With the use of social media and Apple products in hiring Rowan students, Prime Burger is
catering to the Glassboro community in more ways than one.

Prime is an extension of the Philadelphia-based restaurant Pub and Kitchen, and The
Diving Horse located in Avalon.

The first business to open in the Whitney Building, slated
in approximately four weeks, is not only looking to hire Rowan students at their restaurant, but
help make the “burger boutique” as unique of an experience as possible.

Their point of sales software system utilizes two iPads and two iPod Touches, for
taking and ringing up orders. Additionally, Prime Burger uses social media platforms to reach
students to get their opinion on what they like, what they want, and the collective ideas on how to
improve their overall operation.

“The cool thing about it is, if the employee’s have an iPhone, they can just download the app on
their iPhone and then they can just use their own phone (to assist customers),” said Kyle Evans, general manager.

The restaurant will serve burgers, fries and shakes. They boast a good relationship with those
providing everything from local and organic vegetables to having a good relationship with their
purveyor, Pat LaFreida, supplying from New York City.

“I hate to even compare or think of competition, but when you walk into a Five Guys, they
announce where their potatoes came from that day. Well that’s great and all but I came for a
burger, where did the meat come from? That’s what is important to us, that’s what makes us
unique,” Evans said.

The restaurant is currently looking into Boro Bucks and how it will work for both them and students in
the future, with plans to use Facebook and Twitter to get the opinion of what their needs are.
Moreover, they’re more than happy to be involved with the Rowan and Glassboro community.

“The community has really made us feel welcomed. They really opened their arms and assisted
some city dwellers open a restaurant, the borough has been great with us most notably the
zoning office, and board of health,” Evans said.

Prime Burger is still in the hiring process and are looking for smart, good energy students. With
understanding of schedules, Prime is willing to be flexible and emphasizes the importance of
student involvement.

Interested in applying? Contact Kyle Evans, general manager, at kyle@thepubandkitchen.com.

Find them on Facebook and Twitter for promotions and giveaways.

@PrimeRowan
www.Facebook.com/pages/prime-burger

A license plate reader owned by Rowan Public Safety helped recover a stolen vehicle and led to the arrest of three Camden residents on Jan 23.
At 12:55 a.m. on Jan 23., Rowan University dispatch learned that a stolen 2006 Toyota Siennawas traveling eastbound on Route 322. Campus police and Glassboro police were notified, and by 1:25a.m. the car was recovered at the intersection of Holly Street and Whitney Avenue. Three Camden residents were arrested by Glassboro police officers.
The vehicle may not have been recovered if Rowan’s dispatch wasn’t notified so quickly, but how were they notified? There were no eyewitnessesor 9-1-1 call; no prior knowledge of the stolen vehicle or information from Camden police. Rowan dispatch was instead notified by a license plate reader located on Route 322 that reads every license plate that drives by, a technology the campus has had since 2008.
“It’s called the LPR System, License Plate Recognition System or Reader System as a lot of people say,” said Michael Kantner, assistant vice president of the Public Safety Department here at Rowan. “It gives us the ability to track cars, especially on 322, for either being stolen, either being unregistered, either having persons that are wanted in the vehicle.”
When a car dives by the reader in either direction, the reader reads the tag on your car, and if the vehicle is reported stolen, your license is expired or there is a warrant out for your arrest, the tag comes back to Rowan dispatch and both campus and Glassboro police are immediately notified.
According to Kantner, not only are there LPR systems set up throughout 322, but, “we also have mobile cameras in one of our police units.”
On Jan 23., Rowan dispatch received an alert that a reported stolen vehicle was traveling east on Route 322. Once notified both Rowan police and Glassboro police were notified and eventually the car was spotted by a Glassboro police officer who pulled the vehicle over and arrested Kwymane Sheppard, 21, Charles Sheppard, 22, and Miah Dozier, 19, according to the Gloucester County Times.
The three individuals were charged with receiving stolen property. Police also found crack cocaine and marijuana in possession of Sheppard. Dozier was also charged with shoplifting, according to the Times.
Interestingly enough, the stolen vehicle, originally reported in Camden, was owned by a Glassboro resident.
“It was a good hit. It’s what the technology is out there for,” Kantner said. Glassboro police could not be reached for comment and they had no press release for the arrest available.
Rowan University purchased the LPR system back in 2008 using budgetary funds, according to Kantner.
Kantner says the system has led to other arrests. “At first I think people thought ‘oh why do you need that?’ but they made a wise choice to say ‘you know what, it’s a good system’ and they purchased it.”
Rowan was the first in Gloucester County to purchase the system, and two years later the rest of the county would follow suit.
The Gloucester County Communications System, located in Clayton, started to get more departments involved with the LPR system. Last year
Rowan entered a sharing agreement with the Gloucester County Communications System, so now all information involving the LPR system is shared between Rowan and the rest of the county.
“It’s been a very effective system,” said Agent Bill Donovan who works in the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office in Woodbury and played a large role in getting the LPR system to departments throughout the county. “It has done very well for Gloucester County.”
“It’s a win-win for every body,” Kantner said. Every body, except for the bad guys.

