LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN
Kitty Bays, of Chester, helps her Nubian and Nigerian dwarf goats reach branches to eat Friday on the Bays’ five-acre farm. Kitty and her husband Bob take care of various animals, including goats, cattle, chickens, cats and dogs. “We both grew up on farms and always knew that it was the life we wanted to get back to,” Kitty said.
University officials say they are cautiously optimistic about the effects of changes made to the math placement exam, a mathematics chairperson said. SIU began to place students in math courses through a placement test in fall 2011. This year, the test has changed. Chancellor Rita Cheng said in her Sept. 5 State of the University Address the successful completion rate of math courses is expected to increase 20.3 percent. Gregory Budzban, mathematics department chair, said the department has improved with placing students in suitable courses. “The current system appears to be placing students in courses that they are prepared for,” he said. Budzban said the testing process has changed considerably since it was first implemented last year. “The first year, we felt the results were not what we were looking for,” he said. “The students were being placed in courses that they were not arguably prepared for.” Changes made to the test’s answering system might make the difference, he said. The original test was primarily multiple choice, allowing students to
potentially guess the answer, he said. This year, students are required to answer “created response” questions, problems that require them to enter the answer into a blank space rather than choosing from options. Budzban said even though results looked positive, he was cautious about giving results before final numbers become available at the end of the semester. “We’re still collecting data,” he said. “This is a new operation on this campus, and mathematicians are conservative by nature in terms of saying things that later cannot be supported by evidence.” Robin Dean, a lecturer of mathematics, said tests given in the first several weeks of class could also determine students’ preparation for college-level math courses. Dean said the test helps professors predict how well students will perform in the class. “The placement test gives us an idea about how they are going to do in the course overall, as a rule,” he said. “That’s what the goal is. We’re trying to tweak that to where it works better.” The mathematics department requires the test to ensure students don’t waste their time, Dean said. Please see MATH | 4
Although break-ins, thefts and robberies can be a problem for some Carbondale residents, a new neighborhood association president can offer helpful advice for citizens who deal with the issue. Adam Loos, president of the Northwest Carbondale Neighborhood Association, said
theft is a very real danger the group must face on a constant basis even though the organization deals with more than just crime. A specific part of the organization was created to deal with such conflict, he said. “We’ve got a safety and security committee, which is made up of members of our board and possibly some members of the organization who are not on the board,” he said. The association created bylaws
for itself in April, one of which is to support crime prevention measures such as a neighborhood watch and has since been incorporated as a not-for-profit group dedicated to preserving city’s northwest section. The association covers West Main Street, North Illinois Avenue, Little Crab Orchard Creek and the city’s northern boundary.
Students of all ages and races gathered in the Student Center’s Big Muddy Room Wednesday evening to make Latino-inspired masks as part of a Latino Heritage Month event. Organizers said they hope the participants gathered more than just mask-making skills.
Latino Heritage Month began Sept. 15 and will continue until Oct. 15. Events such as Wednesday’s “Masks and Justice,” which was sponsored by the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Hispanic Resource Center, are scheduled throughout the month and are aimed to promote Latino culture and customs. “I think it’s important
because even though there’s not a wide Hispanic population on campus, we want to make a bigger difference as a group,” said Edith Ortiz-Ruiz, a sophomore from Chicago studying civil engineering. “We are trying to teach about Hispanic culture by joining together with a common goal.”
Please see SAFETY | 4
Please see HERITAGE | 4