaborate. On April 17, students, PTLs and adjuncts all went with picket signs outside of University President Robert L. Barchi’s office and were greeted with police officers, not Rutgers safety police. We used no slander against the president, no harmful chants, no damage to the property and simply asked to speak to either Barchi or someone on his committee. Instead, they chose to bring more police officers and claim not one official was in their office at 4 p.m. Not only is that hard to believe, if that really is true, I would really like to know what my tuition money is going toward. The fact that my colleagues and I were seen as threats to those who control Rutgers — meanwhile, they have never seen the inside of a Rutgers classroom — was simply appalling. I am not the threat, the PTLs and adjuncts trying to have affordable salaries to stay afloat of their debts and life are not the threat. The real threat is this current administration versus what it means to be a part of Rutgers. Rutgers is one of the finest research facilities and universities, especially as a state college. The history is rich and the stories are plenty, but I fear the identity of Rutgers is being smeared and quite frankly disrespected. Considering the fact that Barchi said he would not give more than $20 million for diversification and equal pay on all Rutgers campuses due to a lack of funds, but quickly changed his tone after he saw the strikes getting stronger, shows dividends of the issues that come from the top. Red flags continue to be raised with a poorly-run bus system and lack of busses, heated rooms during the spring, insufficient classroom settings, overpriced parking tickets and the rise in tuition while money is constantly being spent on the sports facilities. This is simply absurd. Rutgers is a state school. A school for the people of New Jersey. People are welcome from all around, but ideally a state school, while prestigious, is supposed to be the most affordable option to receive a good education. Sadly, our tuition is only going up. This is despite the fact that Barchi alone makes $900,000 a year plus benefits, and Rutgers has millions and millions of dollars in separate funds that can be used to lower tuition and help properly pay our professors, adjuncts, PTLs and teaching assistants. If we want students to feel encouraged, attain a higher education and pursue their goals, we must lower the costs of tuition while paying those who teach, mentor and provide office hours a livable wage. The fight has only begun, and I urge my readers to follow news regarding the strikes and disputes closely. We are strongest when we fight together. Let us not give up the identity and pride we carry with us here at Rutgers. Kaan Jon Boztepe is a School of Arts and Sciences junior double majoring in philosophy and history. His column, “Kaanotations,” runs on alternate Tuesdays.
UNIVERSAL UCLICK
U. has no justification for tuition increase
W
hen we do business with a corporation, the old adage DR. ROBERT BOIKESS “you get what you pay for” is an accurate description of our transactions with that corporation. It is very clear that for some time, Rutgers has been moving toward a corporate model at a pace that has accelerated significantly in the last five years. So, it is not surprising that our students, who are paying more and more every year for what Rutgers provides, cannot understand why they are getting less and less. Students come to Rutgers, indeed to any university, to learn. They learn in the classroom, the laboratory and the library. They learn by doing research under the mentorship of a faculty member. Historically, faculty have been leading scholars in their disciplines, have generally maintained long-term relationships with their universities and have played a significant role in the governance of the institution. Faculty who have long-term allegiances to the University are tenure-track faculty, who cannot be fired at the whim of an administrator. The interaction of students with such faculty has traditionally provided the optimal learning environment. An important part of learning for our students has been that many of those doing the teaching were role models. For the very large number of our students from underrepresented minorities, the role model was often a faculty member from the same underrepresented minority. For many other students whose aspirations required an advanced degree, their graduate student teaching assistants were their role models. All that started to change not so long ago, at a rate that has transformed Rutgers. Because we now have many more students paying much more, revenue from tuition and fees has increased significantly. Is all that money being used to improve the quality of student learning? Quite the reverse. For example, 20 years ago, almost half of our faculty were on the tenure track. By 2017, less than one-third of our faculty were on the tenure track. At the same time the number of tenure-track faculty from underrepresented minorities has decreased even more. In addition, the number of poorly-paid adjunct faculty, primarily part-time lecturers (PTLs), has increased significantly. Rutgers now has more such adjunct faculty than any other school in the Big Ten. Twenty years ago, approximately one-tenth of our faculty were PTLs. By 2017, about one-third of our faculty were PTLs. Many PTLs need to work several jobs to climb above the poverty line. It is virtually impossible for most PTLs to act as committed mentors. Many students stay longer at Rutgers than many PTLs. Given their extremely low salaries and no provision of health insurance or office space, the cost of a PTL is very low. Notwithstanding how poorly Rutgers treats its PTLs, an overwhelming