Glassboro residents, Rowan students, landlords and borough officials met Tuesday night to discuss problems involving students off campus.

One of the main topics of discussion was the large groups of students that roam the streets at night on weekends. Complaints ranged from knocking over garbage cans to serious violence.

Bob Cleary of 18 Normal Blvd. said he recently had a problem with a group of students outside his home.

“The first day back this semester, the first Thursday night, I look out my window; I’ve got 30 kids fighting in my front yard,” Cleary said. “And I’m looking around and I haven’t seen a police car all night. So I called the police and they came down. All the kids scattered when they saw the lights coming, but one. He’s lying on the cement and they had to take him away in an ambulance because he’s so hurt.”

To deal with the weekend crowds, the Glassboro Police Department intends to add eight more police officers to be deployed in teams of two into problem areas between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. from Thursday through Saturday. These officers will be designated “special law enforcement officer class II” or SLEO II, which means that they can carry a gun and make arrests, but only while on duty.

“Their core function is to deal with off campus situations,” said Police Chief Alex Fanfarillo.

Fanfarillo also confirmed that four new officers have already been hired for this purpose and the department has two more candidates to whom they are prepared to offer positions.

Though four new officers have been hired, Fanfarillo said they are still going through the process of background checks and a field officer training program that could take six to eight weeks to complete.

In addition to general rowdiness on the weekends, residents also complained that the number of single-family homes being rented in their neighborhoods is increasing.

Joe Brigandi, Glassboro’s borough administrator, sympathized with residents and expressed a desire to limit rentals.

“Everyone up here, the Rowan administration and the board, would all love if there was a law that allowed us to control the areas where the rentals could be or not be or how many there could be,” Brigandi said.

Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s interim president, brought up the fact that Rowan’s planned growth will lead to inevitable changes.

“The fact of the matter is Rowan is going to become increasingly popular and larger. Understand that with it comes a lot of consequences. Hopefully there’s going to be more economic development because that’s really ultimately what our goal is,” Houshmand said.

Bryan Skarbnik, a junior entrepreneurship and management major, was one of the few students in attendance. He shared his hopes that students might become more involved in these decisions.

“You guys should honestly get more students here,” Skarbnik said. “I just found out about this meeting a half-hour ago. After listening to you guys talk and what you’re saying and the problems that you have, every student should really listen to this. They should hear what you guys are saying as their neighbors and we can work together to solve these problems.”

Rowan’s Public Safety added three new stops to their shuttle service for the spring semester, bringing the total number to 16. The new stops are located by Robinson Hall, the
Whitney Center and Lot T.
Currently the shuttle stays on campus and only runs between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m, but Michael Kantner, assistant vice president of Public Safety, says they might be expanding.
“I’m looking into putting some stops in Glassboro, so we can go off campus,” Kantner said. Possible off campus stops include the Barnes & Noble, Campus Crossings, Beau Rivage and Walgreens.
To move forward with this expansion, Rowan needs to get permission from Glassboro.
Kantner is also trying to upgrade the current shuttle van for two bigger “tramcars on wheels,” so more students can fit at one time.
Public Safety is looking into possibly running the shuttle during the day as well. Right now Rowan does not have the personnel to run a
shuttle both day and night.
“During the day it would be nice to take the shuttle to get rides to classes, especially in the winter,” said Liz Larkin, junior public relations major.
Some students, however, don’t mind the walk. “I feel compelled to stay in shape and walking to my classes helps with that. I’d
probably still walk rather than take the shuttle,” said Tyrell Thomas, junior health and exercise
science major.
Kanter plans to talk to Dean Richard Jones about these expansions and says his main goal is “trying to improve the system that’s already in place.”
Shuttles run approximately every 15 minutes and a shuttle map is available on Rowan’s website.

On Jan. 16, Cosby joined Rowan University to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“There used to be prejudice and segregation, then Dr. King had a dream and we won,” Cosby said sarcastically.

Cosby’s speech was a call to action. He said that we are not paying attention to King’s dream.

