Well…

As you might’ve guessed we’re all going to Summer Breeze today - we apologize for the current lack of posting, but tomorrow we’ll publish some more material.  Enjoy yourselves.

Map-o-Teak

We got word last night of where the Teak tables (brought to you by the Executive Slate, and the College Council, and the Campus Services Committee, and probably Administrators concerned with how this will affect students) will be on campus.  Check them out in June. 

 

Other news:

-Bring your umbrella today, thunderstorms might be out to get us all at Summer Breeze.

-If you get bored of free food and fun things on the main quad, walk down to the Midway to see the Monsters of the Midway cycling race.  

-If you’re bored tomorrow, check out RBiM perform from 1-3PM.

Soderific

I spoke too soon.  Sodding on the main quad has begun! 

 

In other news - it looks like its going to rain this weekend.  Hope you got one of the first thousand Summer Breeze tickets just in case!

How To Get an Appointment at the SCC

I hope you’re feeling psychic right now, cause that may be the only way to get an appointment at the SCC when you start feeling under the weather.  You might want to call and schedule an appointment now, in case you think you might get sick in two weeks.  

That’s no exaggeration; try calling for an appointment!  The earliest one you’ll get is two weeks from today.  That’s ridiculous!  Students should be able to see a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner in a much more timely manner.  The SCC website states that “you can generally be seen within 24-48 hours, but this is dependant on the patient flow of the clinic, which varies according to day and time of year.”  Okay.  So 72 hours.  96 hours.  Not 336 hours! 

So how do you get an appointment at the SCC?  Go through the backdoor.  I know one student who got angry enough to call the Ombudsperson (what the hell is that? see below) who redirected her to the Director of the SCC.  Fortunately for her, the Director told her to come in that afternoon.  She was taken within 15 minutes of arrival, before other students who had appointments.

Moral of the story:  Knowing the person to complain to is helpful.

 

Ombudsperson:  Someone who works toward resolving students’ grievances.

Madam Secretary Gives the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Lecture on Democracy

As the title of this post suggests, Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright (not Fulbright, haha) gave the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Lecture on Democracy.

Whether or not you agreed with her politics, Dr. Albright delivered an eloquent and passionate lecture on Democracy and Masaryk’s legacy.  The Lecture, her speech lasting around thirty minutes, was followed by question and answer.  Dr. Albright’s responses were impressive; she spoke clearly and answered, to the best of her abilities, the questions asked, rather than choosing to answer the questions she wished she’d been asked.  Granted, I was quite (positively) surprised by the questions, themselves.

Questions were on topics including: The US and Russia, the political situation in Pakistan, The US and genocide in Rwanda vs The US and genocide in Darfur, the African Union, the use of race by the (Hillary) Clinton campaign, as well as others.  

 

The Lecture was followed by a reception in the Ida Noyes Cloister Club.  Outside the Chicago Society members who aided in the event’s function, we hear invitations were only extended to members of SG and MUNUC. Hmm, I’m jealous…

How much is enough?

Gender-neutral housing may become a reality on our campus.  Given what is seen as a lack of relevance, the work that IHC has done is especially exciting as it might rejuvenate a body that actually has important things to say about student life issues.  And, while this blog commends the work that IHC and, to a significantly lesser degree, SG has done in making this closer to a reality, this blog fears the administration, in asking for more time to get student opinion it is in fact, ironically, hurting students.

We hear IHC was told that once they came up with the policy and had housing approve it, it would be fast moving from there, because the policy was student driven (for a change), with broad support of the LGBTQ community and IHC, along with the housing office. Granted, some groups were left out of discussions.  As was Dean Art, who is involved in the housing system’s disciplinary proceedings.  But, given that it is a student proposal, and students do not know all the levels of power, is understandable.  But, to believe that to consult these groups and individuals will require an entire year is not understandable.  

Many students spend their four years here attempting to figure out Administrators who, believe it or not, make important decisions affecting our lives as students.  At one point all students could do was sit on committees.  This year, the administration has made great strides increasing student input.  Accordingly it was exciting that the administration chose to hear from students on the topic.  But how much information is enough?