COMMENTARY
number of them are deeply committed to their students. But there is only so much PTLs can do. The number of graduate teaching assistants in New Brunswick has decreased by 28% just in the last five years. They have been replaced primarily by PTLs. Notwithstanding modest annual salary increases for faculty, the fraction of the student tuition dollar that is being used to create a high-quality learning environment has been decreasing steadily. Students have been paying more and getting less. A student might reasonably ask: “So, then, what is my money being used for?” One answer is subsidies to Rutgers Athletics, whose total budget deficit from 2013 to 2018 was almost $232 million. That is enough to pay almost 9,000 teaching assistants or 3,000 tenure track faculty members. But athletics is far from the only place where, as University President Robert L. Barchi said, “dollars are being siphoned from the academic mission.” The administration at Rutgers has grown stratospherically in recent years, in the number of administrators and in the salaries and bonuses they are being paid. For example, in 2017, there were 247 administrators receiving salaries in excess of $250,000 of whom 43 were paid more than $500,000. The total cost of this relatively small fraction of the administration was in excess of $82 million, enough to pay the salaries of very many teaching assistants or tenure track faculty. There is still more new spending that provides very little, if any, benefit to students. The administration’s alarming drive to transform Rutgers from an institution of higher learning to an efficiently-run corporation has brought us a number of expensive management systems that are even more expensive due to the substantial costs of staff and faculty time required to learn and implement these systems. These systems have not always done what we need. Some examples that come to mind are Responsibility Center Management (RCM), Cornerstone, Academic Analytics, Infosilem and Connect. While profligate spending in these and other areas is common, regular spending cuts in other areas are equally familiar. Spending cuts in the libraries have resulted in the closing of the media center. Spending cuts in graduate programs have resulted in the loss of teaching assistantships. Spending cuts in the budgets of schools have lowered the quality of instructional programs. But we never seem to observe spending cuts in the number of administrators and the salaries they are paid. What has been happening at Rutgers for some years now is that students have been paying more and more for less and less. All signs indicate that the siphoning of funds from the academic mission will continue and even get worse. If the corporate model of “you get what you pay for” is the metric that we use to determine value, there is absolutely no justification for increasing the tuition and fees we demand from our students. Dr. Robert Boikess is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences—New Brunswick.
May 1, 2019
Opinions Page 7
Film spoilers are fundamental to beauty of human experience TRAIPSE THE FINE LINE
A
SRUTI BEZAWADA
s “Avengers: Endgame” shatters the box office with a record billion dollars grossed within just five days of its release, what better way to celebrate the end of the semester than rampant spoilers swarming our social media feed? A similar epidemic has sprawled from “Game of Thrones,” namely Season 8 as Patient Zero. And the infection will not curb any time soon with only 3 of 6 episodes released thus far. It is safe to say, ironically, that this online uproar is possibly the most effective restraint on my internet addiction. I have been virtually off the grid lately. Although I suppose none of this will matter once social media discourse leaks into reality and I accidentally stumble upon a passionate post-movie debate. The controversy of the “spoiler” is one that has grimly fascinated me for a while now. We view victims of spoilers similarly to how we perceive people who have fallen ill: with pity and sympathy, but a hint of apprehension as well. Now that you have experienced it, do not pass it on to me. At the same time, the perpetrator of the spoiling is condemned a criminal from the victim’s point of view. To an outsider at least vaguely familiar with books, comics, TV shows or any kind of media involving a plot and can generally understand the victim’s plight, the
entire situation is somewhat amusing. We constantly battle the opposing urges to retain and to give away, and we hurtle through these clashing perspectives like a ball on a pool table. But what exactly is the accursed nature of the “spoiler” that makes it so revolting? Why do we even care? The term itself, “spoil,” means to damage or to stain. Dan Kois, writer for the New York Magazine, even proposed a set of general guidelines content creators should follow before they release any major plot twists or other narrative-related events. Obviously, spoilers reveal information about upcoming plot events the consumer had not yet obtained of their own free will.