“By not speaking up … You’re allowing today’s birthday, this celebration, to read like it’s a done deal.”

King’s dream is a “dream deferred,” says adjunct professor of political economy Dr. Mujahid Nyahuma.

“There has been a lot of progress for people of color and women … but a lot of that has been rolled back because of the Patriot Act. There hasn’t been a real national discussion about race in terms of racism. Today, we are still dealing with many of the problems that Martin Luther King Jr. was challenging back in his time.”

Cosby’s speech focused on the responsibility of the individual.

“The revolution today is in the home.”

Cosby said that if you see your family in trouble, if you see that your nieces or nephews aren’t being given opportunities to succeed, intervene.

“If your sister is on crack, don’t leave her children in mental squalor. Pull them out of there, take them places. We need to save these minds.”

“Parents are afraid of their children,” Cosby said.

“School programs are not the final answer,” he continued.

“(School) programs have a sunset, meaning the child has to come home. Who should be there to control, to teach, to preach, to inspect, to look under the mattress, to notice what’s on the wall, to ask what’s in this drawer?”

According to Cosby, we live in a time where people’s day-to-day lives are uncertain. He relayed a story a fourth grade school teacher once told him.

“A girl walked up to (the teacher) and handed her a doll and said, ‘Ms. Anderson, will you please take my dolly because my mother and I are going someplace. I don’t know where we are going but I know you will give her a good home.’

“Think about these individuals. Keep them in your mind because behind them is a contradiction that must be sorted out,” Cosby narrated.

“The answer starts with the individuals in the community,” Cosby continued.

Nyahuma requires all of his students to complete five hours of community service.

“People are disconnected, so part of my course I have my students give back to the community,” Nyahuma said.

Nyahuma explained Rowan students should be engaged in community activities, instead of being an island by themselves, and not just on MLK day.

“It’s important for all of us on this day to think of positive things that one can do and say,” Cosby said.

“I thought his speech was perfect,” said Kasra Houshmand, 2011 Rowan alumnus. “He shattered the comedic mood and gave it to people straight,”

“There’s so much work to be done, and to an extent, it starts right inside the house with real, personal parenting … Sure, laws changed … but there’s still such a major socioeconomic schism going on in the world that has yet to be bridged. I wish more people than just that room heard his speech, it was very important.”

During his speech, Cosby wore a sweatshirt reading “Hello Friend,” a tribute to the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation that Cosby and his wife established in memory of their late son Ennis.

Sponsored by the Rowan University Foundation, the University’s annual MLK Breakfast benefits the William H. Myers Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides financial support for high-achieving minority students.

As stated in the final report of the advisory committee to the governor, the merger would provide “southern New Jersey academic and health care delivery leaders with an accelerated opportunity to support Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and develop a comprehensive public research university that benefits the region and the State.”

In summary, the committee concluded that merging Rowan and Rutgers-Camden would result in a two-campus institution, both of which would offer undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as research programs. This institution would be the second of its kind in New Jersey, with Rutgers-New Brunswick serving as the first.

This integration would also include the law and business school at Rutgers-Camden, according to the committee’s final report.

Though the committee found both universities offered the southern region of the state strong graduate and undergraduate programs, affiliating the medical school with only one of those universities would not be sufficient for its future success. They, along with Christie, agree that this merger would pool the resources of the region to offer a highly successful research institution.

“This is a very good thing for the region, for the state, and for us,” Rowan University Interim President Ali Houshmand said.

Though the University’s Senate has not issued a formal statement in light of the committee’s latest report and Christie’s endorsement, Senate President Eric Milou said he believes, “this is a tremendous opportunity and great challenge for all of us at Rowan and I believe that we are well positioned to success.”

In addition, the Student Government Association is in the process of drafting a statement to the students about the recent news of a merger.

“There are many positive aspects of the merger. We’ll receive more funding, become a research institution, which will only strengthen the value of our degree,” said Stephanie Ackerman, president of the SGA. Ackerman plans to meet with the university administration to further discuss how these changes will affect students.

Many are wondering what steps lay ahead of both universities and who will be affected. Ultimately, Christie will make these final decisions, either by way of an executive order or with the help of the state Legislature.

“Right now the report has been issued, the governor has said he accepts all of it, and the next thing is to operationalize it,” Houshmand said. “The committee has recommended that we should do it quickly. So we will see what quickly means.”

As Houshmand points out, there are a few reasons why these decisions may need to be made quickly.

First, the budgets of both schools need to be consolidated and as the new fiscal year begins on July 1, the government usually begins working on the budget in February, Houshmand said.

