Without a doubt, the Rutgers University football team has been doing a lot better over recent years. Tickets for games have been selling out in outstanding numbers, the amount of prospective students applying to the University has significantly skyrocketed and Scarlet Knight students have definitely been feeling the spirit. Unfortunately, our school can’t seem to stay out of the news.

Not many have heard but 19-year-old Justin Francis, defense tackle football player, was arrested for robbery during the spring semester ’08 at Rutgers. Francis allegedly robbed a man for his cellular phone in a New Brunswick parking lot on campus and threatened a student with a fake pistol for knocking on his apartment door.

The Florida native was held overnight at the Middlesex County jail on $20,000 bail. According to Pete Hendricks, a New Brunswick lawyer, “The police did their investigation into the matter and brought charges against Justin Francis.” Francis was charged with robbery, possession of a weapon, burglary and terroristic threats.

Coach Greg Schiano decided it would be best to suspend the player for an indefinite length of time. There are many different views about this matter from RU students. According to a few blogs about it online, some feel the situation was taken too seriously because Francis may have been intoxicated during his actions and no one was harmed. Others feel it really does not matter and he should be punished for “terrorizing” students.

Different opinions are always interesting to hear, so feel free to share your thoughts and comments.