Turns out, scientific reasoning exists for the disdain we hold against the spoiler. The origins of this sentiment derive from our fixation with stories, particularly fictional ones, said Jennifer Richler of The Atlantic. The common, straightforward assumption is that humans should be more interested in matters that directly concern their livelihood and survival, such as acquiring food, paying rent and having children, said Paul Bloom, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University The attraction to fiction, again, cycles right back to reality. We enjoy fictional elements that possess surface or structural similarity to our own daily lives. But, this deduction
“But, we ourselves are guilty of always wanting to know the future ... We wish for our own stories to be spoiled, not others’, in a rather dreary self-defeating paradox.” Additionally, the official Merriam-Webster definition states that they “spoil a viewer’s sense of surprise or suspense.” But, we ourselves are guilty of always wanting to know the future. How will my grades turn out? Will I get a job? Will I accomplish my dreams? We wish for our own stories to be spoiled, not others’, in a rather dreary self-defeating paradox. So, in that sense, how do spoilers spoil, and why do they ruin people’s enjoyment?
occurs unconsciously, deep in our psyche. The more educated and more “primitive” parts of our mind are at odds in concluding whether something is fact or fiction, and oftentimes, this link gets blurred, said Thalia Goldstein, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Pace University Herein lies the reason spoilers are so detestable: the separation from reality. We will not know our futures, but we will know the stories, and now there is apparently no way to
enjoy the events in between. Furthermore, a certain novelty exists in another story whose plot and “life” is different from our own. When that plot is spoiled, its life is spoiled, and the novelty of the story in juxtaposition to our own predictable routines disintegrates instantly. The how, then, relates to the adage that the beauty is in the journey. While a person’s initial gut instinct in response to a spoiler is something along the lines of “I wish I could unlearn that,” their main despair stems from the events leading up to the spoiled moment. Essentially, when the climax is spoiled, the events leading up to it are meaningless because the endpoint is known. James Poniewozik, a TV critic, said: “An unwanted spoiler does take something away, but not … the pleasure of actually reading or watching a story. Rather, it takes away from the anticipation before watching it.” In a way, the possibility of a spoiler is yet another incentive to enjoy your own life. The thing about a story is that it is subject to the whims of fate as wielded by the author. It has a pre-determined ending, a known one. But, we live in the same state of uncertainty, but endlessly. Sure, it is daunting. But at least we will not be spoiled. Sruti Bezawada is a Rutgers Business School and School of Arts and Sciences sophomore double majoring in marketing and communications and minoring in Japanese. Her column, “Traipse the Fine Line,” runs alternate Wednesdays.
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Page 8
May 1, 2019
Panel of politically active women of color speak at Eagleton CLARISSA GORDON CORRESPONDENT
In the aftermath of the 2018 midterm elections, we saw women make history. One hundred and twelve women were elected to Congress — the most ever — and women of color in particular hit a series of milestones. Stories like these are certainly inspiring, but it’s important to keep the conversation going when it comes to giving more women a seat at the table. Four women who helped shape a more inclusive Democratic party came to Douglass campus on Monday for an author’s talk on their new book: “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics.” Presented by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) and Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics, the authors — who range from former White House political directors to chairwomen of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to media contributors — sat down to discuss their stories of friendship and political histories, as well as offer insight on today’s current political climate. Donna Brazile was the first Black woman to lead a major party presidential campaign in 2000 when she managed the campaign for Al Gore, and is the former interim chair of the DNC. She met Yolanda Caraway, the chief of staff of Jesse Jackson’s historic second presidential campaign and DNC member-at-large, in
1984 during Jackson’s campaign. jor network. Unsatisfied with the Along their political journeys, sensationalized, loosely-based-onthey linked with Leah Daughtry, real-events depiction Hollywood the first and only person to serve had drawn up, the group was intwice as the Democratic National spired to lay out their own version of their history Convention Committee CEO, and “Wake up every day for the right reasons: to carry Minyon Moore, and remind yourself on a legacy that who was the first Black woman to why you're running, had come before them, and to enbe the political and stay true courage all womdirector in the en who continue White House unto center.” to rightfully earn der Bill Clinton. seats at the table. Their story as MINYON MOORE While it's alindividuals and as friends caught Former White House Political Director right to celebrate the positive the attention of a friend in show business, Brazile outcomes of the 2018 midterm explained, who convinced the election, women still make up women to let her pitch the story as only 20% of Congress. The woma scripted television show to a ma- en shared their input on keeping
the momentum alive, with Moore suggesting we view the milestone as “not an event, but a lifestyle,” arguing that it’s imperative to make women running for office the new normal. Brazile emphasized the importance of encouraging and supporting women to run for office and getting more girls to start considering public service as early as high school. Daughtry offered a rhetorical question of “What can stop it?” She raised her concerns of “electability” that we hear in the media, with personalities and pundits often suggesting a more “traditional” Democratic candidate for the next presidential election. She finds this language problematic and damaging to both potential candidates and voters. Moore also brought up
From the first Black woman to manage a presidential campaign to the first person to serve as CEO of the DNC Committee twice, there was expertise on display. TWITTER
the false mysticism that surrounds politics that often discourage people — particularly women of color — from getting involved. Going back to the nervousness that some Democrats feel regarding nominating a woman or person of color, Moore argued that the plethora of diverse candidates that have so far announced their plans for running is a good thing. “Don’t wait for pundits to tell you who to vote for,” Moore said, urging the crowd to get behind the candidates that work for them. “No one is ‘ready’ for presidency, but we can definitely train them.” From what they say to what they wear, female candidates tend to get unsolicited advice on virtually everything, and the authors offered their advice for female political hopefuls in the face of a crowded field. “Women tend to not trust themselves the way men do,” Moore said, valuing the importance of having a strong sense of self that can’t be bent or broken from public pressure. She also said that we must demand that women candidates are treated with dignity, both on the job and in the media, including in fictional portrayals we see on TV. If women don’t see themselves in successful roles, they won’t have the confidence to achieve them in reality. “Wake up every day and remind yourself why you’re running, and stay true to center,” Daughtry said. In other words? "Don’t hand the campaign over to the boys," she said.