Second, the student bodies  and curricula of each university need to be combined.

“That takes tremendous amount of effort to combine two curricula,” Houshmand said. “It’s going to take a lot of time and effort.”

Houshmand said he would be surprised if immediate changes occurred within the next semester.

“In order for us to eventually fully integrate into one university is going to take several years of intense effort,” Houshmand said.

Another recommendation the final report suggests includes additions to the Board of Trustees. Right now, there are 15 members and one student member on the Rowan Board.

Houshmand said he does not know how many more members will be added, or who those members will be.

According to the report, “While the committee does not recommend a specific number of new trustee seats, it does believe that the expansion should put Rowan’s board in line with those at other New Jersey public research universities.”

Ultimately, the committee said it believes this goal, once realized, would stop the flow of New Jersey students to out-of-state institutions and result in more clinical research investment for key New Jersey industries.

“It’s good for the population and that’s what we’re here for,” Houshmand said.

Zipcar is a car-sharing network that hopes to reduce the number of cars on campus, as well as help the environment.

Two vehicles, a black Nissan Sentra and a red Ford Focus, will be parked in Lot H by Memorial Hall for students to share.

In order to drive the cars you need to become a Zipcar member by applying and signing up for $25. Rowan also requires you pay a $35 annual activation fee.

Once you are approved and receive your Zipcard in the mail you will be able to drive the car 180 miles per day for only seven dollars an hour. You will also be able to make reservations for a car up to a year in advance using a computer or phone.

“It’s great for the students because this is an option where they can leave their cars at home and not worry about parking charges,” said Rosie Braude, communications specialist at Rowan.

In order to have your car on campus you’re required to have a permit that is currently 160 dollars for both semesters. Next year that price is rising to 200 dollars.

Students who have Zipcar memberships also won’t have to worry about spending money on fuel.

“Inside, the cars are gas credit cards so you don’t have to pay for gas,” Braude said.

Comprehensive insurance is included with Zipcar memberships as well.

Freshmen at Rowan are not permitted to have their cars on campus, but they will be allowed to use Zipcar.

“With car rentals, you normally have to be 25 years old, but with Zipcar here you only have to be 18 to rent this car,” Braude said.

“If you are a freshman you feel stuck on campus and this just makes it so much easier. You can go to the grocery store or the mall. You don’t have to walk,” said Kaitlyn Hogan, sophomore psychology major. Hogan, who currently has a car on campus, did not sign up for Zipcar yet, but plans to “by the end of the year.”

“It’s cheaper to rent a Zipcar if I’m gonna go home for the day than put all the wear on my car and pay for the gas. And these are really nice cars so I wouldn’t mind driving them,” Hogan said.

Ilianna Soto, a junior math and education major, is one of the first Rowan students to sign up for the new Zipcars.

“Having a Zipcar will just allow me to run my errands or be free for what I need to do during the day,” Soto said.

A Zipcar membership also allows you to unlock Zipcars in other cities, not just Glassboro. The Zipcars on Rowan’s campus, however, are “only for Rowan students, faculty and staff,” Braude said.

Though there are only two cars on campus to start out with, Braude believes if  the program is successful then Zipcar will add more.

Go to Zipcar.com to find out more information.

The first amendment will allow freshmen to serve as senators without attending the Freshmen Leadership Involvement Program, formally known as Freshmen Officer Involvement program.

“We (the SGA e-board) want everyone to have an opportunity to be part of SGA and to be able to get involved,” said Stephanie Ackerman, president of SGA.

The change to Article IV, Section 2 will now require candidates to be “identified by the Office of the Registrar as belonging to the academic class for which they are seeking office; posseses a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of election; not currently hold an SGA executive board position unless having been appointed to that position by the Appointment Selection Committee.”

“We want the positions to be accessible to more people on campus,” Ackerman said.

The second amendment the SGA executive board brought up would change the requirements for the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO.)

Under the proposed amendment, the CFO would be elected by the students instead of appointed by the senate. A 2.75 GPA and enrollment in the Rohrer College of Business would also be required.

“The last two out of the three CFOs have not been finance majors and they have done their jobs well,” said Tom Holroyd, AVP of Facilities and Operations.

In the past, the CFO was required to strictly be a finance major. However, we felt that any individual with some background experience in business or any related field, would have an understanding of how a budget should work, one of the CFO’s primary responsibilities, said Alison Wedell, the Board of Trustee representative.

“We’re hoping that with the reduction of this requirement to any individual within the College of Business, it will encourage those business students to pursue a position in SGA,” Wedell said.