I’m disconcerted by the administration’s choice to sit on this issue rather than make a decision.  If the decision had been made before May 6, planning could have been implemented this year for next year’s students living in the dorms.  It seems to me, however, the Administration is attempting to field more student input so they can sit longer on the issue.

 To this end, when Kim Goff-Crews had a semi-closed meeting with the LGBTQ community last week, it became clear to all who were there that the delay was a major surprise to students working to make housing more accommodating for students.  

SG and IHC must pressure the Administration to make a decision as soon as possible.  If they can’t do it on their own, enlist the help of the rest of the students who want to make this a reality.

Advise Me - Please?

A quick note on advising:

Few things drive me up the wall more than the inadequacy of the college’s advising system. Did you know that in one part of a campus tour, guides are instructed to mention the fact that the college has independent advising as part of the “college’s investment in academic support services.”  Now I have no doubt that independent advising is better than faculty advising, (see Princeton as one example of where academic advisers have been a terrible blunder) but it is only better if the advisers know something about the college, and even more importantly, the students themselves.

Speaking of which,  I know one person (and this is not, really, an extreme case) who had at least five advisers within four years at the college.  I frequently talk to people whose advisers give them blatantly inaccurate information which requires the student to do double, sometimes triple, the amount of work.  Some advisers are unsure of how AP scores affect the number of core classes students have to take.  Other advisers don’t understand how particular departments within the college work.  And there are advisers who don’t even know their students’ names.

SG should focus some if its time away from Teak and onto fixing the advising program.  Last year, although you probably weren’t aware (you know, as it got no publicity), Mr. Kimerling tried to create a focus group on the subject.  He’s much better at talking than organizing (a problem most politicians face) and couldn’t get the ball rolling.  I heard only two people showed up to talk to Dean Art (ouch!  that hurts).  Maybe if SG got together and thought of a solution to the problem, we could begin making strides toward changing this system.  And you know, maybe have advisers who at least know the course catalog.

 

 

Design for Regenstein Addition Unveiled; Birds will not crash, says Tribune

But will there be outlets???????????????

 

Chicago Tribune on new library - will there be seats for all of us during finals in 2010?

 

Picture courtesy The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Appeal to the Elders?

My assumption is that not everyone reads the minutes posted on the Student Government blog. I’m being really, really optimistic here. Fortunately for you, I do (laughs maniacally).

This year, a Beer Garden will be operating during the Summer Breeze concert for students 21 and up. Usual procedure will be in effect (ie: ORCSA will ask you to produce your id. ORCSA will give you a nifty wrist band for two drinks, etc.). SGFC minutes show $4890 going to the production of this feat.

Now listen, I understand that free beer will get students anywhere. And I mean anywhere. But is this an appropriate way to be spending money from the Student Activities Fee as it excludes a portion of the student body on age alone?

There are 14,594 students on campus. 4,825 of that number are enrolled in the college. That’s around 33%.
Let’s assume (for my own sanity) that one quarter of those enrolled in the college are at least 21. This brings those underage down to about 25% of the students on campus. From this perspective I’d say, yes, this is a FABULOUS idea. Except, events like these are usually catered to the undergraduate population. Do Grad students even know the Carnival happens the afternoon before this concert? So really, giving myself the benefit of the doubt, the percentage of students who are undergraduates (and underage) and attending this event is probably higher.

All students must purchase a ticket to attend this event, which goes to various costs that I’m not even going to try to mention. Is it fair that included in some students tickets are two drinks, while the others get none?

Its a tough question to answer - and I’m not really sure how to go about it. Maybe this (and the outreach MAB is doing to the Grad schools) will encourage more students to attend. But, being more concerned with the way the Student Activities Fee is utilized, I’d still have to say that the underage population is really getting the short end of the stick. Yes, I realize awesome events such as Mardi Gras (COUP) are organized like this, but those are free events for students.

I’m at a loss for now. any comments?

A Geek Like Us

Andrew Bird blogs on the NYTimes webiste. Still haven’t bought your Summer Breeze ticket yet? We encourage you to go grab one in the Reynolds Club ASAP.