Gen X rears its head in presidential politics for first time EAMONN O'NEILL CORRESPONDENT
The Democratic Primary is in full swing, and May is barely even here. There are 20 candidates now, and the debates have yet to begin. Most polling has
the septuagenarian candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), leading the pack. Both candidates would easily be the oldest presidents on Inauguration Day 2021. And they would face off against President Donald
Democratic candidates Beto O'Rourke and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg are the first members of Gen X to run for president, and aren't shy about it. TWITTER
J. Trump, who is already in his mid-70s. Even though current polls are pretty much meaningless, voters seem to be searching for generational change. Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana has surged in the polls the past few weeks, moving beyond Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and even Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) has raised massive amounts of money on par with Sanders and Biden. Both O’Rourke and Buttigieg are squarely in Gen X and preach generational change. It was not long ago that former President Barack Obama swooped in and inspired his coalition to defeat an establishment figure in Hillary Clinton. Obama was a young, charismatic senator from Illinois. He relied on not only his unmatched ability to connect with voters, but also his intellect to convey his message of hope. Buttigieg and O’Rourke hope to do a similar task to mobilize young voters to gain the Democratic nomination. Buttigieg is clearly a smart person, but he’s smart in a way
divorced from policy. He has yet to put forth any concrete plans for his potential administration. Instead, Buttigieg has charmed his way into America’s heart. He is the first openly gay man to run for president, and that is truly monumental. His usage of the internet, along with his partner Chasten Glezman, has been hilarious. But Buttigieg thinks knowledge is knowing about James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and how to speak a bit of Norwegian. Honestly, I’ve walked away from people and parties after they’ve mentioned similar “talents.” His appeal comes from mentioning bands that “spoke” to him. I don’t care if you listen to Spoon. I care if you want Medicare for All or to pay off my student loans. This criticism has also been launched at O’Rourke, especially the days and weeks following his defeat in his campaign for the Texas Senate. He has mentioned his love for Fugazi and Bad Brains, and played in a band. He had a weird odd-job lifestyle in Brooklyn. He sounds like people I know, and that appeals to people. He’s relatable and cool in a young dad way. He captured national at-
tention for his direct style in his Senate bid and is looking to do it again, even as Buttigieg steals some of the youth vote. What separates the two is O’Rourke's recent policy proposal. He's the first candidate to unveil a detailed policy for combating climate change. The policy would recommit America to the Paris Climate Accord, restore Obamaera regulations on top of new standards, end tax breaks for fossil fuel companies, reduce carbon and methane emissions and commit $5 trillion in climate research. This is all in hopes of getting the U.S. carbon neutral by 2050. His campaign plans on releasing at least five policies in total ahead of the debates. The Gen X candidates are surely gaining a lot of coverage based on personality alone. Policy-centric candidates like Warren have so far failed to gain media attention. While it is still all-too early, hopefully the hunger candidates will fill the air with more policy and wade out their young bump. Generation change is needed in the Democratic ranks, hopefully they can match their youth with their policy.