The two amendments will be voted on at the next senate meeting on Feb. 6.

During the announcements Phil Simmons, president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and senator for Psychology Alliance introduced a new bill that would amend the SGA constitution.

“The bill is amending Article IV Section 3, which is part of the constitution that say who and how many of each senators we can have,” Simmons said.

Right now the constitution allows four senators per class, one senator per college and one senator per student organization.

The bill would essentially create districts on campus, and the students of their district would elect their own representative(s).

“A district would be each dorm and apartment complex. If a dorm or apartment is larger than 250 students, they would be allotted an additional senator to represent them.”

Commuter students would have one senator for every 350 commuting students. Schools and colleges would have one senator and an addition senator for every 250 students, with a maximum of four senators per college. Finally, each class would have one senator.

“All together if this bill is passed there would be approximately 66 senators representing the entire student body equally,” Simmons said.

Simmons also said that the second issue with senate is that it is too large.

“We have a senate that is made up of over 100 senators and 14 executive board members. It is too large to have effective debates and conversations to bring about positive change on campus.”

Simmons believes this will not only help students get more involved in student politics, but also give the Rowan student body a true democracy.

The bill will be brought up at the next senate meeting for discussion and could be voted on then.

The senate also voted in senior sophomore marketing and management major Michael Medina as the new college of business academic senator.

“A resident assistant lent her swipe card to her boyfriend while she was out of town on break,” Associate Vice President for University Relations Joe Cardona said.

The RA’s swipe card allowed her access to all the apartments in the apartment building.  Her boyfriend and two of his friends used the swipe card to gain access to the common areas in the apartments in the early morning of Tuesday, January 3. They were not able to go into the bedrooms because a pin number needs to be entered on a keypad to access each bedroom.

The men were caught when they walked into an occupied apartment.

Sophomore marketing major Kelsey Woodward was in her room sleeping when she was awoken by her door beeping, which meant someone had swiped a card to get in.

“I saw lights turning on and then heard someone say ‘Is someone in here?,’” Woodward said. “I yelled ‘Yes! Get out!’”

The trespassers left the apartment without taking anything and Woodward called public safety.

“The whole process was about 45 seconds,” Woodward said.

All three men, one of whom is a Rowan student, were arrested and charged with burglary and trespassing.
Rowan used software to track and see what apartments were opened at what time and in what sequence. All residents of the apartment building were emailed and informed about the break-in.

“All together about 35 dollars were missing from the 75 rooms entered,” Cardona said. “Mostly they were just being nosey and taking advantage of the swipe card.”

Cardona could not say what actions, if any, are being taken against the RA because she is “covered under federal protection laws.”

Student Government Association held its final senate meeting of the semester in Camden where they discussed a bill that would decriminalize marijuana.

According to the New Jersey Bill A4252, “This bill would decriminalize possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana.”

The SGA executive board introduced the bill to the senate and discussed the effects that the bill could have on the state.

“This bill in particular is focused on an issue that has affected young people and students for a long time now,” said Phil Simmons, president of Student for Sensible Drug Policy.

Simmons also said that he believes students are waking up to the idea that the methods we have been using for the past 40 years have failed and alternatives need to be put in place.

The bill was introduced on Nov. 10, 2011, and according to the bill, a person who is found to possess 15 grams or less marijuana would be subject to a $150 fine for the first violation, a $200 fine for a second violation, and $500 fine for a third or subsequent violation.

“The only thing this bill is doing is possession of under 15 grams of marijuana is going to be tiered,” Simmons said. “You will not be arrested and you will not be fined. It’s very similar to a traffic ticket, an underage drinking ticket.”

The senate discussed the positives of this bill, which included the saving of an estimated annual savings of $350 million a year, and the police will have time to focus on more serious violence crimes in New Jersey.

Some concerns that the senate brought up included whether Rowan would change the drug policy with dorms on campus, but it could not be answered.

Natasha Olivero, junior fine arts major, said she liked the bill but did not agree with the way the offenses were set up.

“I do not agree that they will only be fined $150 on the first offense and that’s it,” she said.

At the end of the discussion the senate voted on whether they believed the bill to be positive or negative, 73 members said positive and 20 said negative.

At the end of the meeting Kiley McCulloch, executive vice president, announced that monthly progress reports will be reduced to quarterly reports.

SGA clubs will now only have to submit two reports a semester, but will be required to keep all paper for each of the reports.

For those who have questions on the matter, email McCulloch at mccull52@students.rowan.edu.