DIVERSIONS
May 1, 2019
Mark Tatulli Horoscopes
Lio
Page 9 Eugenia Last
Happy Birthday: Keep a close watch over joint money matters, settlements or contracts that are due for a change. It’s up to you to stay on top of your affairs and to speak on your own behalf. If you let others take over, you will have trouble getting your seniority back when it comes time to make important decisions. Your numbers are 5, 13, 20, 29, 36, 44, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Remain calm. Don’t let your emotions take over or cause you to do or say something you shouldn’t. Control and discipline will help you avoid mistakes and take advantage of a situation. 3 stars
Over The Hedge
T. Lewis and M. Fry
Non Sequitur
Wiley
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll be eager to make a change, but before you do, go over every detail carefully and make adjustments that will ensure you reach your goal without loss or interference. Leave nothing to chance, and stay within your budget. 4 stars GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Note what everyone around you is doing. Pitch in and help; become part of the solution. Foster important relationships, and do your best to encourage and support the ones you love in a positive way. Romance will improve your personal life. 4 stars CANCER (June 21-July 22): How you handle situations will change the way others perceive you. Honesty and integrity, along with having the wisdom not to act in haste, will help you overcome any situation you face. Don’t fear change if it will solve a problem. 2 stars
Pearls Before Swine
Stephan Pastis
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do what works best for you. A change that takes place or a situation you have no control over should be handled with intelligence. Know when to walk away and do your own thing. Personal improvements and romance should be priorities. 5 stars VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Listen carefully, and learn all you can from experts or those with more experience. How you handle relationships with people you work or play with will influence your health and your wealth. Don’t take a risk; choose to make practical changes. 3 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Distance yourself from negativity and situations that are not supportive. Travel plans, business trips, meetings and partnerships should be where you put your efforts. Strive for a better relationship with someone you love. Romance is encouraged. 3 stars SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll experience a change of heart or choose to live differently. How you move forward will depend on honesty when dealing with loved ones who aren’t likely to want to share the decisions you make. 3 stars SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make adjustments at home that will add to your comfort and convenience as well as contribute to the lifestyle changes you want to make. A partnership with someone you love will improve if you share your intentions. Romance is highlighted. 5 stars CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be creative when forced to make changes. Bend situations to accommodate your needs. Protect against injury or unnecessary arguments. A positive and healthy attitude will help deter others from meddling in your affairs. Don’t get down; get moving. 4 stars AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You don’t have to follow anyone or agree with what others do or say. Choose to be your own person, surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you and live your life according to your needs and best interest. 3 stars PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Keep your life simple, honest and moderate. Focus on what you can do to make improvements to your community and causes you want to help. Only take on what’s feasible and will not hurt you financially or emotionally. 3 stars
©2018 By Eugenia Last distributed by Universal Uclick
Universal Crossword ACROSS
57 Drink noisily
1 Expense
58 50+ group
5 Coding language with a
59 On a cruise, perhaps
coffee cup logo
60 Former Yugoslav president
9 The story of Gilgamesh, e.g.
61 Fashion inits.
13 “The Favourite” queen
62 Wagers
14 Terrible guy? 15 Gooey treat
DOWN
16 Scene from an earlier time
1 Loose garment
18 “Props”
2 Not prerecorded
19 Walk stealthily
3 Suddenly unload on
20 Set (down)
4 Tries
22 M.D. colleagues
5 Agree
23 “Stop, matey!”
6 Director DuVernay
24 Foes’ home base
7 Shop-___
27 ___ neutrality
8 Joints prone to sprains
28 Solidarity leader Lech
9 Big bird
30 Antioxidant-packed berry
10 Vader’s childhood ride
31 Triangles accompanying guitars?
11 Colleague of Thor
32 Actor’s go-between
12 Foul place
33 Flammable material, or a clue
15 Grey Goose competitor
41 Ex-Giant Jennings who danced with the stars
to both parts of 16-, 24-, 45-
17 Steal some wheels
42 Down in the dumps
and 54-Across
21 Open forum on Reddit: Abbr.
43 What works like a charm?
36 Do penance (for)
24 Fraternal order
44 Black-and-white “bears”
38 Speaks like Sylvester
25 Snuggles
46 Shocked sound
39 Unlike many rumors
26 Pet parrots’ homes
48 Phys. therapy
40 Threatening conclusion
29 ___ up one’s sleeve
51 “___ with my little eye ...”
42 “You are here” diagram
31 Yearned
53 To’s partner
45 Uncultivated landscape feature
32 In a zen state
55 Wine barrel wood
47 Barbecue smell, e.g.
33 Hits a non-fair fly to a fielder
56 Caterer’s coffee container
49 Black ___ (some missions)
34 Suffers
50 Six-pack contents
35 Web feed letters
51 Result of a thaw
36 If all else fails
52 Landing pads for Santa
37 Libyan city in the “Marines’ Hymn”
54 Menage, in English
40 Celestial sphere
Yesterday’s Solution
Yesterday’s Solution
Page 10
May 1, 2019 TRACK AND FIELD BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS, FRIDAY, ALL DAY
Knights prepare to compete at Big Tens DELANEY ZUBRICK CORRESPONDENT
Senior Jenna Sobieski holds a school record in the 800 meter with a 2:06.91 time. She has placed first in several 800 and 1,500 meter events. THE DAILY TARGUM / FEBRUARY 2016
The Rutgers men’s and women’s track and field teams head to Iowa City, Iowa for the Big Ten Championships, where some Scarlet Knights will make an appearance. This season, there have been monumental finishes, school records broken and personal records being made by both teams. What makes the Rutgers track teams successful is the fact that they have diverse teams with many talented student athletes competing in several events. But with potentially only one more meet left, the seniors have to make this a top priority for finishing the season. On the men’s team, it goes without saying that there is more than one Knight that could be found competing in Iowa City. Senior Izaiah Brown comes to mind instantly. His personal biography is full of achievements, but in his final year on the Banks, Brown has continued his legacy. In almost every event he competes in, he claims the title. Most recently at the Metropolitan Championships, he nabbed a personal record in the 100 meter with a time of 10.49 and a firstplace finish. Brown also scored first in the 4x100-meter relay, 4x400-meter relay and the 200-meter dash. He holds the school record in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay. Another important athlete to watch for at this coming meet is senior John Mooers, a discus thrower. Mooers has been on a roll for these past four meets. At the Sam Howell Invitational, the Metropolitan Championships and the Virginia Challenge, Mooers nabbed first place in all three and also broke personal records at two. At the 125th Penn Relays, while Mooers did not place first, he crushed his previous personal record of 54.39 meters and threw a whopping 56.45 meters for a third-place finish. Mooers is moving up the ranks quickly as he should with it being his last year at Rutgers. Moving onto the women’s team, there are several notable athletes that could place highly at the Big Ten Championships.
Starting with senior Oniesha Clarke, who is in third place for the 100-meter dash all-time school record, she has a high probability of placing at the Big Ten Championships. Her personal record clocks in at 11.59, in 2018. She has been inching closer and closer to her own record in her senior year. Clarke placed seventh last weekend at the Penn Relays. But, if she were able to drop her time down to her personal record, it would have landed her in second place. This puts her in a prime position heading into the conference championships, and it should drive her to run a race as well as she did back in 2018. Senior Jenna Sobieski has also had a successful year running the 800 meter. Sobieski holds the school record with a time of 2:06.91, nearly 2 whole seconds faster than the all-time second-place school record holder. Sobieski has been placing highly in the past couple meets, with top-10 finishes in highly competitive meets. She also has some first-place finishes in the 800 and 1,500 meters. Finally, there is senior Rhonda Rogombe, who holds the outdoor high jump school record, with a height of 1.78 meters, and the indoor record with a 1.80-meter jump. While Rogombe has been grazing the surface of her own personal record, she has not been able to top her own best jump in her final year as a Knight. While both freshman Reanda Richards and sophomore Olympia Martin are accomplished athletes who both hold school records in their respective events, they still have 2 to 3 more years of college competition. Richards in the 400-meter hurdles is now second in the nation for fastest Division I time, with a 57.21, and Martin holds the school record for 10,000 meters with a time of 35:44.84. There are several athletes on both the men’s and women’s teams who show true potential for their coming years, but with the Big Ten Championships on the horizon, the seniors will be competing for possibly the last meet of their college careers. For updates on the Rutgers track and field teams, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
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Page 11
May 1, 2019 MEN’S LACROSSE SCENARIOS FOR RUTGERS TO WIN BIG TEN TITLE
Rutgers seeks 1st conference title CHRIS TSAKONAS CORRESPONDENT
Following last Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to No. 1 Penn State, the regular season has officially come to an end. The No. 20 Rutgers men’s lacrosse team was bolstered by its talent on both ends of the field, but were plagued by inconsistency and an inability to win faceoffs. With a Big Ten record of 2-3 and an overall record of 7-7, the Scarlet Knights now look forward to a rematch with the Nittany Lions (12-1, 5-0) tomorrow in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal game. With a 22nd-ranked RPI and a 1-6 mark against ranked opponents, the only path for Rutgers to make the NCAA Tournament at this point would be to win the Big Ten title. Here’s who the Knights are up against:
STEP 1: BEAT PENN STATE
You know you’re in for a challenge when the first step is beating the best team in the country. That being said, Rutgers came painfully close to pulling off the upset last weekend in University Park, Pennsylvania, leading for much of the game before conceding the game-winner in the final minute.
Sophomore attack Adam Charalambides was named First Team All-Big Ten after scoring 45 goals during the regular season. GARRETT STEFFE / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / APRIL 2019 Penn State has taken college lacrosse by storm, holding the No. 1 spot in the polls since week five. Its trademark is a high-octane offense that leads the nation with an average of 17 goals per game. Mac O’Keefe is the go-to scorer for the Lions, currently leading the Big Ten with 51 goals on the season. Calling the shots is Grant Ament, who leads college lacrosse with 71 assists on the season.
STEP 2: BEAT MARYLAND/ JOHNS HOPKINS
If the Knights can go the distance and knock off Penn State, then they’ll face the winner of the Maryland vs. Johns Hopkins semifinal on Saturday for the Big Ten title. This semifinal is also a rematch of the season finale, as the Blue Jays (7-6, 3-2) handed the Terrapins (11-3, 3-2) their second loss of the season in College Park, Maryland by a score of 1611 last Saturday.
Rutgers took on Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field in a hostile homecoming atmosphere. Fresh off a 14-6 upset against then-No. 4 Ohio State, the Knights opened up the game sluggishly by conceding a 6-0 run in the first 20 minutes. Despite a late rally, Rutgers fell to the Blue Jays 15-13. If the Knights are to avoid a repeat in a potential rematch, they’ll have to figure out an answer to attacker Joey Epstein, who was the No. 1 recruit in the 2018 class and scored
35 goals in the regular season. If Maryland were to avenge last Saturday’s defeat, it’d set up a potential rematch with Rutgers with an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line. The Knights came out swinging in the last meeting, opening up an 8-3 lead in the first half. The Terrapins took over in the second, scoring 5 of the last 6 goals to put away a 16-13 game. Rutgers faces an uphill climb if it wants to win the Big Ten title. The regular season proves that much. But, the Knights have several factors working in their favor. They have two of college lacrosse’s best attackers in sophomore Adam Charalambides and junior Kieran Mullins. Rutgers also boosts an elite veteran goalkeeper in Max Edelmann, and a talented backline led by Big Ten Specialist of the Week senior defenseman Kyle Pless. Furthermore, the “neutral” venue will be HighPoint.com Stadium, and the Knights will be playing in front of a raucous crowd hungry for the first Big Ten title in program history. For updates on the Rutgers men's lacrosse team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
FOOTBALL DECORATED DEFENSIVE BACKS IN RUTGERS’ DEFENSIVE BACK HISTORY
Top 4 defensive backs in Knights’ history JAKE SCHMIED ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
In its 150-year history as one of the oldest collegiate football programs, the Rutgers football team has consistently produced NFL players on the defensive side of the ball, particularly the secondary. Since the turn of the 21st century, nine Scarlet Knights have been drafted between rounds 1 and 7 of the NFL Draft. As of this past weekend, that list now includes senior defensive backs Blessuan Austin, who was selected by the local New York Jets, and Saquan Hampton, who was picked by the New Orleans Saints. The secondary, consisting of safeties and cornerbacks, are responsible for covering the wide receivers and the running game at certain points. Having a speedy group of defensive backs is critical to a team’s defensive success in stopping the offense from scoring. While many Rutgers players have played the role of defensive backs, here are four standouts who were a part of some of the Knights’ best teams throughout history:
In 2006, McCourty capped off his sophomore season with 45 total tackles. He was a part of the Knights defense that ranked seventh in total defense nationally, allowing opposing defenses 106.8 yards per game. McCourty’s senior season featured career highs in solo tackles (33), total tackles (52)and 12 passes deflected. The Nyack, New York native also finished second in the Big East in kickoff returns. After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by Tennessee, McCourty would spend seven seasons with the Titans. His career year with the team was 2011, when he finished the season with 83 total tackles while combining for 103.
He was reunited with his twin brother, Devin, this season in New England. They became the first pair of twins to win a Super Bowl together when the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams.
BILLY AUSTIN
Regarded as a two-way player as a defensive back and a running back, and a standout lacrosse player, Billy Austin left an impact on Rutgers Athletics. He recorded 13 interceptions, including the third-longest interception return for a touchdown in Knights history. Against Richmond in October of 1957, he picked off a pass, running it in the end zone for a touchdown.
In 1958, Austin finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy ballot as a running back.
COURTNEY GREENE
Between 2005-2008 alumnus defensive back Courtney Greene was an instrumental part of a Rutgers defense that consistently was ranked in the top 20 on ESPN’s total defensive efficiency ratings. Greene’s name fills the Knights’ record books with numerous top-five category placements like his 386 total career tackles and his 219 solo tackles. A New Rochelle, New York native like former Rutgers running back standout Ray Rice, Greene was a part of the Knights’ starting
JASON MCCOURTY
Alumnus defensive back Jason McCourty was known in the Big East as a lockdown cornerback along with being one of the conference’s top kickoff returners. McCourty earned the starting role in the secondary during his sophomore season in 2006, the same year Rutgers had one of its best seasons, going 11-2 and finishing it off with a No. 16 ranking in the Associated Press polls.
Billy Austin played defensive back and running back in the late 1950s. He has the third-longest interception for a touchdown in the Knights’ history. COURTESY OF RUTGERS ATHLETICS
lineup since his freshman season in 2005. He instantly made his name known in Piscataway, leading the team with 116 tackles. When Rutgers completed one of its most noteworthy seasons in 2008, Greene was an instrumental part of the defense, picking off four passes. Greene was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He last played with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012.
DEVIN MCCOURTY
Along with his brother, Jason, alumnus defensive back Devin McCourty was a vocal member of the Knights’ defensive unit between 2006-2008 after redshirting his freshman year. McCourty shared the cornerback role with his brother. In 2008, his senior season, McCourty made a career-high 49 total tackles and 31 assisted tackles. During last season on the Banks, he was selected to the AllBig East first team.That season, he had a career-high 80 tackles while averaging 25.4 yards per kickoff return. McCourty has spent his nineyear professional football with the Patriots, who drafted him in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. McCourty has consistently been one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL. For updates on the Rutgers Football team, follow @SchmiedJake and @TargumSports on Twitter.
TWITTER: @TargumSports WEBSITE: DailyTargum.com/section/sports
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK
SPORTS WEDNESDAY MAY 1, 2019
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The vision for this program is that we’re building towards being one of the top programs in the country.” — Rowing head coach Justin Price
ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM
ROWING VARSITY 4 WINS 1ST BOAT OF WEEK HONORS
MAKING WAVES
The Rutgers rowing team captured a first-place finish in Princeton, New Jersey this past weekend with a 7:19.4 time. The Knights will head to Worcester, Massachusetts to face 13 teams, including a rematch against Columbia. DUSTIN NILES / PHOTO EDITOR / APRIL 2019
Rutgers Varsity 4 wins Big Ten Boat of Week for 1st time JACKSON THOMPSON SPORTS EDITOR
After a 7:19.4 first-place finish at this past weekend’s quad meet in Princeton, the Rutgers rowing team’s Varsity 4 boat led by senior Mackenzie George was named Big Ten Boat of the Week on Tuesday. It is the third time a Scarlet Knights boat has claimed the conference honor, and the first recognition for the Varsity 4 squad. The other two boats in program history to win the honor were both Varsity 8 boats with senior Sarah Johanek in stroke seat, and both won the honor in the first race of the season.
This week’s winning boat featured George in stroke seat, senior Olivia Betz, sophomore Olivia Maxton, freshman Emily Meade at the bow and junior Rachel Usen at coxswain. In the first race of the day against No. 12 Minnesota and No. 7 Princeton, the squad opened the meet with a first-place finish for Rutgers. “It made a nice statement and showed that we’re a program capable of competing at a high level and it shows our athletes as well that we’re capable of competing against some pretty good teams,” said rowing head coach Justin Price. The 7:19.4 finish was a season best for Varsity 4, just 2.5 seconds ahead of the second-place Badgers and a 7.2-second margin of victory over the third-place Tigers.
head coach of the softball team, and the Knights host their last non-conference opponent of the season when they face LIU Brooklyn today at 4 p.m. Rutgers has won 8 of its last 10 games and holds a 25-22 overall record.
a goal of ours we’re always going towards,” Maxton said. The only other events in which the Knights claimed top finishes were in the third Varsity 4A/4B, and Novice 8 events. Rutgers finished in the bottom half of both Varsity 8 races including the Johanek-led boat that was the source of the last two Big Ten Boat of the Week honors, making the top finish in the Varsity 4 that much more significant for the team’s ranking going forward. “To have three event wins in that race, especially with our depth, was really good for the trajectory of our program but I also learned that we have a lot of work still to do,” Price said.
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“Times are hard in our sport, it’s not like swimming because there’s wind and current,” Price said. “But I would say thats as well as our Varsity 4 has performed all season, and that’s more important necessarily than the time. They did quite well and showed that we can be one of the top fours in the country. “ The opponents the Knights faced on Saturday featured two of the top-ranked programs in the country, and if Rutgers’ national ranking is to make another jump on Wednesday, it will have most to do with the performance of the Varsity 4 boat. “Our rankings have been like up there, so it’s been nice competing against these top teams and knowing that they’re that high is
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